Housatonic Community College’s 42nd Commencement will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009
Details below or you may download the Letter to Graduates.

Directions to the Arena at Harbor Yard

Letter to 2009 Graduates 

IMPORTANT COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION!

Dear Graduate Member of the Commencement Class – 2009!

Housatonic Community College’s 42nd Commencement will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main Street, Bridgeport.  Congratulations on reaching this very significant milestone in your life.  We look forward to a joyful and dignified ceremony that will honor your personal achievement.

The Arena doors will open promptly at 6:00 p.m. for the arrival of students and guests.  Doors will not open before that time. Please report to the Arena with your commencement attire (cap, gown and tassel) at 6:00 p.m. All students must enter the Arena using the Guest Services Entrance only and proceed to their left once inside the concourse area. You will be directed to the Student Area by HCC Commencement Marshals and Ushers.  The 6:00 p.m. arrival time is very important because at that time you will receive all of the final instructions pertaining to graduation.  You must then robe and line up alphabetically by degree program no later than 6:45 p.m.  The ceremony will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Your guests should proceed directly to the Arena’s Main Entrance for their seating. Please request that your guests allow enough time to be seated prior to the start of the ceremony.  Arena policy is that all bags are subject to search.  Additionally, there is no storage area to secure or store personal belongings. Please let your guests know that the following items are not allowed inside the Arena. 

SCHEDULE FOR PICKING UP CAPS, GOWNS & TICKETS:

Graduating students may pick up their caps, gowns and tickets at:

Student Development Office, Room A108
May 11th – 14th and May 18th – 21st (Monday through Thursday) 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are required for all guests and small children.  Each graduate may pick up a maximum of ten (10) tickets.  You will be able to keep your cap and gown as a souvenir of your graduation.  Extra tickets may be available after May 25th.

*Important Note:.  HCC Honors cords will be distributed at the Arena prior to the ceremony to students who have honors and high honors. However, the College does not provide cords or diploma seals for honor societies such as Phi Beta Kappa; these students should see their organization’s advisor.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS - STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If you are a graduate with a disability who needs special accommodations, please contact Lynne Langella, Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at (203) 332-5018 no later than May 22nd.

PARKING & DIRECTIONS:

Free parking is available in Housatonic Community College’s parking garage for graduates and guests.  A limited number of parking spaces, including parking for the handicapped, are available at the Arena for a $3.00 fee; price subject to change without notice.  Please arrange to car pool if possible; we encourage parking in HCC’s garage.  Parking may be limited in the Arena’s parking garage due to other events that may be scheduled in the adjacent Bluefish Stadium. 
Directions to the Arena at Harbor Yard
Direction to HCC

COMMENCEMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

Mr. Hernan Yepes and other Commencement Marshals will greet you when you arrive at the Arena and provide you with instructions for lining up for the Commencement March and will also give you a name card. 
The chairs for the graduates are arranged very compactly and close together, so when graduates proceed to their seats, it will be necessary for you to move as closely to the person in front of you as possible (shoulder to shoulder) to ensure that every seat in the row is filled.  Please pay careful attention to this as it will slow down the procession line and seating and delay the ceremony otherwise.

During the ceremony, when you ascend the stairs to the stage to receive your diploma cover, you will hand your name card to the Announcer.  When your name is read, please walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover from Anita Gliniecki, the College’s President.  If you are concerned about the pronunciation of your name by the name reader, please call 203-332-5182 between April 27th and May 22nd, 2008 to provide instructions on the correct pronunciation of your name. 

PHOTOGRAPHS:

A professional photographer from Chappell Studios will be available on stage to take your photograph as you receive your diploma cover from President Gliniecki.  An order form, price list and proofs will be mailed to you from the photographer so that you can make arrangements directly with the studio for purchasing the photographs. Guests are not permitted in the aisles to take photographs during the Commencement exercises as such activity can be distracting and may create safety concerns. 

PROGRAMS:

Commencement programs will be distributed at the ceremony.  The program will contain an alphabetical listing of graduates by degree/program as well as the order of the ceremony. Due to printing deadlines, the program booklet may include only the names and honors designations of graduates who have been certified through the Registrar’s Office by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 20th, 2008.

DIPLOMAS:

Diploma covers will be given to you on the stage at Commencement.  The actual diploma to insert in the cover may be picked up in the Registrar’s Office (B109) starting Friday, June 19th during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..  Diplomas will only be mailed based on written request to the Registrar’s office.

RECEPTION:

A reception with light refreshments for graduates, guests, and College staff will be held in the Atrium at Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Boulevard immediately following the ceremony.  Please join us!

If you have any general questions about the Commencement ceremony, please contact the Dean of Students Office at (203) 332-5184.

Sincerely,

Dr. Avis D. Hendrickson
Dean of Students

 

Visit http://www.hcc.commnet.edu/student/graduation
for the Latest Commencement Information