The ABCs of Commencement

In this Issue:

• The ABCs of Commencement
• Update on COVID-19 vaccine guidelines

As we gear up for Commencement, I am updating a post from a few years ago on the ABCs of Commencement, Daily Deac style. While this might be most relevant to our P’23s whose Deacs are about to graduate, families of other years might want to put these in their memory banks for later use. 

I am also sharing an update on COVID guidelines, which were posted today on our Campus Health website.

The ABCs of Commencement

A – Apply sunscreen. Commencement is outdoors, and more often than not it is sunny. Don’t get a sunburn; your skin will thank you!

B – Bells. The carillon chimes for a long time after the Commencement ceremony concludes. It’s a beautiful sound.

C – Crying. It’s bound to happen – Commencement is an emotional day. Bring tissues.

D – Drunkenness. Talk to your Deacs to ensure they understand how you would feel if you found out they were not allowed to participate in Commencement because they were intoxicated. Students who are not in good shape can – and will! – be pulled out of line for the processional and will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony. My assumption is you do not want this, so make sure your Deacs are aware of your expectations well in advance.

E – Elderly relatives. Consider their comfort and mobility as you decide whether they should attend Commencement. It can be hot or cold, it’s a lot of walking on unfamiliar ground, then 3.5 hours of watching the ceremony on the Quad (or in Wait Chapel if they prefer; there is also a livestream option they can watch from home). I remember how much my grandmother wanted to see me graduate, but it would have been much too much heat and walking for her, so we all agreed it was better for her not to attend. Sometimes that is the best choice.

F – Friends. Take a lot of pictures of your Deac and their friends throughout Commencement weekend. Those photos are things they will treasure later.

G – Go! Go to the Departmental Receptions in your student’s major. Go to dinner or parties with their friends’ families. Go to any of the events that will make you – or your Deac – happy. But don’t be surprised if they aren’t ready to commit to a schedule yet; a lot of our seniors will make plans muuuuuuuuuch closer to Commencement weekend.

H – Hug and handshake line. During the recessional at Commencement, the faculty line up at the end and are there to offer applause and/or handshakes and hugs to our graduates. It’s kind of like the handshake line you used to see at your kids’ sports games when they were little. It’s one of my favorite things at Commencement.

I – Instantaneous. In this world of shortened attention spans, we are all used to getting what we want in an instant. That does not happen during Commencement weekend. While Wake does an outstanding job with logistics and planning to ensure our guests have a smooth experience, there will be still be traffic, lines to wait in, etc. Prep yourself now for that eventuality and resist the urge for instant gratification.

J – Jackets. The temperature can vary – might be cool in the morning, warmer when the sun comes out. Having a jacket or sweater to add/remove as needed is a good call.

K – Kids. If you have little kids, it could be tough for them to sit through a 3.5 hour ceremony. Let them walk around on the back of the Quad, or explore buildings until your Deac’s name is getting ready to be called.

L – Livestream. Commencement will be livestreamed via the wfu.edu web site. This is great option for relatives to view it, particularly elderly relatives for whom a trip to campus might be more difficult to manage. Did I mention that folks who need to get out of the sun can also watch a close-captioned livestream in Wait Chapel?

M – Mud. The Quad grass will almost certainly be wet with dew Commencement morning. And our grass, however lush, will get trodden down with 10,000+ people walking on the same paths. That creates mud. Do not wear your fanciest shoes, unless you are willing for them to get wet, grassy, and/or muddy (high heels sink in wet ground).

N – No signs on seats. Families cannot scope out their Commencement seats on Sunday and put signs on them. All signs will be removed. Send some family members early Monday to get seats you need, and other family members can arrive later.

O – Optimal time to arrive on the Quad? Wow, this is a tough question. My very Type A P’92 dad wanted to be there right at 6 am when the Quad opened so he could get his choice of seats. But then he had 3 hours to kill before Commencement started. For others, getting a later start is better. You know which type of person you are 🙂 Don’t forget there will be a lot of traffic, and bag checks, so allow plenty of time to arrive.

P – Processional. It begins on the 2nd floor of Reynolda Hall and then emerges down the stairs. It takes a while to move all the speakers and the platform party to the stage. Enjoy the pomp and circumstance. (I love looking at all the different doctoral robes of our faculty!)

Q – Questions. Look for staff members with gold nametags if you have questions or need help in any way.

R – Restrooms. They will be available in executive portable bathrooms in some of our Quad-adjacent the parking lots. Use the the executive portable bathrooms to avoid long bathroom lines! You can also go to the Divinity and Religious Studies building (behind Wait Chapel), or Reynolda Hall, or Benson Center (which is wheelchair-accessible).

S – Security. There will be bag checks. Consider not bringing a bag if at all possible, as it will speed up your entry to the Quad. Or just have one member of your family bring a bag, and the rest of you can zip through the line to find your seats.

T – Temperatures. So hard to predict. When I graduated, it was low 90s and sweltering. I’ve also seen high 50s and chilly. Your best bet is to keep an eye on the forecast and plan your wardrobe accordingly

U – University shuttles. These will run continuously from the LJVM Coliseum to campus. As parking on campus is limited, we encourage family members and guests to park at the LJVM Coliseum and shuttle in.

V – Victory. Graduating from college is an enormous achievement! It is a victory over all the bumps in the road and the challenges of college. And it proves your students have mastered our core curriculum and courses in their major. Victories deserve celebration!

W – Washcloth. Bring one from home to wipe the dew off your chairs. (If you borrow the one from your hotel, return it to the hotel of course!)

X – Xerox. OK, I am cheating with this one, but its loosely about paper 🙂 Students need to follow the instructions on all papers, emails, etc. related to Commencement (such as the info about how to get in line before the ceremony).

Y – You! You are our guests, and you are here to enjoy your Deac’s accomplishments. Take time to enjoy the moment. Slow down, be present, and be intentional.

Z – Z Smith Reynolds Library. It has bathrooms and Camino Bakery so you can get a pastry and a coffee!

That’s the ABCs of Commencement.

Update on COVID-19 vaccine guidelines

The Campus Health Committee has announced a change in Wake Forest’s vaccination requirements: Effective May 12, 2023, Wake Forest will strongly recommend that all faculty, staff and students remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including variant-updated boosters. The University will no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccination status. This change aligns with the expiration of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 on May 11, 2023. Read the full announcement from the committee here.