2008 Baccalaureate and Commencement

Baccalaureate Service

Baccalaureate has been a special part of the heritage of Taylor University and is being reinstated after a 15-year hiatus to complement Commencement.

The service will be held Friday, May 9, 10:00 a.m., in Rediger Chapel/Auditorium. Seniors will be seated in a reserved area near the front. The platform party will wear academic regalia. Pastor David Rodriguez of Grace Community Church, Noblesville, will receive an honorary doctorate and will speak. 

Graduate Buffet

A special dinner will be held Friday, May 16, 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Hodson Dining Commons with three separate serving times. Graduates and their parents will receive invitations by March 31 indicating their assigned time.

Senior Program

A program will be held Friday, May 16, 8:15 p.m. in Rediger Chapel/Auditorium and will feature this year's graduates through music, testimonies and a slide show. A special guest selected by the senior class will share at this event.

Commencement Ceremony

  • The Commencement ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, in Jim Wheeler Memorial Stadium. Gates/doors open at 9:00 a.m.
  • Participation in Commencement is expected unless seniors request to be graduated in absentia and are approved by the Registrar. The deadline for receipt of this request is Friday, May 2, 2008. 
  • Graduates must be in the indoor track area of the Kesler Student Activities Center (KSAC) by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, and need to be robed and in the proper line-of-march by 9:25 a.m. 
  • Tickets:  Tickets for family and/or friends will be required for admission ONLY if threatening or inclement weather forces the ceremony to be held inside the Odle Arena. In that event, because of limited seating only those persons holding tickets will be admitted into Odle Arena. Four tickets per graduate will be distributed (if needed) at Commencement rehearsal. Tickets will not be necessary if the ceremony is held in Wheeler Memorial Stadium.
  • Closed-Circuit Coverage:  Regardless of weather and the location of Commencement, Rediger Chapel/Auditorium will be open during the ceremony for family, friends and overflow guests to view graduation by live, closed-circuit television in an air-conditioned environment.

Regalia

  • Cap and Gown Ordering:  Graduating have been previously contacted by Herff-Jones and the Taylor University Relations Office regarding placing the cap and gown order.  Orders may be placed by e-mailing name, Taylor University, height and weight to ringourbell@bells-inc.com. The deadline for ordering is March 15. 
  • Cap and Gown Delivery:  Caps and gowns will be delivered to the Taylor Bookstore, and the Bookstore will announce when they will be available for pick up. Deadline for pick-up is no later than Friday, May 16, at 5:00 p.m.
  • Honors Regalia:  Tassels, cords and sashes will be distributed at rehearsal. For Commencement purposes only, honors will be announced and appropriate honors regalia worn using the GPA calculated after January. Final graduation honors placed on diplomas and transcripts are designated for those students who have fully completed all course work and requirements for their baccalaureate degrees. No other honors regalia are to be worn at Commencement.

Other Information

  • Webcast:  The Commencement ceremony will be available via webcast. Check this site in the coming weeks for more information.
  • DVDs:   Copies of the Commencement ceremony on DVD will be made available at $35 for one and $30 for each additional. Contact Carol Owen at 765-998-5255 or crowen@taylor.edu.
  • Photographs:   The Alumni Relations Office will have the campus photographer take a photograph of each graduate as he/she receives the diploma from the President and will send the digital image to the student's Taylor University e-mail address. There will also be a designated photo area for family and friends who want to take pictures during the ceremony; however the option above will help alleviate crowding and confusion with excessive numbers of photographers during the event.
  • Hearing Impaired Interpretation:  Anyone planning to attend the ceremony and in need of an interpreter for the hearing impaired, please email dnboatwright@taylor.edu immediately.
  • Special Needs Seating:  There will be a special section reserved for those needing assistance with physical limitations.
  • Lunch:  The Hodson Dining Commons will be serving lunch following the Commencement ceremony.  Meal cards of graduating seniors will be honored, and the cost of lunch for guests will be $6.50 per adult and $3.25 for children 12 and younger. No reservations are required.

Contact Information

  • University Relations - (765) 998-5109 or ur@taylor.edu for general event questions
  • Academic Affairs - (765) 998-4877 for specific academic questions
  • Alumni Relations - (765) 998-5115 for questions concerning May 16 buffet and program