Frequently Asked Questions about the 2012 Commencement Weekend
- Do I need tickets for Commencement and how do I get them? Tickets are not required for general seating if commencement is held outdoors and there will be no limit on the number of guests. In case of rain, commencement will be held in Skoglund Center Auditorium, and tickets will be required. Your graduate must pick up their Commencement tickets in the main office in Buntrock Commons, room 147, (down the hall from the Cage) the week prior to Commencement. Each graduating senior will receive a total of three tickets. Tickets will be available Monday, May 21 through Friday, May 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please present your student I.D. when picking up tickets. NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER 5 P.M. FRIDAY, MAY 25.
- If the ceremony is indoors, is there any other seating?
Viking Theater and the Pause (in Buntrock Commons), Regents Hall rooms 150, 210, 310, and 410, Kelsey Theater and Holland Hall 501 will carry a simulcast of commencement on large screens. No tickets are required for these venues but you would be wise to arrive early for seating.
- Are commencement exercises streamed?
Yes, regardless of Commencement location, the ceremony will be broadcasted via the campus television network (available only on campus) and streamed online, accessible through the St. Olaf home page.
Can family members who are unable to attend view events online?
Yes! The Last Lecture, Celebration Concert, Illumination Ceremony, Baccalaureate and Graduation Ceremony will all be streamed LIVE and available on-demand at stolaf.edu/multimedia
- How long does the ceremony last?
The ceremony will last between one and one-half to two hours. A reception in Stav Hall immediately follows commencement. Everyone is welcome.
- Hotels are full in Northfield so where can we stay? Rooms in the residence halls are available for family and friends who wish to stay on campus on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The cost is $30 per person/per night. Each room is furnished with two single beds. Bed linens (pillow, sheets and blanket) and towels are furnished. Bathrooms are not located in your room. You may wish to bring an extra blanket, hangers, an alarm clock, a fan, and a sleeping bag for children wishing to sleep on the floor. Keys are not issued for individual residence hall rooms, so we encourage you to leave valuables at home. Out of consideration for students and guests, pets are forbidden in residence halls. Hotel options are available in the nearby cities of Faribault, Lakeville, Burnsville, Bloomington or Eagan.
- Do I need to register for the weekend events? Pre-registration is required for on-campus housing and for certain meals. All other events during the weekend are free and open to the public. You can register securely online. Your registration packet will be held at the registration tables in the Buntrock Commons throughout the weekend. Meal tickets and nametags will be in your packet. Register early, some events may sell out.
- What other events should I attend? The Sneak Peek lists all the events of the weekend. Saturday offers two different meal choices for dinner (a banquet or a festive meal in Stav) and the Illumination of Campus will occur. On Sunday, there will be a Baccalaureate service at 9 a.m., Brunch in Stav Hall (ticket required) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jazz Brunch in Skoglund Fieldhouse (ticket required) at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Academic Department Receptions from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Commencement at 2:00 p.m. (Seniors will line up at 1:00 p.m. in the Tostrud Center with a light snack provided for them). A reception for graduates and their guests following commencement will be held in Stav Hall. No tickets are required for this reception and attendance is optional. Light refreshments are served.
- Where does my student get a cap and gown for commencement?
Students will pay for and pick up their caps and gowns at Gradfest, a one-stop shop for all their graduation needs. Please click on the following link to place your cap and gown order for Commencement. Follow directions provided to insure availability of a cap and gown at Gradfest. Orders must be placed before March 9th: college.jostens.com
- Where can I order graduation announcements?
Announcements can be purchased through the St. Olaf Bookstore.
- Is there a professional photographer on site?
St. Olaf works with Grad Images to photograph students as they receive their diploma and as they leave the platform. You can pre-register your permanent email address on-line prior to commencement and Grad Images will contact you as soon as your photos are ready for viewing. Grad Images will contact you by mail following the ceremony with information on ordering photographs. For further information or to view your photos after commencement, visit www.gradimages.com or call 800-261-2576.
St. Olaf also works with TLT Video Productions to record a video of the entire commencement ceremony. TLT Video Productions will contact graduates and their families directly with information on purchasing a DVD of commencement. You may contact them at 507-332-7787 or at www.tltvideoproductions.com .
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