Commencement

A Message From President Bell

bell

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!! You have worked very hard for the reward you are about to receive and we are so proud of you, Tennessee Tech’s newest alumni. I want to extend best wishes to each of you. An ancient poet once gave a blessing appropriate for an occasion like this, especially one at Tennessee Tech:

Even youth grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall, But those who maintain their hope will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.

It’s time for you to go forth, and soar . . . on wings, like eagles! Congratulations to each of you!

All my best,

Robert R. Bell
President

Diploma

Diplomas will be mailed to all those undergraduates who graduate in the Spring. They will be mailed to the address that you provide to the Graduation Office during the Spring semester in response to an email with a weblink. Please make sure this is an address where you can receive mail at that date.

Caps and Gowns

Cost of the cap and gown is included in the General Access Fee paid each semester – no additional charge.
The supplier has a variety of sizes to choose from.
Senior Salute is March 21, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and March 22, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Tech Pride Room of the Roaden University Center.
If you cannot attend either of those dates, caps and gowns will be available in the University Bookstore on the ground floor of the Roaden University Center.
Staff from the bookstore will be at the commencement ceremony with a limited supply of caps, gowns and tassels.
Those candidates receiving commission from the ROTC department may wear their uniform under the cap and gown but are required to wear the mortarboard.

Dress

Men: slacks (no jeans or shorts), shirt, and comfortable shoes (no sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes)
Women: dresses or skirts, slacks or capri pants (no jeans or shorts) and comfortable shoes (no tennis shoes or flip-flops)
There is no place for personal belongings to be left so please leave those with family members.
Keep in mind that you will be standing for quite a while so choose clothing and shoes for comfort.

Behavior

Anyone under the influence of alcohol is subject to being removed from the line of march.
Use of cell phones during ceremony is prohibited.
Use of air horns and other such devices is prohibited and may be confiscated.

Graduation and Rehearsal

Spring 2012 commencement ceremonies will be May 5, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. for the Colleges of: Agriculture and Human Sciences; Arts and Sciences, Business and the School of Interdisciplary Studies, and at 2 p.m. for the Colleges of: Engineering and Education. Both ceremonies will be in the Hooper Eblen Center.
All candidates must be attired in cap and gown.
Rehearsal will be May 3, 2012 at 4 p.m. CDT in the Hooper Eblen Center - attendance is not required but helpful.
Candidates need to enter at the ticket office entrance – there will be signs directing you to the appropriate area of the concourse for lineup
Undergraduate candidates are lined up alphabetically with their college or school.
Graduate candidates are lined up alphabetically by degree level.
Personnel from the Graduation Office, the Graduate School, or other staff will be checking the line of march
You must check in with the person for your line; otherwise your name will be removed from the list and your name will not be called out.
Tickets for guests are not required – seating is first come, first served.

Special Facilities

Any candidate requiring special facilities to participate in the ceremony due to a physical disability should contact the Graduation Office at 931-372-3543.
Questions concerning disabled parking areas may be directed to University Police at 931-372-3234.

Attendance

Candidates who plan to participate are required to stay for the entire time.
No participants are allowed to leave until the ceremony is over.
Participation in the ceremony does not confirm clearance for receipt of a diploma. Do not cite participation as evidence of graduation.
All candidates participating will receive a diploma cover as they cross the stage and will receive their diploma in the mail after confirmation of graduation.
Those graduating in absentia will receive their diploma in the mail.

In Absentia Status

Spring 2012 candidates - Candidates choosing to graduate in absentia must complete and submit the information in the website http://www2.tntech.edu/grad. Please do not access the website until after April 2, 2012.

Honors

Graduation with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude) for the listing in the commencement program and what is announced at commencement ceremony is determined by the cumulative GPA (all TTU coursework plus transfer credit) at the beginning of the final semester.
Honors notation on the diploma and student transcript include the final semester's coursework.
Graduation honors are only available for undergraduate students.
Cum Laude (3.50-3.69), Magna Cum Laude (3.70-3.89), Summa Cum Laude (3.90-4.0)
Students graduating with a 4.00 GPA will also receive the W. A. Howard Award and plaque. A notation of the award will appear on the diploma and transcript.

Photographs

Photographic Services will have their professional photographers at the commencement ceremony.
As you approach the ramp to go on stage, you will be asked to pause for a picture. Another photo will be taken as you shake hands with the President.
You will be contacted when the proofs are available online by Photographic Services.
Photographic Services' phone number is 931-372-3305.

Requirements

Outstanding University Debt

Chapter 654 of the Public Acts of 1976 prohibits state institutions of higher education from issuing diplomas, transcripts or grade reports of any nature to any student unless the student has satisfied all debts or obligations owed to the institution.
Spring 2012 candidates - Parking tickets or other outstanding debts must be cleared with the Business Office (DH100) by 3:30 on the Friday before commencement.

Speakers

Retired astronaut and TTU alumnus Roger Crouch will address the morning commencement.

The Jamestown, Tenn., native earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1962 and master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Crouch served as program scientist on five Spacelab flights in the 1990s. Selected for flight on the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission in 1997, he carried out research aboard space shuttle Columbia on the STS 83 and STS 94 missions. He took a CD into space with the names of about 70,000 TTU students, alumni, faculty, staff and donors.

Astronaut and TTU alumnus Barry Wilmore will address the afternoon commencement.

Born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Wilmore grew up in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at TTU; he has a master’s degree in aviation systems from The University of Tennessee.

Wilmore is a graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School; he has accumulated more than 6,400 flight hours and completed 663 carrier landings, all in tactical jet aircraft.

In 2009, Wilmore piloted his first Atlantis flight to the International Space Station. He has logged more than 259 hours in space. When Atlantis took its final flight of the space shuttle program in July 2011, Wilmore talked the astronauts through launch and landing as the Ascent/Entry Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in mission control.

Wilmore was recently assigned as commander of the International Space Station (ISS) for Expedition 42, which is currently scheduled for launch aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket in the fall of 2012.

There is no commencement ceremony for students who complete their degree requirements in the Summer semester. This began Summer 2010.

Undergraduate students who want to participate in the commencement ceremony at the end of Fall semester may do so by supplying the Graduation Office (DH122) with that information.

Fall Commencement will be December 17, 2011 at 10:00 CST at the Hooper Eblen Center. Students graduating in the Fall will receive the email during Fall semester with the respond date included.

Speaker

Dr. John "Steve" Copeland

A native of the Alpine Community of Overton County, Copeland received a bachelor's degree from Tennessee Tech University and graduated from Auburn University with a doctorate of veterinary medicine. He established his practice in 1970 and has continued to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in Cookeville, Tennessee.

He was appointed by former Gov. Lamar Alexander to the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and by Cookeville City Council to the Board of Trustees of Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Nashville State Community College, Cookeville Campus, and is a Director of First National Bank of Tennessee. He served three years as chairman of the State of Tennessee Department of Labor Work Force Development Board. Copeland was elected to three terms on the Cookeville City Council and served one term as vice mayor.

Copeland was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Regents on August 13, 2009, by former Gov. Phil Bredesen to represent the 6^th congressional district.