2009 Graduation/Commencement
This page last updated 4/21/2009. Check back often for updates
Wednesday, May 20th 2009
Mann Music Center for the Performing Arts
5201 Parkside Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Commencement Rehearsal
Tuesday, May 19th 2009 at 1pm
Mann Music Center for the Performing Arts
Caps and gowns will be distributed upon arrival at rehearsal. Caps and gowns are for students to keep.
Everyone will receive ten(10) graduation announcements, and eight (8) graduation admission tickets in early April.
Breakfast Reception
10:00-11:30 am Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
USP Campus - Wilson Hall and McNeil Science & Technology Center
Breakfast reception for graduates and their families
Commencement Ceremony
1:00 pm - Mann Music Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia
- Admission tickets Required.
- Gates open to ticketed quests for seating at 12:15 pm sharp.
- Graduates report to Gate "A" 12:30 pm 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.
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.
Free family photographs are available for USP Legacy Families.
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 that 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 office 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,
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 20th, 2009, 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 us know if you participate. We'll need to know your name, and the names of other legacy family members who will be photographed. Contact: p.mcnelly@usp.edu.
All graduates and families are welcome to attend.
USP Bookstore
To the Class of 2009 …..
Just 28 days and counting ….. until Commencement day!
I hope you have received your invitation to the Graduates’ Dinner along with the commencement activity schedule. It was sent via US mail to your address on file early last week. If you haven’t received it, please contact me with an updated address!
Our Barnes & Noble Bookstore has been receiving calls inquiring about class rings, diploma frames and USP apparel, so for your convenience, they will have scheduled a Graduate Open House on Monday and Tuesday, April 27 and April 28th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and will provide refreshments. You’ll have an opportunity to pick up a brochure on the various jewelry items available and see the various diploma frames they have in stock.
If you are unable to join us on those dates, please feel free to stop by the bookstore Monday thru Fridays from 9am to 5pm or
Contact Jenn Smrekar, Bookstore Manager, at 215-596-8850 or email: j.smrekar@usp.edu
USP Bookstore
Class Rings: Herff Jones
http://extranet.herffjones.com/college/rings/index.cfm?event=processSchoolForm
Diploma Frames: Framing Success
http://www.framingsuccess.com/framing2/showplin@ELEVATOR.FXP?sessionid=2N20LMV36