Wharton Undergraduate Division Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 17, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
(processional begins at 8:50 a.m.)
The ceremony will take place at Franklin Field, 33rd and Spruce Streets, on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Following this ceremony, a celebratory reception with light refreshments will be held for Wharton undergraduates and their guests in Baker Forum and Koo Plaza in Jon M. Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut Street.
General Ceremony Information for Guests
General Ceremony Information for Student Participants
Photos and DVDs of the Commencement Ceremony
Seating for Guests with Disabilities
Ceremony Information in the Event of Severe Weather
Diplomas
Ceremony Announcements
Graduation Information for International Students
Download a pdf version of this page here.
General Ceremony Information for Guests
IMPORTANT: The South Street bridge and Franklin Field are undergoing massive construction which will impact the travel routes in and around Franklin Field during commencement. We strongly suggest you take public transportation to all commencement ceremonies on Franklin Field as parking will be incredibly limited. For more information about accommodating guests with limited mobility, click here.
Click here for more information about Park and Ride (an affordable shuttle to campus from a parking lot nearby).
Click here for more information about public transportation to campus via SEPTA, Philadelphia’s public transit sytem.
The ceremony will take place facing the East Stands of Franklin Field. Graduates will be seated on the field and guests may occupy the upper and lower areas of the East Stands. Gates will open for family and guest seating at 7:30 a.m. Guests should enter through the south side entrances. Guests with limited mobility are advised to be dropped off at 33rd and South Streets and enter in the southwest gate of Franklin Field. Click here for a map of Franklin Field. The undergraduate processional will start promptly at 8:50 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. and should last approximately two hours. Tickets are not required for admission.
Family members are prohibited from approaching the stage, student seating area or the student procession to take pictures before, during or after the ceremony. Guests will not be allowed in the parking lot staging area. Please see below for information on purchasing graduation photos and videos.
General Ceremony Information for Student Participants
Graduates must assemble in the parking lot adjacent to the North Stands of Franklin Field by 7:45 a.m. to prepare for the ceremony. Graduates must arrive with cap and gown to participate. More information about obtaining a cap and gown will be available in the spring.
An information session for all seniors will be held in May to review all Commencement procedures.
Photos and DVDs of the Commencement Ceremony
Legacy Photographics will be at the ceremony to take a photograph of each graduate as they exit the stage. There is no obligation to purchase pictures and each graduate will receive their ordering information directly from Legacy Photographics by mail before June 5th. To receive your proof three days after the event via email, please send your email address to erica@legacyphoto.com. Please reference the graduate’s name and Wharton School Undergraduate Ceremony in your email. For questions, call 800-447-2550 or visit www.legacyphoto.com.
Creative Video will be documenting the ceremony on film and will have DVDs available for purchase. DVD includes graduate interviews, procession, the entire ceremony and each graduate receiving their diploma and shaking hands with the Dean. Click here for the order form or order online at www.creativevideostore.com.
Seating for Guests with Disabilities
Seating is available for guests who use wheelchairs, as well as those with limited physical mobility or medical conditions. Due to construction on the South Street Bridge (please see information for guests above), access to the limited mobility seating area will be available via a gate on the southwest side of Franklin Field (at the corner of 33rd and South Streets). The gate on the southwest side will close at 8:30AM so as not to interfere with the ceremony procession. We highly recommend dropping off any guests with limited mobility at the southwest gate (on the corner of 33rd and South Streets) before 8:30AM. After 8:15AM, this seating area is reached ONLY through the entrance on the south side of Franklin Field where walking is required. Click here for a map of Franklin Field. Please be aware that the stadium is bench seating. Due to space constraints, guests with disabilities who are seated in the limited mobility seating area may be accompanied by one escort only.
Arrangements for limited mobility seating may be made beginning February 1st by emailing Kim Hein at deankr@wharton.upenn.edu. In your email, please include your name, mailing address, number of guests with limited mobility, total number of tickets needed and whether or not anyone in your party utilizes a wheelchair. There is no guarantee that accommodations can be made if the request is received after Friday, May 8th. Tickets will be mailed beginning in mid-April.
Please note: Motorized scooters and wheelchairs are permitted on Franklin Field. If anyone in your party uses these items, please bring them with you. We do not provide wheelchairs or scooters during Commencement weekend. Click here for a list of companies you can call to rent a wheelchair for Commencement weekend.
Ceremony Information in the Event of Severe Weather
The Wharton Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will be held rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony may be moved to the Palestra. There is the possibility that the ceremony may be cancelled if the severity of weather is extreme. Should such a cancellation be necessary, every possible effort will be made to notify guests in a timely manner. We will post any ceremony change information on the Wharton Undergraduate Division website (http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu) as well as on our main office line (215-898-7608).
Diplomas will be mailed to each graduate's permanent mailing address by the Office of the Secretary of the University. To update your permanent mailing address, please go to Penn InTouch. Students will receive their diplomas during the summer. Students who need proof of graduation more immediately may make arrangements with the Registrar’s Office (second floor, Franklin Building) to receive an official transcript with degree confirmation, or request an official letter from the Wharton Undergraduate Division office. Letters are not available until after June 1, 2009. Please contact 215-898-7608 or advising@wharton.upenn.edu for an official graduation notification letter.
Announcements for both the Wharton and University commencement ceremonies are available now in the Wharton Undergraduate Division (Suite G95, Huntsman Hall). Students may come pick up eight (8) of each announcement.
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