A Graduation Fair (also known as Sr. Salute) is scheduled for November 9th, from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Senior Salute will be held for all December graduates. On this day, different departments will set up tables in the Student Union on the Duluth Campus. This will allow you to take care of exiting materials (e.g., signing forms, address changes, purchasing of commencement regalia, picking up tickets, instructions, etc). It will be a festive occasion as well, with drawings for prizes, food and music.

Adult studies (ADEP and Graduate) students who are unable to attend, will automatically receive a check-out list and their tickets in the mail.

Please contact Joelle McGovern, (218) 723-6779 for more information.

Graduation Mass is scheduled for December 19th at 9 a.m.

Located on the Duluth campus in the Queen of Peace Chapel. Please contact Lori Barnstorf (218) 723- 5933 if you would like to help with Mass.

Graduation Brunch is scheduled for December 19th from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Free for Graduates!) This will also be held on the Duluth campus in Somers Main Lounge. Advance reservations are required for all who plan on attending by Friday, December 4, 2009.

Graduates can attend the brunch at no charge, but a RSVP is required. If you plan attend the brunch without guests, simply e-mail Joelle McGovern to receive your free ticket.

If you would like to invite guests, the cost is $10 for each guest, children 5 and under are free. Please use the link below to reserve tickets for you and your guests.

Commencement is scheduled for December 19th at 12 p.m.

Graduates are requested to enter the Burns Wellness Commons through the West Entrance (the left entrance when facing the building) and report to the lower-level track by 11:30 a.m. The procession will begin at 11:55 a.m.

Instructions will be available on the Commencement Web site in the near future. You can also watch a short video to see what to expect. In addtion, volunteers will be available on the day of commencement to answer any questions you may have.

The Reif Gymnasium, where Commencement is held, has a seating capacity of 1,000. Based on the number of graduates participating in the ceremony, and past experiences, each graduate participating in the ceremony will be given six (6) tickets to distribute to guests.

The tickets will be available to pick up during Senior Salute on Nov. 9th. Distant students will receive their tickets in the mail shortly after Sr. Salute.

Parking will be available for your guests in Lots 2 and 3. Please ask your guests to enter the Burns Wellness Commons through the lower East entrance (signs will posted to direct them).

Cap off your commencement at the all-family reception sponsored by your St. Scholastica Alumni Association. The reception will be held in Storm's Den, located in Tower Hall.

Caps,gowns and tassels are available in the bookstore. You may purchase all three or the individual items during Sr. Salute on Nov. 9th. The cost for the cap, gown, and tassel is approximately $37 for Bachelor regalia, $40 for Master level regalia, and $48 for doctoral regalia. Distant students can purchase their cap and gown beginning November 9th by calling the bookstore (218) 723-6622.

Graduate level students (MA, MBA, MED and MS) will receive their academic hood when they purchase their cap and gown. Graduate students should wear their academic hood during the processional and throughout the entire ceremony. Doctoral graduates will receive their hood on stage during the ceremony.

The Bookstore will be open from 9 a.m. - noon on the day of commencement for last minute purchases of regalia. Generic announcements will be available in the Bookstore. Personalized announcements can be ordered. The Bookstore's phone number is (218)-723-6622.

As you near graduation, you need to prepare for your job search and future career. Career Services (Tower 2150) provides the following assistance which can aid you in that endeavor: Resume Writing, Interview Skills, Job Search Strategy, Networking, Negotiating Salary, Researching Prospective Employers, Researching Graduate Schools, and Writing a Personal Statement for Graduate School Applications.

You will also find job listings and links to other useful job search pages on our web site, www.css.edu/career.xml. Our web site also lists upcoming job fairs that are sponsored by our campus and other fairs from around the country.

Career Services can provide the necessary tools to help you achieve your career goals so please take advantage of our services. The sooner you obtain job search skills, the more prepared you'll be for entering the working world. We look forward to meeting you and wish you success in your personal, career, and educational pursuits!

The Degree of Gratitude is a small certificate that thanks a person (parent(s), spouse, instructors, friend, etc.) for support while pursuing your degree. Graduates may order up to three of these. Completed forms can be picked up or mailed for you after December 9th.

Please use the link below to order your degree of gratitude.

Grades are not due from faculty until December 24, 2009. Diplomas and final grades will be mailed by mid-January. Be sure to verify your mailing address in the Registrar's office.

A graduation fee of $30 is assessed to all Bachelor graduates and a fee of $50 is assessed to all Master and Doctoral graduates when you apply for graduation. It covers the various expenses associated with graduation such as your diploma, diploma cover, and academic hood.

If you have any guests with special seating needs or are in need of a sign language interpreter, please contact Joelle McGovern at (218) 723-6779 by December 8, 2009, so arrangements can be made.

If you have concerns about how your name will be pronounced at the ceremony, or if your name is commonly mispronounced, Dr. Beth Domholdt, Vice President for Academic Affairs, has scheduled blocks of time for short name-pronunciation rehearsals. Students who have these concerns should stop by Tower Hall 2111 during any of the scheduled times listed below:

Wednesday, December 9th from 11 a.m. - noon
Thursday, December 10th from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

If you cannot make these scheduled times, or if you are a distance student, please call (218) 723-6012 and leave a slow message clearly pronouncing and spelling your name.

To graduate with Honors for Bachelor students requires a GPA of 3.50 and with Highest Honors requires a GPA of 3.75. These academic honors are dependent upon the final grades of the last term of all graduates. "With Honors" designations will be printed in the commencement program for students who have earned the above criteria with current graded coursework at the point of commencement.

Once final grades and credits have been calculated and you have met the criteria, the designation of "With Honors" or "With Highest Honors" will appear on both your transcript and your diploma. A minimum of 48 St. Scholastica credits with grade points are required to graduate with Honors or Highest Honors. MA/MED/MBA/MS Graduates do not have honor designations. Due to the nature of the programs, it is an understanding that all graduates are graduating with high cumulative GPA's.

Located in the Student Union in Tower Hall will be an Information Table. If you need directions or have questions, there will be someone available to assist you. The Student Union is located on the ground floor of Tower Hall.

In addition, a tour of the Duluth campus will be available for anyone who is interested. The tour will be scheduled at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon following the reception.

Please contact Joelle McGovern, if you would like more infomation about the campus tour.

If you received an Ordean, Perkins or a Nursing Student Loan (NSL) from St. Scholastica, and this is your last semester of attendance, you need to contact Scott Holden in Tower 1130 (Business Office) for an exit interview. This involves signing some forms for your loan.

If you still have an account balance owing and this is your last semester of attendance, please see Scott to make arrangements to clear up your balance. Payment plans can be arranged. Diplomas and official transcripts will not be released for students with an outstanding account balance.

A professional photographer from Jolesch Photography will photograph each graduate receiving their diploma cover from President Goodwin. You will receive a proof from the photographer with an option to buy copies a couple of weeks after graduation. The telephone for Jolesch Photography is 1-800-833-6769.

The Commencement Speaker is Anntionette (Toni) D. Thorstad, Class of 2004. Members of the graduating class will give the Commencement Prayer and the Student Address.

Welcome, new graduates, to the Alumni Association! We want to know how you're doing, so don't forget to keep the College updated on your career, address, and other news. Fill out the online form at: using the link below, call 218-723-6071, or e- mail:mailto:alumni@css.edu.

We'll share your updates in TIMES magazine. Also let us know if you're joining a St. Scholastica Legacy Family (more than one grad from the College).