2015 Commencement Details
The University of Pennsylvania, School of Design extends its congratulations to our 2014-15 graduating students and their families on this festive occasion. Below is everything you need to know for this year’s commencement ceremonies. If you have any questions, concerns or require additional information please contact our office directly (email: registrar@design.upenn.edu, phone: 215-898-6210 or in person in 110 Meyerson Hall). Enjoy!
Important Dates
Commencement Festivities
Weitzman School celebrates its graduates and the successful end to the 2014-15 academic year throughout Alumni and Commencement weekend. The festivities begin at 5pm on Friday, May 15th with the Alumni BBQ/Happy Hour and Year End Show in Meyerson Plaza and the Lower Gallery. This event is open to the entire Weitzman School community.
Weitzman School Awards Ceremony: Weitzman School will recognize the exceptional work of its faculty, staff and students during the awards ceremony on Sunday, May 17th at 4:00pm on Furness Plaza. A light reception will follow in the Lower Gallery. This event is open to the entire Weitzman School community. Academic regalia is NOT required for this event. Award recipients should arrive no later than 3:30pm and will be directed by their department coordinators. The ceremony order is Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Fine Arts, City and Regional Planning and Architecture.
259th University of Pennsylvania Commencement Ceremony: The University will celebrate its 259th Commencement ceremony on Monday, May 18th in Franklin Filed located at 33rd and Second Streets. Tickets are not required and there is no limit to the number of guests per student who may attend. The gates to the field open at 8:30am for guest seating. Degree candidates will assemble in Hamilton Village (Superblock), 39th and Locust Walk no later than 8:45am. Academic regalia IS required for this event. For detailed information, including inclement weather procedures, please visit the University Commencement ceremony website: http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/.
Weitzman School Graduation Ceremony: Weitzman School’s graduation ceremony follows the University Commencement. There will be a luncheon for graduates and their guests beginning at 12noon in Meyerson Hall. Tickets are not required. Graduates are asked to bring no more than 4-6 guests to the ceremony due to space constraints. The ceremony is held outside on Furness Plaza and will begin at approximately at 1:20pm. Graduates should assemble in Meyerson Hall B1 no later than 12:50pm to line up for the school ceremony procession. Academic regalia IS required for this event. Your department coordinators will line you up in alphabetical order for the ceremony. Dual degree students will line up in one group and will be recognized for their accomplishments in two programs. Brianna Sidorick-Potts from the Weitzman School Registrar’s Office is responsible for lining up dual degree students for the ceremony. Stand alone certificate students will line up with their academic department. The ceremony order by departments is: Dual Degrees, Architecture, Environmental Building Design, City and Regional Planning, Urban Spatial Analytics, Fine Arts, Historic Preservation and Landscape Architecture followed by our doctoral graduates. Doctoral graduates are presented with their hood by their dissertation advisor.
Seating for guests with disabilities: there are two distinct processes for our guests with disabilities, one for the University ceremony in Franklin Field and one for the Weitzman School ceremony. Instructions for the University ceremony are online at: http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/event/other.html. For the Weitzman School ceremony, please send your request to registrar@design.upenn.edu no later than May 1st. Please include all relevant details in your email. We will provide a seat for your guest and three family members. Seating for your guests will be clearly marked in a designated area with your family name. Please note that we are unable to provide wheelchairs for your guests.
International student guests: Students who are in need of a formal invitation letter for Commencement should request the letter through the iPenn system: https://www.ipenn.oip.upenn.edu/. Once you log in to iPenn, click the 'Student Services' menu on the left side of the page and select 'Invitation Letter Request'; fill out all of the necessary information on the request form and click 'Submit'. An International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) representative will email you once the letter has been prepared and is ready for pick up. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the ISSS office: http://global.upenn.edu/isss.
Commencement announcements: the University provides eight Commencement announcement cards and envelopes for each graduating student for mailing to family and friends. Graduates can pick-up their announcement cards in the Weitzman School Registrar’s Office in 110 Meyerson Hall from 9-5pm beginning on March 30th. If you are unable to come to campus and would like us to send your announcement cards by mail, please contact us by email at registrar@design.upenn.edu.
Academic Regalia: graduating students purchase and receive their Commencement regalia at the PennBookstore during the Graduation Fair (March 18-20th). Please see the Grad Fair 2015 flyer. If you missed the Graduation Fair, please call the PennBookstore at 215-898-7595 to order your regalia. Hood colors vary by degree program:
Diploma and certificate distribution: diplomas and certificates will NOT be distributed at the Weitzman School commencement ceremony. Diplomas are mailed by the University Secretary’s office in early August to the permanent address listed in PennInTouch, unless a different address is specified in the “Temporary Address Field,” effective from June 1 – September 30th. International diplomas are sent via registered mail and can take up to eight weeks for delivery. International students who are planning to stay in the U.S. through September 30th should designate a temporary U.S. address in PennInTouch or contact the Diploma Coordinator to arrange for pick-up. Additional information is available on line at: http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/partic/diploma.html. Certificates are distributed by Weitzman School and will be available for pick-up beginning May 19th. Certificates CANNOT be picked up on May 18th. Certificates that are not picked up by June 15th will be sent by mail. Graduates are strongly encouraged to update their PennInTouch address information to ensure their diploma/certificate will be sent to the correct address.
Official transcripts: official transcripts can be requested electronically, by mail or in person through the University Registrar’s Office located at 3451 Walnut Street, Room 221 Franklin Building. Official transcripts for spring 2015 graduates will be available beginning May 19th. Graduates are strongly encouraged to review their official transcript online via PennInTouch to confirm that their graduation has been posted prior to ordering an official transcript. Weitzman School spring 2015 graduation will be posted May 16th and 17th. If your graduation has not been posted, please contact the Weitzman School Registrar (registrar@design.upenn.edu) directly for assistance. Details on how to order and the cost of an official transcript are available online at: http://www.upenn.edu/registrar/student-services/transcripts.html.
Account Balance: Please note that graduates with an account balance with the University will have a hold placed on their record and will not receive their diploma/certificate and/or an official transcript until their balance and hold have been rectified. Many charges, specifically print related charges are applied to your account after graduation. As a result we strongly encourage that you review your account balance regularly and pay it in full no later than June 15th to ensure that there is no delay in receiving your diploma/certificate.
On behalf of the Weitzman School community congratulations! We are excited for you and look forward to celebrating your accomplishments. As always if you have any questions, concerns or require additional information regarding commencement please do not hesitate to contact us (registrar@design.upenn.edu).
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