Earlham College | Commencement

The Earlham community looks forward to you joining us on May 2-3 to celebrate the 161st Commencement at the College as we honor the Class of 2008. In Earlham tradition, both Baccalaureate and Commencement will be held on the same day — Saturday, May 3. Baccalaureate will be held at 10:30 a.m. and Commencement at 2:30 p.m.

Since 2006, Indiana has observed daylight-saving time. Richmond is in the Eastern Time Zone, and our clocks align with Ohio and the East Coast (an hour ahead of Chicago) for the entire year.

You may link to a schedule of Commencement Weekend activities. It is our hope that graduates, families and friends will join us for meals on the campus during the weekend. On Friday evening, following the Phi Beta Kappa ceremony, graduates and parents will be our guests for a celebratory dinner.

The Commencement luncheon on Saturday is always a happy, crowded time together. Your graduate will receive complimentary tickets for all Commencement weekend meals, so you need to make reservations only for yourself and other members of your family. The reservation deadline for Commencement Weekend meals is Friday, April 18. An online meal reservation form is available.

Baccalaureate at Earlham

Most seniors and their parents are clear about the meaning of Commencement, the occasion which celebrates graduates' academic achievement by the awarding of diplomas. Baccalaureate is less familiar as many students did not have such an event at their high school.

At Baccalaureate, Earlham celebrates the importance of the whole journey that students and faculty have undertaken together. It is an occasion to reflect on the joys and struggles of the past four years, and to celebrate the growth of students and of their mentors.

Reflecting the Quaker nature of the College, Baccalaureate at Earlham incorporates elements similar to those found in programmed Friends Meetings for Worship — typically opening and closing prayers, reading(s), hymn(s) which everyone is invited to sing, a prepared message by a speaker from the faculty, time(s) for silent worship and reflection and song(s) by the Baccalaureate Choir (made up of seniors, faculty, staff, alumni and community members). Baccalaureate also includes aspects of academic ceremony such as the processional and recessional (seniors and faculty walking in together at the beginning and out at the conclusion).

The College strives to make it an occasion of worship and centering for all who are present. Many seniors, faculty and staff find Baccalaureate to be a significant event as they seek closure for their time together in these four years at Earlham.

While we hope to celebrate Baccalaureate and Commencement outdoors on Chase Stage, inclement weather may force us inside the Athletics and Wellness Center where limited seating will be available at Schuckman Court where the ceremonies take place.

To assist us with making comfortable and safe seating available and adhering to local fire codes, graduates (Earlham College, Earlham School of Religion, Earlham Master of Arts in Teaching Program and Masters of Education Program) will each be issued five tickets for guest seating at Schuckman Court.

In addition, another seating area will be set up in Trueblood Fieldhouse with a closed-circuit TV screen showing the ceremonies. This area will not require a ticket.

Additional areas will be set aside to accommodate guests in wheelchairs. Doors to Schuckman Court will open at 1:30 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. Commencement ceremonies. Ushers will be taking tickets and assisting with seating.

Should you have specific questions regarding Commencement, please e-mail Registrar Bonita Washington-Lacey or her assistant Julie Stout. The phone number for the Registrar's Office is 765/983-1515.

Chappell Studios will again be with us at the Commencement ceremony to take photographs of graduates as diplomas are awarded. Following Commencement, graduates will receive — at their home address of record — information on ordering Commencement photographs. Past graduates and parents have been pleased with the quality, variety and price of the photographs as well as the courteous service provided by Chappell Studios. This service provides an excellent option to capture this significant moment in your student's academic career.

We look forward to being with you at Earlham as we celebrate the Commencement of the Class of 2008.