SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY
Commencement
Spring 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Morrow Field House
IMPORTANT COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION

Commencement Office
201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, PA 16057-1326
Phone: 724.738.2849
Fax: 724.738.4761
Memorandum:
TO:
Students intending to participate in
Commencement May 18, 2013
FROM:
____________________________________
Philip Way
Provost and Vice President
for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:
Important commencement information
Enclosed is a list of activities, which surround the May 2013 commencement
ceremonies. Please make special note of the procedures and the general
information contained in this brochure. By working together to ensure that all the
details are complete, we can make graduation day a memorable one for you and
your family.
Congratulations on your accomplishments at Slippery Rock University. I look
forward to greeting you as a new graduate May 18, 2013
A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
• • • •
rock solid education
www.sru.edu

Commencement Ceremonies
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Morning • 10:30 a.m.
(Seating begins at 9:15 a.m.)
College of Health, Environment and Science
College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts
Graduate Studies
(Graduates must check-in and line up by 9:30 a.m.)
Afternoon • 2 p.m.
(Seating begins at 12:45 p.m.)
College of Business, Information and Social Science
College of Education
(Graduates must check-in and line up by 1 p.m.)
Rehearsal
Friday, May 17, 2013 • 1:30 p.m. • Morrow Field House
• All commencement participants must attend rehearsal
• Graduation authorization cards (required for participating in the ceremonies)
will be distributed following rehearsal.
Tickets
• All commencement guests (including children) are required to have a ticket to
enter Morrow Field House. Overflow seating (no ticket required) is available in the
Alumni House, where guests may watch the ceremony via live Webcast.
• Each graduate is eligible to receive four guest tickets. Graduates do not need
tickets.
• Tickets will be distributed:
• April 17: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Graduation Fair at the
Robert M. Smith Center Ballroom
• April 18-30: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 201 Old Main
• Current student teachers will receive their tickets March 25 during
Campus Day.
• Commencement tickets are not for sale or re-sale.
NOTE: All tickets must be picked up by April 30.
Reception
There will be a commencement reception from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Smith Student
Center Ballroom. If you are graduating in the morning, you and your guests are invited to go
to the reception following your ceremony. If you are graduating in the afternoon, you and
your guests are invited to attend the reception prior to your ceremony.

Applying To Graduate:
• Graduation is not automatic. You must apply to graduate.
• The deadline to apply online for May 2013 commencement ceremonies was
March 15, 2013. Applications after March 15 must be made in person at 107 Old
Main. All applications are due April 15, 2013.
• Complete all coursework by May 21. Failure to complete coursework will result
in changing your graduation date to the end of the semester during which the
coursework/application is completed. You must reapply for graduation should
this happen.
• There is no graduation fee.
NOTE: The University cannot guarentee your name will be included in the
May commencement program if your application is submitted after March 15.
Academic Honors
• Honors designations of cum laude (3.50 GPA), magna cum laude (3.60 GPA) and
summa cum laude (3.80 GPA) will not be placed on your transcript until your final
semester grades are received and a final GPA is computed.
• A minimum of 60 credits must be completed at SRU (excluding credit by exam).
• GPAs used for determining academic honors are computed at the end of the
semester preceding your last semester of enrollment.
Conferral of Degrees
• Degree requirements must be completed by May 21.
• All financial obligations to the University must be paid in order to receive your
degree.
• You will receive a diploma cover at commencement. Diplomas will be mailed
via first class mail to the address indicated on the graduation application. Notify
Academic Records of any change in your diploma mailing address.
• Undergraduate degrees will be conferred en masses by college. Each graduate’s
name will be read as they walk across the stage.
• Masters degree candidates will wear their hoods. Each graduate’s name will be
read as they walk across the stage.
• Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates will carry their hoods. The Provost and the
faculty sponsor will hood each graduate.
Academic Regalia
• Approved academic regalia (cap, gown, tassel) must be worn for commencement.
For graduate students, a hood specific to your degree is also required. Candidates
for a baccalaureate degree wear the tassel over the right temple; once the degree is
conferred, the tassel is moved to the left temple. All other degree candidates place
the tassel on the left side of the mortarboard, where it will remain.

• Regalia will be available for fitting and purchase at the SGA bookstore from April
17 to May 18.
• Summa Cum Laude (3.8-4.0) graduates wear a University Medallion on Green
Ribbon, which is provided by the SRU Alumni Association. You may pick this up
from the Alumni House beginning April 17.
• Magna Cum Laude (3.6-3.799) graduates wear a white honor cord. You may pick
this up from the SGA Bookstore beginning April 17.
• Cum Laude (3.5-3.599) graduates wear a green honor cord. You may pick this up
from the SGA Bookstore beginning April 17.
• Latin honors are awarded only to undergraduates.
• Phi Kappa Phi medallions and approved SRU Honors Program cords may be
worn at commencement.
NOTE: No other cords or stoles may be worn at commencement.
Invitations, Photographs
• Invitations, class rings and commencement memorabilia are available at the
SGA Bookstore.
• A professional photographer will photograph you as you cross the stage.
Information will be available at rehearsal.
• Families and friends are prohibited in the stage area or in the aisles before, during
or after the ceremony.
Publicity
• The University Public Relations Office will provide a list of all graduates to
in-state newspapers mid-June.
• Graduates with interesting stories – fourth or fifth generation SRU graduates,
senior citizens, returning veterans, ect. – are encouraged to contact 724.738.2199
prior to commencement.
Guest Instructions
• Please help us provide a memorable event for your graduate and all of our
graduates and their guests. We ask that you please be seated before the procession
of graduates begins. Late arrivals will not be seated during the processional, and
must wait to be seated until its conclusion. Each guest must present a ticket for
entry.
• For safety and security reasons, guests must remain in their seats for the entire
ceremony and are asked to remain as a sign of respect for all graduates.
• Photographs are encouraged, but guests must remain in their seats while taking
photos or videotaping any part of the ceremony.
• Cell phones and pagers should be turned off.
• Guests attending the morning session are asked to leave the area immediatly
following the procession in order to accommodate staff to prepare for
the afternoon session. No guests will be allowed on the stage following
commencement.
• Thank you for your participation in commencement and for following this
protocol. With everyone’s cooperation, it will surely be a special and memorable
day.

Special Needs Seating
• A limited number of seats are available for guests with special needs.
• Guests needing special seating should arrive early and check in with the student
ambassador on the lower level of Morrow Field House.
• The special needs guest and ONE additional guest may sit in the special seating
area.
• Special needs guests should use the lower level entrance to the Field House.
• The University does not have wheelchairs available for guest use.
• An interpreter for hearing-impaired persons will be provided for each ceremony.
Transportation, Parking, Shuttle
• University Police will direct you to the nearest available parking.
• Shuttle bus transportation will be provided from the parking lots to the field
house both before and after the ceremony.
• Guests should arrive early to avoid traffic congestion.
Last Minute Updates, Information
• In the event that the ceremonies should be cancelled for any reason, graduates will
be notified via the e2Campus alert system.
• Commencement updates will be posted to www.sru.edu and on the SRU newsline,
724.738.2998.
Commencement inquiries should be directed to:
SRU Commencement Office
Lisa Gray, Commencement Coordinator
201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
724.738.2849
Email: commencementoffice@sru.edu
Visit us at: www.sru.edu/president/commencement/Pages/Commencement.aspx

Lodging:
1 Fairfield Inn and Suites
by Marriott
1000 University Parkway
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
Opening Sept. 2011
724.406.0535
2 Comfort Inn
Exit 113/I-79
Across from Prime Outlets
Grove City
(10 minutes from SRU)
724.748.1005 or
800.4CHOICES
3 Best Western
Exit 113/I-79
Across from Prime Outlets
Grove City
(10 minutes from SRU)
724.748.5836 or 877.574.2464
4 Hampton Inn
Exit 113/I-79
West past Prime Outlets
Grove City
(10 minutes from SRU)
724.748.5744 or 800.345.8082
6 Monroe Heights Hotels
Exit 113/I-79
West past Prime Outlets
Grove City
(10 minutes from SRU)
724.748.9920 or 800.337.0044
7 Super 8 Motel
Exit 113/I-79
West past Prime Outlets
Grove City
(10 minutes from SRU)
724.748.3000 or 800.800.8000
8 Applebutter Inn
9
Bed & Breakfast
Route 173
Slippery Rock
(5 minutes from SRU)
724.794.1844 or 888.275.3466
Fairfield Inn and Suites
by Marriott
200 Fairfield Lane
Butler, PA 16001
(20 minutes from SRU)
724.283.0009
5 Holiday Inn Express
Exit 113/I-79
West past Prime Outlets
Grove City
(10 minutes from SRU)
724.748.5514 or 800.345.8082
7
6
5 4
19
3
2
208
258
173
Grove City
1
N
S
108
173
8
8
422
Butler
9
Mention you are visiting Slippery Rock University and
you may receive a discount on the cost of your stay.

DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS:
From the Pittsburgh area
Take I-79 North to Exit 105 (Slippery Rock
Exit). At the exit, turn left onto Route 108
East (4 miles). Once in the village of Slippery
Rock, turn right onto Route 173 South
and at the University turn left onto Kiester
Road. Left at main entrance (at light).
From Points North
Take I-79 South to Exit 113 (Grove City
Exit). At the exit, turn left onto Route 208
East (Leesburg-Grove City Road), and turn
right onto 258 South (Mercer Butler Pike),
(7 miles). Go through the village of Slippery
Rock and then turn left onto Kiester Road.
Left at main entrance (at light).
From Ohio and Points West
Take I-80 East into Pennsylvania. Take
Exit 19A (I-79 South). Take Exit 113
(Grove City). Route 208 East (Leesburg-
Grove City Road), and turn right onto 258
South (Mercer Butler Pike), (7 miles). Go
through the village of Slippery Rock and
then turn left onto Kiester Road. Left at
main entrance (at light).
From Points East (I-80)
Take I-80 West to Exit 29 (Barkeyville
Exit). At the exit, turn left onto Route 8
South (8 miles). Turn right onto Route 108
West (2 miles). Once in the village of Slippery
Rock, turn left onto Route 173 South.
At the University turn left onto Kiester
Road. Left at main entrance (at light).
From Points East
(PA Turnpike)
Take the Turnpike West to Exit 28
(Cranberry Township). Upon exiting the
turnpike, follow Route 19 North towards
Zelienople. Stay right on Route 19 and look
for signs directing you to I-79 North to
Erie. From I-79 North (35 miles), take Exit
105 (Slippery Rock Exit). At the exit, turn
left onto Route 108 East (4 miles). Once
in the village of Slippery Rock, turn right
onto Route 173 South and at the University
turn left onto Kiester Road. Left at main
entrance (at light).
From the Butler area
Take Route 8 North to Route 173 North
(Old Stone House located at the intersection
of Routes 8 and 173). Veer left onto
Route 173 North . Follow Route 173 (3
miles) passing much of the Slippery Rock
campus, and turn right onto Kiester Road
at the light, Left at main entrance at light.
Respect for Individuals in the Community
Slippery Rock University provides an environment that respects, encourages and promotes the talents and contributions of all. Slippery
Rock University values a community with a shared sense of purpose, where people demonstrate mutual respect and appreciation. Slippery
Rock University values diversity that honors and includes all persons regardless of age, creed, disability, ethnic heritage, gender, gender
identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status in academic and extracurricular endeavor, in the working environment
and in the daily life of the University community.
#7078 3-2013
www.SRU.edu
A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education