2009 Spring Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Rose Garden Arena
10:00 a.m.

Order Your Spring 2009 Commencement Ceremony DVD Today

Paul Hawken Keynote Address

 

Assembly ♦ Ceremony ♦ Etiquette ♦ Fast Facts ♦ Mailings

Ceremony Photographs ♦ Transportation & Parking ♦ DVDs

Assembly

Participating students will assemble promptly at 8:45 a.m. in the Memorial Coliseum Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall is located on the lower level of the Rose Quarter Commons near Memorial Fountain. There will be signs and volunteers to lead you to the proper area. Upon arrival, students should proceed to find the appropriate line organized by academic major. Students must bring their "reader cards" provided to them when they picked up their tickets at the PSU Box Office.  Additional "reader cards" will be available the day of the ceremony.  Faculty Marshals and volunteers will be in the Exhibit Hall to help you.

The lines will begin to move from the Exhibit Hall and into the Rose Garden Arena shortly before 9:15 a.m.  The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.  Download your Instruction Booklet and Blank Reader Card here: Instructions ♦ Blank Reader Card

Ceremony

Portland State University's Spring Commencement is a formal ceremony. All participating students are required to wear the appropriate academic regalia. Those eligible to participate will have earned degrees or certificates in fall 2008, winter 2009, or spring 2009. Degree candidates for summer 2009 may also participate in the spring ceremony except for doctoral degree candidates. Doctoral students are required to have earned the degree and been certified by the Office of Graduate Studies at 503.725.8410 before participating in any Commencement Ceremony. The 2009 Spring Commencement Ceremony will last between two and two and a half hours - depending on how many students register to participate.

Etiquette

This is your event to honor your accomplishments. Family, friends, colleagues, faculty, and staff will be present to applaud your hard work. All participants will be expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner. The use of cell phones and chewing gum is strongly discouraged. Alcohol is not permitted in the Exhibit Hall or the Rose Garden Arena. No one carrying alcoholic beverages will be allowed to enter. The Rose Garden Arena and Exhibit Hall are also non-smoking facilities. Helium balloons are not allowed in the Rose Garden Arena. If guests bring a helium balloon, they will be asked to leave it outside the exterior doors. You and your guests' understanding and cooperation are vital to the success of the day's activities.

Fast Facts

  • You must notify the Commencement Office of your intent to participate. Register here.
  • Spring Commencement is a formal ceremony lasting about two and a half hours.
  • Participating students are expected to stay through the whole ceremony.
  • About 2,000 graduating students and approximately 300 faculty will participate in the 2009 Spring Ceremony.
  • General Admission to the Rose Garden Arena will open at 8:30 a.m. for guests.  Guests needing disability accommodations will be allowed into the arena at 8:00 a.m.

Mailings

All communication about Commencement will be through email.  Please make sure you are accessing your PSU email and that your current email address is on file with the University.

Ceremony Photographs

A professional photography team from Chappell Graduation Images will take photos of all graduates as they shake hands with the president or their dean. A free proof will be sent to each graduate's home after the ceremony. Individuals may purchase prints from the photographer; however, there is no obligation to order photographs.

Transportation & Parking

Traffic around Rose Quarter on Commencement Day can be congested. We encourage everyone planning to attend or participate in Commencement to utilize public transportation via Tri-Met and to allow for plenty of additional travel time. Parking near the Rose Quarter on Saturday will range from $6.00 to $13.00 per car. For information about parking on the Rose Quarter campus, please visit the Rose Quarter's parking page. For parking information at Portland State University, including directions to campus, please visit the PSU Transportation & Parking homepage.

DVDs

A professional taping of PSU's Spring Commencement ceremony is available to graduates, families, and friends. The DVD contains footage of the entire ceremony which includes the commencement addresses from university administration, honored guest and student speakers. Additionally each graduating student is taped as he or she passes across the platform to receive the diploma. DVD copies are shipped three weeks after the ceremony.

If you would like to order a DVD of the 2009 Spring Ceremony, please send your name, address, telephone number, and a check made out to PSU for $30 per DVD to:

Office of the Dean of Students
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751