Class of 2008 Graduation/Commencement
Wednesday, May 21st
Mann Music Center
5201 Parkside Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
This page last updated: 4/16/2008. Check back often for updates.
Graduation gift items, diploma frames, and book buy backs
The USP Bookstore has a full line of Diploma Frames as well as order forms. The frames range in price from $135.95 - $268 (30% discount April 14-18th)
April – 14th & 15th Josten’s will be selling Class Rings at the bookstore
April 23rd @ 2:00 PM there will be a poetry slam at the bookstore in recognition of National Poetry Month
April 28th – May 2nd Budgetext will be buying back books from students
April 28th – May 2nd Clothing and Gift sale at the bookstore
May 12th – 21st All Alumni/Graduation related items will be on sale
For more information contact: Mike Ball
Matthews USP Bookstore
215-596-8850
bookstore@usp.edu
or go to: http://webmedbooks.com/usp/default.aspx
Commencement Rehearsal
10:30 am | Tuesday, May 20th
Mann Music Center
USP will provide round trip bus transportation for rehearsal only. Buses depart USP ARC parking lot from 9:30 am. Last bus departs at 10:am.
Caps and gowns will be distributed upon arrival for rehearsal. Caps and gowns are for students to keep.
Graduation Celebration Reception hosted by Dr. Gerbino and the Alumni Association on Campus Quad at 1:30 pm.
Breakfast Reception
10:00-11:30 am | Wednesday, May 21st
USP Campus - Wilson Hall and McNeil Science & Technology Center
Breakfast reception for graduates and their families.
Commencement Ceremony
1:00pm | Mann Music Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia
- Admission tickets Required. More information...
- Gates open to ticketed guests for seating at 12:15pm sharp.
- Graduates report to Gate "A" 12:15pm. sharp
Important notes about the Mann Music Center:
- Balloons are not permitted on Mann Center premises
- Ample parking available. Parking costs are TBD ($10/car in prior years)
- The Mann Center is accessible to persons with disabilities. More information...
Photography
Photographs may not be taken during the commencement ceremony. USP
will provide a photographer to take photos as each graduate receives
his/her diploma and shakes hands with President Gerbino. These photographs
will be mailed to the student's home address with order forms and
pricing information.
Free family photographs are available for USP Legacy Families. More
information...
Invitations, Announcement Cards and Admission Tickets
Graduates will receive a formal invitation to commencement events, via US mail. Please make sure we have your current mailing address prior to April 1st. A mailing address update form is available from the Registrar's office.
All graduates will receive 10 announcement cards and 8 admission tickets for the Mann Center. These may be picked up at your respective College office the week of April 7th.
"Lawn seating" tickets are available to graduates needing additional tickets. While seating is in chairs, the area is not covered. Request lawn seating tickets from your Dean's Office no earlier than May 1st.
International Guests
International students may have family members overseas who need a Visa to enter the United States to attend commencement. USP Dean’s offices can provide a letter of invitation with appropriate details needed for documentation
Special Assistance
USP will have a special assistance team available on Commencement Day at the Mann Music Center.
Improved Accessibility at The Mann Center
Recent renovations of The Mann Center have made it more accessible
for patrons. The main parking lot, box office, and main gate are all
now in the middle level of the house where the handicapped seating
is located. The concessions and plaza level have been renovated for
better handicap accessibility.
Parking for patrons with a valid handicap license plate or other authorized
identification is available near the new main gate and at the top
of the hill. Patrons may also be dropped off in front of The Mann
Center box office.
Special Seating
Reserved special seating is available for persons using a wheelchair. Please contact us.
Hearing Impaired Guests
Please contact us if a guest is hearing impaired and requires assistance.
Visually Impaired Guests
We are happy to accommodate visually impaired guests with seating closer to the stage. Please contact us.
Graduates with Disabilities
Please inform us if you are unable to walk up or down stairs or are visually or hearing impaired. We can make arrangements to accommodate you and enable you to participate in commencement activities.
For all special assistance requests and for more information,
contact Cathy Mini at c.mini@usp.edu, 215-596-8901, prior to May 6th.
USP Legacy Families
A Legacy is an alumnus or student in a family with one or more generations of USP/PCP graduates (living or deceased). This includes alumni and students who are related by marriage.
If this describes your family, please join us for free family photographs at the USP Legacy Society Reception on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 10-11:00 a.m, 2nd Floor, Wilson Student Center. This reception will be held in conjunction with the Breakfast Reception (see above.)
Participants will receive a USP Legacy Society photo frame. Photographs will be featured in the summer edition of the USP Bulletin.
Please email us to let use know if you participate. We'll need to know your name, and the names of other legacy family members who will be photographed. Contact: legacy@usip.edu.
All graduates and families are welcome to attend.p.
Diploma Distribution
Students receiving a degree in May and participating in Commencement
Diplomas are not distributed during the ceremony. Diploma pick up is immediately following the ceremony. Diplomas are only released to the graduating student.
Students receiving a degree in May and not participating in Commencement
The Registrar’s Office will deliver diplomas via DHL approximately one week after Commencement. Please be sure that the Registrar’s Office has a valid current address. Note: DHL will not deliver to a PO box. If the addressee is not present to receive the delivery, DHL will leave the package at the door.
Graduates may pick up the diploma in person, but need to call the Registrar’s Office at 215-596-8813 to make arrangements. Graduates will be required to show a valid picture ID (such as a USP ID or Driver’s License).
Other circumstances
The Registrar’s Office orders diplomas from the printer on the actual date of graduation. The printer provides the diploma to USP approximately six to eight weeks after receiving an order.
The Registrar’s Office will then deliver diplomas to graduates via DHL. Please be sure that the Registrar's Office has a valid current address prior to your graduation date. Note: DHL will not deliver to a PO box. If the addressee is not present to receive the delivery, DHL will leave the package at the door.
Graduates may pick up the diploma in person, but need to call the
Registrar’s Office at 215-596-8813 to make arrangements. Graduates
will be required to show a valid picture ID (such as a USP ID or Driver’s
License).
Petition for Graduation
All students who plan to graduate in May 2008 must submit a petition to graduate. Submitting a petition is mandatory to meet the requirements to graduate as stated in the Student Handbook, pages 103-104.
The deadline to submit a petition to graduate is Friday, January 25, 2008.
Petitions for undergraduate and professional program students are submitted to the Registrar's Office, Whitecar-1100. Graduate students submit petitions to the College of Graduate Studies Dean's Office, McNeil 105.
Petition forms were mailed to undergraduate and professional program
students' home addresses in August 2007. If you did not receive a
petition form in the mail, one may be obtained from one of the respective
offices above.
Other Petition Deadlines:
| Anticipated Graduation Date | Petition Deadline |
| May 2008 | January 25th |
| July 2008 | May 16th 2008 |
| September 2008 | July 7th, 2008 |
| November 2008 | September 5th, 2008 |
| January 2009 | September 5th, 2008 |
| May 2009 | January 23rd 2009 |
Graduate Information Form
Commencement Award Application
USP Calendar of Events
Email for Wheelchair Seating
Email for Hearing Impaired Guests