122nd Commencement Ceremony
UIC Pavilion
525 S. Racine Avenue
Saturday, June 21st, 10:00am
Commencement is the most important event of the year for students and the entire University. The purpose of the Commencement Ceremony is to honor your success, hard work, accomplishments and achievements. This is also an opportunity to thank family and friends that supported and sustained you through your journey.
We have compiled the most complete information on the Chicago Ceremony here, but if you have a question that is not answered on this page or in the Commencement FAQ please contact us at 800.443.5522 X3568 or at Commencement@nl.edu.
Eligibility to Participate
Degree recipients from December 2007 and eligible degree candidates for March, June and August 2008 are invited to participate in the June 21, 2008 commencement ceremony.
You must complete a Diploma and Degree Finalization request in order to be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. If you have already completed Degree Finalization, you will receive a Commencement Ceremony Registration form via NLU student email. If not, click below to register for both Degree Finalization and Commencement. The deadline for Diploma and Degree Finalization forms is February 15, 2008 for June graduates and April 20, 2008 for August graduates.
Participation in the Commencement Ceremony does not mean that you are receiving a degree or diploma. You must complete the Diploma and Degree Finalization form and be eligible to receive your degree. For questions, please call 800.443.5522, X5718.
Important Dates
| February 15, 2008 | Diploma and Degree Finalization Request Due – June Grads |
| April 20, 2008 | Diploma and Degree Finalization Request Due – August Grads |
| April 20, 2008 | Cap & Gown Order Due |
| April 30, 2008 | Commencement Registration Due |
| June 21, 2008 | Commencement Ceremony Chicago |
Registration
All Chicago Area Commencement Participants are required to register for the commencement ceremony. A registration form will be emailed to the NLU student email account of each graduate who has submitted the Diploma and Degree Finalization request. It can be completed and emailed to Commencement@nl.edu, faxed to (312)261-3092, dropped off or campus mailed to Student Affairs, Suite 2015, Chicago Campus, or mailed to
Maria Meintanis, Director of Student Life
National-Louis University
122 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
Commencement registrants will be sent an email Confirmation Receipt within 5 business days. All mailing sent approximately 2 weeks before the ceremony.
Students who have not registered for commencement will not be able to participate in the ceremony.
Commencement Attire
Commencement is a formal academic ceremony and dress should be appropriate to the occasion. Business or special occasion attire is acceptable. Please do not wear gym shoes, sandals, shorts, or jeans.
Undergraduate students will be wearing a black cap and gown, as well as a tassel in the color appropriate to your college.
Graduate Students will be wearing a black cap & gown, tassel, and hood in the color appropriate to your college.
Your cap, gown and other commencement attire may be ordered through Traditions USA by mail, fax, online or phone. Specific ordering details can be found on www.traditionsusa.com. Your academic attire will be mailed to your home two weeks prior to the ceremony. In order to avoid late and/or rush fees, please order your commencement attire prior to April 20, 2008.
Hotel Information
Arrangements have been made for a limited number of room reservations to be available for commencement participants. The Club Quarters Hotel (Central Loop) is located at 111 West Adams St., Chicago, IL 60610. Reservations may be made online at www.clubquarters.com (login with password: national louis university) or by calling 212.575.0006.
Graduation Announcements, Rings, Frames, & Other related products
Traditions USA is licensed by National-Louis University to provide an array of commencement paraphernalia for participants. Ordering information, item descriptions and color pictures are available at www.traditionsusa.com for your review.
The following items are available
· Certificate of Appreciation
· College Rings
· Frames
· Personalized Announcements
· Note Cards
· Medallion Key Tags
· Zipper Pull
· Graduation TShirts
Traditions USA will be on each of the Chicagoland campuses in March for you to view their products and make purchases.
Commencement Programs
Your name will be listed in the commencement program as it is listed on your registration for classes. Students must complete Diploma and Degree Verification request in order to appear in the program
On Commencement Day – June 21st, 2008
9:00am – Commencement Participants line up in the UIC Pavilion Parking Structure
9:00am – UIC Pavilion Doors open for Guests
10:00am – Commencement Ceremony begins with Processional
Guest Seating & Tickets
All Commencement participants will receive 5 tickets for their guests. Children 5 and under do not require a ticket if they are sitting on the lap of an adult/guardian. Guests with special needs do require a ticket and are included in a graduate’s 5 guests
Tickets are free and are required for admission to the UIC Pavilion.
Seating is open and first come, first serve. The doors of the UIC Pavilion will open at 9:00am.
If you are unable to use all of your tickets, please return them to the Will-Call window the morning of June 21st, so we may distribute them to other participants. Tickets may not be sold under any circumstances.
After 10:10am, tickets will no longer be valid and waiting guests who have lost their tickets or are above the 5 allowed per graduate will be admitted based on available seating. Because the ceremony will already be in progress, only seats upstairs will be available for guests arriving after 10:00am.
Special Needs Accommodations
Commencement Participants
If you require special assistance during the ceremony, please indicate that on your registration. If you need to sit on the aisle, please inform the Marshal assigned to your line. Wheelchairs are available to help students if needed. The UIC Pavilion is wheelchair accessible.
Guests
If any of your guests requires wheelchair assistance, please indicate that on your registration or email the Commencement office at commencement@nl.edu.
The University provides sign language interpreters for the whole ceremony. We will do our best to accommodate your guests. We encourage guests to bring their own wheelchairs for seating during the ceremony. Seating for special needs guests must be arranged through the Commencement Office.
Parking
Parking is available at the UIC Pavilion lots. The UIC Pavilion charges $10 per car ($15 for vans and buses). UIC Pavilion provides a shuttle for parking which is at a distance from the Pavilion. Please note that parking tends to fill up quickly. We recommend arriving early to ensure a close parking space.
Photography & Video
Chappell Graduation Images will provide both photography and videography for this even. You will be photographed twice during the ceremony: receiving your diploma and a portrait in front of an NLU backdrop. Chappell will mail you a passport sized photo image within 5 days of the ceremony and give you the option to select from a variety of photo packages. There will also be the option to purchase a copy of the entire ceremony on DVD. You are under no obligation to purchase photos or the DVD. Information on packages and Chappell Studios can be found at the Commencement Website.
Behavior at the Ceremony
Commencement participants are still under the guidelines of the student code of conduct in the NLU Student Guidebook 2007-2008. No alcoholic beverages or disruption of the ceremony will be allowed. All incidents will be documented and may result in the delay of receipt of your diploma or transcript information.
This is a formal academic ceremony. Please respect the importance of this ceremony for all of your fellow students. Treat them as you would want to be treated. Students will not be able to leave the ceremony early as this causes disruption to the whole event. Students who disrupt the ceremony will be handled through the Student Hearing and Appeal System.
