{"id":1183,"date":"2018-11-08T14:25:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-08T20:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/commencement\/?page_id=1183"},"modified":"2018-11-08T14:25:00","modified_gmt":"2018-11-08T20:25:00","slug":"families-and-guest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/jsucommencement\/families-and-guest\/","title":{"rendered":"Families and Guests"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commencement seating will begin approximately two hours prior to the start time in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.\u00a0\u00a0The doors will close at 9:50 a.m., in order to allow the program to officially begin without interruptions.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Guest Admittance and Seating at Commencement<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets are not required for the commencement ceremony. Doors will open two hours prior to the start of the commencement ceremony. Guests of our graduates should plan on arriving to the ceremonies approximately one to two hours prior to the ceremony\u2019s scheduled start time. This will allow appropriate time for parking and walking to the venues.\u00a0\u00a0All seats are first come, first served.\u00a0 Seats may not be held for late coming family members and friends.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Graduate Seating<\/strong><\/p>\n

All graduating students will be seated at the ground level of the commencement venue.\u00a0 Family members and friends will not be allowed in the graduating student section.\u00a0 Degrees will be conferred to candidates based on degree type.\u00a0 Jackson State University utilizes Jumbotrom screens to aid its guests in viewing event highlights, including a view of the graduates as they cross the stage.<\/p>\n

Special Needs Accommodations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jackson State University has made provisions to reasonably accommodate students, faculty, staff and guests during all Commencement Ceremonies.\u00a0 Special needs volunteers will be able to assist and address special needs request on an as-needed basis.\u00a0 Medical staff will also be on standby during the Commencement Ceremony for emergency needs.<\/p>\n

Designated seating sections are set aside at all venues for individuals with special needs based on a particular ADA accommodation.\u00a0 If you have any questions, please contact Arron Richardson of the Latasha Norman Center for Counseling and Disability Services, by telephone at (601) 979-3704 or by e-mail at arron.l.richardson@jsums.edu.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ceremony Logistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once your graduate\u2019s row of students proceeds to the stage, individual students\u2019 names will be called as they cross the stage and shake the President\u2019s and Dean\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

Photography<\/strong><\/p>\n

Families and friends may take pictures during the commencement ceremony.\u00a0 However, participants and spectators must remain in their seats when photographing or videotaping any portion of the ceremony. For safety reasons, tripods are not allowed at the ceremony.\u00a0 They are not allowed at any designated photo areas.<\/p>\n

Photographs of each graduate as he or she crosses the stage will be available from professional vendors who will contact all graduates with purchasing information. Family pictures with the graduate in full academic regalia may be taken after the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Commencement Protocol and Decorum\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We ask that you assist us in maintaining the decorum appropriate for commencement. This ritual signifies the hallmark of academic achievement, and the University proudly celebrates the occasion with formal pomp and circumstance. Let\u2019s make this occasion special for all involved.<\/p>\n

Please remember the following points of order:<\/strong><\/p>\n