Spring 2008 Commencement
Commencement Location
Ohio Dominican University will hold the 88th Commencement on the Oval in front of Erskine Hall. Rain site will be in Alumni Hall. IF the ceremony is moved indoors to Alumni Hall, Admission tickets will be required due to limited seating and state Fire Codes.
Date: May 6, 2008
To: Graduates of the Class of 2008
From: Jamie Caridi, Vice President for Student Development
Re: Important Information for May 17th ~ Baccalaureate and Commencement Ceremony
I first want to congratulate each one of you on your academic success here at Ohio Dominican University. The faculty, staff, and alumni are so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to celebrating your achievements at our Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17th.
In addition, I want to thank each one of you for your patience and flexibility with the University since we made the decision to relocate our Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony back to campus. I assure you the University is working hard to make your day special. With that said, we know any change can create uncertainty and we apologize for not being able to communicate such changes in a more timely manner.
As we continue to prepare for this special occasion, I want to provide you important information regarding Baccalaureate Mass and the Commencement Ceremony. Please be sure to communicate this information with your parents, family, and friends.
- Weather Call: Indoor vs. Outdoor Ceremony
The University is planning for an outdoor Commencement Ceremony. However, provisions have been made for an indoor ceremony in the event of inclement weather. University Officials will make a FINAL CALL on an indoor vs. outdoor ceremony no later than 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17th. This announcement will be posted on the University's homepage at www.ohiodominican.edu, will be emailed to the student list serve, and a message will be placed on the Student Information Hotline at (614) 251-4590. The University will also post a “planning update” on Friday, May 16th by 6:00 p.m. advising you of our likely location. However, as you all know, May weather in Ohio can be unpredictable and we may need to wait until late Friday evening/early Saturday morning before making a final decision. Again, we will make the final call no later than 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning, May 17th.
- Commencement Rehearsal, Thursday, May 15th at 5:30 p.m., Alumni Hall
Students should report to Alumni Hall, Community Room. The Alumni Association will be hosting a Welcome Reception immediately following rehearsal.
- , Saturday May 17th at 8:30 a.m., Matesich Theatre
This year’s Baccalaureate Mass, celebrated in the Matesich Theatre, will be a traditional Catholic Mass similar to a Sunday Catholic worship service. In light of time constraints, there will be no academic component to the celebration. As such, students, faculty and staff should not wear academic attire to Baccalaureate Mass. Of course all students, families, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Liturgy. The important academic hooding ceremony will take place during the Commencement Ceremony.
Pastries and refreshments will be available for students and families attending Baccalaureate Mass outside of the Matesich Theatre immediately following the Liturgy.
- Commencement Ceremony, Saturday May 17th at 10:30 a.m.
On the Oval (weather permitting) or Alumni Hall (inclement weather location)
Graduates must report and line-up by 10:00 a.m. in the Colonial Room if the Ceremony is on the Oval or in Alumni Hall, Community Room if the Ceremony is indoors.
In keeping with tradition, we are planning to hold the Commencement Ceremony on the Oval, weather permitting. This allows you to have as many family and friends attend as you would like. As in past years, provisions are being made for inclement weather in which case the Commencement Ceremony will be held in Alumni Hall. Each graduate who is registered to participate in the Commencement Ceremony has been allocated three (3) tickets in the event the ceremony needs relocated indoors. These tickets are now available for pick-up at the designated pick-up sites. Please be sure your family and friends have their tickets in advance and on their person just in-case we have an indoor ceremony. In the event of inclement weather, overflow seating will be available in Matesich Theatre so the ceremony can be watched by those who do not have a ticket for Alumni Hall.
- Parking
In addition to our on-campus parking, our neighbors at Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church located 1.3 miles north on Sunbury Road have graciously extended to the University use of their 500 space parking lot. Cavalier Coach Lines will be providing continuous, free shuttle service between Mt. Hermon Church and Ohio Dominican University beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Ohio Dominican University is proud to have a record number of students participating in the Commencement Ceremony this year. As you know, parking on-campus is limited and students, families and friends who park at Mount Hermon can enjoy stress free parking and avoid traffic delays. etc. Three (3) Coach buses from Cavalier Coach Lines will run continuous shuttle service from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony. Please see the map below for directions to Mount Hermon Baptist Church.
Please note, St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, (across from Security) will not be available on Saturday May 17th.
Student Development Office
Erskine Hall
Ohio Dominican University
1216 Sunbury Road
Columbus OH 43219
Phone: (614) 251-4595
Email: studentdevelopment@ohiodominican.edu
