FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Who is eligible to participate in the 2013 Commencement Ceremony?
A: The student who has graduated from Foothill College during Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Winter 2013, or will graduate at the end of Spring 2013, or in Summer 2013, may participate. The student who petitions for Spring 2013 after May 1, 2013, will not be listed in the printed commencement program. The student who graduates in Summer 2013 will not be listed in the printed commencement program. Her/his name will appear in the following year's program.

Q: When and where is the rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony?
A: The rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony is Friday, June 28, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Library Quad. You do not need to bring your cap and gown to rehearsal.

Q: When and where is the Commencement Ceremony?
A: The ceremony is Friday, June 28, at 6 p.m. in the Library Quad at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. The quad is located in the center of the campus.

Q: What is the Commencement Ceremony schedule?
A: The outdoor ceremony begins promptly at 6 p.m. and runs approximately 90 minutes. We strongly recommend that you adhere to the following timeline to ensure that you have a pleasant and unrushed experience:

• 5:00 p.m.—You arrive and park in any student parking lot. All lots provide access to the Library Quad. Go to the Smithwick Theatre patio, report to the information tent in front of the theatre and complete your Graduate's Information Card. You must be wearing gown, hood, cap and tassel.
  
• 5:30 p.m.—Find your division in the Smithwick Theatre patio. Line up behind your division dean who will be holding a sign that identifies your division. Help your division dean pronounce your name by writing its phonetic spelling on your Graduate's Information Card.
  
• 5:45 p.m.—You must be in line with your completed Graduate's Information Card in hand and ready to go.
  
• 6:00 p.m.—The ceremony begins promptly with the processional. Honorary marshals will guide you to your seat. Follow directions from the marshals throughout the ceremony.
  
• 7:30 p.m.—This is an estimated end time. The ceremony concludes with the recessional. The marshals will guide you from your seat, through the corridor of honor, and then to the complimentary reception that begins in the Campus Center Plaza at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Q: Are admission tickets required for my guests?
A: No. Tickets are not required. On this special day, you may invite as many guests as you like. Be aware that guest seating is first come, first served. Strongly encourage your guests to arrive by 5 p.m.

Q: Do my guests need to purchase parking permits?
A: No. After 5 p.m. on the day of the ceremony only, parking in student lots is complimentary. Lots 5 and 6 are the only lots that provide no-stair access through Lot 5. Lots 1 and 8 provide no-stair access via elevators. Review the campus map for more information.

Important Information Regarding Children
Children are welcome to attend this formal, 90-minute ceremony, which features several speeches as well as the presentation of each graduate on the stage. For safety, children must remain seated at all times. Children are not permitted to play in or around the stage, or other cordoned-off areas.

Q: Will there be a reception following the ceremony?
A: Yes. At the conclusion of the entire ceremony, the Associated Students of Foothill College host a complimentary reception for graduates, guests, faculty and staff in the Campus Center Plaza.

Q: Are printed announcements available for purchase?
A: Yes. You may purchase printed announcements at the Foothill Bookstore in Room 2301.

Q: Where do I order my regalia (cap, gown, tassel and hood), and Honors gold cord (if eligible)?
A: You must purchase regalia to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Purchase and pick up your regalia at the Foothill Bookstore. You may place your order from June 3 through June 28 at noon. To order the Honors cord, you must present a copy of your unofficial transcript with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Retrieve and print your unofficial transcript. Cost is $15.00 plus tax.

Q: How much will the regalia cost?
A: The cost of gown, cap and tassel is $44.95 plus tax. The hood rental is $10 plus tax and a $20 refundable deposit. NOTE: To receive your deposit and your diploma, you must return the hood to the Foothill Bookstore no later than Thursday, July 25. Extra tassels are available for purchase.

Q: Where is the Foothill Bookstore and what are its hours?
A: The Foothill Bookstore is located in Room 2300 in the Campus Center. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. From June 24-June 28, hours are: Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday June 28, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. to purchase graduation regalia. For more information, call (650) 949-7305 or access books.foothill.edu.

Q: Will professional photos and video be available for purchase after the event?
A: Yes. To pre-register your permanent e-mail address and receive a $5 coupon toward a $25 purchase, access www.gradimages.com/register.cfm and click Pre-Event Registration. You'll receive a free passport-sized digital proof via e-mail and an order form within seven days of the ceremony. Place orders at www.gradimages.com or (800) 261-2576. Guests may take pictures and videos, but must remain in the seating area.

Q: When will I receive my diploma?
A: You will receive your diploma cover at the ceremony. The actual diploma, which goes inside, will be mailed to you in January after the final graduation check is completed. If you have a change of address, you are responsible for updating your student record at MyPortal. If you are not participating in the ceremony, you may purchase the diploma cover for $12.95 at the Foothill Bookstore.

Q: Whom should I contact if I have a disability requiring special arrangements?
A: If you or your guest has a disability requiring special arrangements (wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, etc.), call Disability Access & Compliance Supervisor Margo Dobbins at (650) 949-7038; or e-mail DobbinsMargo@foothill.edu. Indicate your needs no later than Friday, June 14th.

Q: Who is available to answer my questions?
A: For additional assistance, call or visit the offices listed below:

• Disability Resource Center for disability services; Room 5801; (650) 949-7038
• Counseling Appointment Desk for eligibility status and to petition to graduate; Room 8330C; (650) 949-7423
• Foothill Bookstore for regalia, invitations, etc.; Room 2301, (650) 949-7305
• Student Activities Office for rehearsal and ceremony information; Room 2009; (650) 949-7282; DavorenTricia@foothill.edu
• Student Affairs Office for general information; Room 2002; (650) 949-7241; FrankebergerBill@foothill.edu

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE GRADUATE

NOTE: Place your tassel on the right side of your cap.

5 p.m.— GRADUATE'S INFORMATION CARD: (see sample below)

1. At the rehearsal, you will receive a Graduate's Information Card. Bring your card to the ceremony. If you do not have a Graduate's Information Card, get one at the information tent in the Smithwick Theatre Patio. When you walk on stage, your division dean will read your name from this card. Be certain to print your name clearly in large letters on the card. Write your name again phonetically so that your division dean can pronounce your name correctly.
   
2. Circle your degree, and write in your major. For instance, "AA in Music" or "AS in Math."
   
3. If you qualified for a special recognition/award, circle that on the card as indicated.
   
4. Be certain that you know your academic division. To verify the division you are in, check the list available at the Student Activities Office, Counseling Office or information tent.

5:15 p.m. — YOUR CAP, GOWN & HOOD: The hood is the velvet part of your outfit that rests on your shoulders. The red end goes down over your back. The strap hooks on behind your neck to prevent the hood from flopping open. The bottom of the hood's V-shape in the front should be positioned just below the level of the knot in a tie. If necessary, use safety pins to keep the hood in place. Pins will be available at the information tent.

5:30 p.m. — LOCATE & LINE UP WITH YOUR DIVISION IN THE THEATRE PATIO: Find your division and line up with your fellow graduates. Help your division dean learn to pronounce your name if he or she asks you.

5:45 p.m. — QUEUE UP: You must be in line, have your completed Graduate's Information Card in hand and be ready to go.

6 p.m. — PROCESSION & CEREMONY: The procession begins from the theater patio and proceeds to the Library Quad. Follow the directions of the marshals who will lead the procession and signal what you are to do during the ceremony. The ceremony will run approximately 90 minutes. In addition to guest speaker messages, each student will be called upon to walk across the stage to receive her/his diploma cover from Foothill College President Judy C. Miner, Ed.D.

RECEPTION: The ASFC-sponsored reception for graduates, guests, faculty and staff features light refreshments and follows the completion of the entire ceremony in the Campus Center Plaza.

Sample Graduate's Information Card

Graduate’s Information Card (Print Neatly) Name: __________________________________________________________ Phonetic Spelling of Name:__________________________________________ Circle Degree: AA or AS in (subject):__________________________________ Circle the awards you have earned: ASFC Lifetime Member Dean's List (Foothill GPA 3.5 or higher) Honors Scholar (Completed the requirements of Honors Scholar program in accordance with the National Collegiate Honors Council.) Scholar Athlete