Graduation Information for May 2010

Congratulations to all candidates for graduation!  The information below will help you and your families plan for graduation requirements, events and the commencement ceremony.

Regalia
Jostens will be on campus Monday, March 15, 11:00-3:00, to take your regalia order.  You may order graduation announcements directly from Jostens online. If you are not able to place your order with Jostens on that date, do so as soon as possible by contacting Amber Simmons, ambers@linfield.edu, in the Portland Campus bookstore.  Nursing students may order their pin by contacting Lisa Burch lburch@linfield.edu.  Nursing pin orders are due by March 15, 2010.

Completion of Graduation Requirements
An e-mail message was sent to all students with incomplete graduation requirements prior to the start of the semester.  If you received an e-mail outlining unmet requirements, please make sure these are addressed as soon as possible.  All graduation requirements must be met before your degree will be posted to your record.   Contact Todd McCollum, todd.mccollum@linfield.edu, with any questions regarding graduation requirements.

OSBN Licensing Requirements
Nursing graduates seeking licensure by the Oregon State Board of Nursing may download an application packet from the OSBN website at: http://www.oregon.gov/OSBN/pdfs/forms/RN-LPNexamapp.pdf   It contains detailed instructions about the requirements for completing the application.  One part of the application involves obtaining the Dean of Nursing’s signature on a Picture Identification Form (included with the packet).  Please submit this form to the Nursing Administrative Assistant in PH 303 for the Dean’s signature.  You must bring proper identification (such as a driver license or passport) with you at that time and have a passport photo attached to the form.  You are also required to submit a transcript request form (included with the packet) to the Office of Enrollment Services, Linfield College, Portland Campus.  If your transcript request form is submitted prior to graduation, your official transcripts will be delivered to OSBN within three business days of graduation.  OSBN will not allow you to schedule a testing date until they have received your entire application packet including all fees and official transcript provided by the school.

Registering with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX-RN
Pearson VUE is a testing agency that a consortium of state boards of nursing, including Oregon, uses to administer the NCLEX-RN exam.  You must register with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-RN.  Registering with Pearson VUE can be done here: http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/.  Please note that our program code is: 80-598.

All Financial Aid Recipients—Exit Interview

Graduating students with Federal Stafford Student Loans must complete our Online Exit Counseling Session (https://www.dl.ed.gov/borrower/CounselingSessions.do?cmd=initializeContext ). You are required to complete the online Exit counseling before Friday, May 14.
 
Students who have Perkins or Nursing Loans will have to complete an additional online exit counseling session.  Gerardo Ochoa will provide more details in mid April.  
 
All online Exit Counseling Sessions are to be completed before May 14.  If you have an outstanding loan and do not complete the Online Exit Counseling, you will not receive official transcripts or your diploma.

Clearing of Accounts
Students with outstanding financial obligations to Linfield College will not receive diplomas or official Linfield College transcripts until their accounts are cleared.

Short-Term Loans
Students with short-term loans must repay loans no later than May 9th or have made satisfactory arrangements for such payment.  If you have any questions about your short-term loan, such as amount, due date, etc., contact Freddie Chew, Director of Finance and Business.   Students who do not repay these loans before graduation will not receive official transcripts or diplomas.

Your E-Mail Account
Your email address will be discontinued on December 20, 2010.  If you have material you would like to keep, please download or otherwise save this information before that date.

Almost Alumni Coffee Reception:  Friday, May 21, 2010, 10:30 a.m., Peterson Hall Foyer

Graduates, Faculty and Staff
Join fellow students, faculty and staff at a reception in honor of your upcoming graduation. You’ll receive alumni benefits information – and share your email so you can stay in touch with Linfield.

Community Celebration Picnic:  Friday, May 21, 2010, 12:00 p.m., Courtyard

Graduates, Faculty and Staff
Come and enjoy lunch with the graduates.  Student achievements will be recognized.

Baccalaureate:  Saturday, May 29, 2010, 6:00 p.m., Ted Wilson Gymnasium, McMinnville Campus

All Candidates
Portland campus candidates are invited to join McMinnville and DCE candidates and participate in the Baccalaureate ceremony.  Please wear your academic regalia for the special event.  Candidates should assemble in the walkway between the gymnasium and aquatic building on the McMinnville campus by 5:30 p.m.

Commencement:  Sunday, May 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m., Oak Grove, McMinnville Campus

Graduate formation
Graduates will assemble one hour prior to commencement to line up and prepare for the event.   Please be in the Ted Wilson Gymnasium by 9:00 a.m.  If driving from Portland, please allow an hour and a half to get to the McMinnville campus.  It is very important to be lined up correctly so each candidate will receive the correct diploma.   College staff will be available to assist.  Please do not plan to leave any personal items in the gymnasium.

Guests   
Commencement is traditionally held outdoors with open seating, no tickets required.  In the event of inclement weather, Commencement will be held in the Wilson Gymnasium and tickets will be required for admission.  Ticket allotments are based on the number of graduates and the Fire Marshal's regulations.  This year each graduating senior will be allotted 4 tickets that may be obtained from the Office of Enrollment Services beginning May 21.

Regalia
Caps and gowns are worn at Commencement.  Please be aware, in the event of rain, gowns may bleed onto clothing underneath.  So dress accordingly.

Pictures
A professional photographer will take a picture of you receiving your diploma.  You may purchase your graduation picture if you wish.  The photographer will contact you by mail.

Academic Honors
All graded courses that count towards your degree are used to determine whether you qualify for honors at graduation.   This includes both Linfield and transfer hours.   Since final grades are not due from faculty until the last day of the semester, we will not be able to identify honors recipients until the day of graduation.  This year's honors are: summa cum laude, 3.95 - 4.00; magna cum laude, 3.87 - 3.94; cum laude, 3.71 - 3.86.

 Academic Clearance

A final review of your academic record will be made just prior to commencement.  Those who have not completed all requirements by the end of the current semester will receive a blank diploma.  The Registrar’s Office (McMinnville) will issue diplomas upon completion of all requirements.

Nursing Closing Convocation:  Sunday, May 30, 2010, 2:30 p.m., Ted Wilson Gymnasium, McMinnville Campus 

Nursing Candidates
Nursing candidates will be honored on the completion of their nursing degree at the Closing Convocation (also known as the Pinning Ceremony) to be held in Ted Wilson Gymnasium, McMinnville Campus. (All nursing candidates are asked to attend the instructional session Friday, May 21, immediately following the Community Celebration Picnic.) Line up for the closing convocation (in academic regalia) will be Sunday, May 30, 2:00 p.m. 

Once again, congratulations on the completion of your Linfield degree!

January 28, 2009.