Letter to May 2008 Graduates
Dear Prospective Graduate and Family:
Congratulations Graduates.
Commencement is rapidly approaching, so we would like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest invitation for you to join us for the ceremony on Sunday, May 18, 2008. Graduation commemorates and rewards all the diligent effort put forth and signifies a new beginning as well. We hope that you will take part in the ceremony so that you may remember your time here at Genesee Community College and celebrate with family and friends.
Our commencement speaker will be Dr. Glenn DuBois, who became Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System in July 2001 after a nationwide search led to his selection by the State Board for Community Colleges. In that position he acts as chief executive officer of a 23-college, 40-campus system of comprehensive community colleges located throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
He had previously held the position of Commissioner and CEO of the New Hampshire Community Technical College System, with seven campuses, and was Director of Community Colleges for the State University of New York, one of the nation’s largest networks of community colleges. In addition, he has more than 10 years of successful teaching experience and chaired the department of criminal justice at North Shore Community College in Danvers, Massachusetts, where he developed numerous articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities and received top college awards for teaching. Considered an expert on the dynamics of community college teaching, Dr. DuBois received his doctorate in higher education administration, research and policy from the University of Massachusetts. He holds a master’s degree in juvenile justice and criminology from Eastern Kentucky University, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida Atlantic University and an associate of science degree in police science from the State University of New York in Farmingdale.
Commencement will be held in the Genesee Community College gymnasium on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 1:00 pm. Please plan to line up in the cafeteria no later than 12:15 pm. The length of the ceremony will be approximately one hour and thirty minutes. Please limit your guests to five people. We will re-evaluate this number as commencement draws closer.
If you have not yet signed up, or if you are an August graduate, you may still participate in the May graduation ceremony as long as you have completed a Diploma Request in the Records Office. The deadline for participating in Commencement is Friday, May 2nd.
Your cap, gown, tassel, graduation announcements, and tickets may be picked up in the GCC Bookstore (Barnes & Noble) beginning the week of March 29th. You will be required to sign a roster to confirm your participation in Commencement when you pay for your Commencement package. The fee to participate in Commencement is $25. Your diploma cover will be presented to you at the Ceremony. For any inquiries about extra tickets, students may check with Student Activities after May 2nd.
Commencement rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Please make arrangements to attend this rehearsal. This is an opportunity to rehearse the ceremony and to practice pronouncing your name. Rehearsal will take about one hour and thirty minutes. Please line up in the cafeteria beginning at 10:00 am and you will be given further directions.
Prior to rehearsal, a representative from Carlson’s Studio will take individual photographs for anyone who is interested. There are various pricing options available. Please come prepared to make payment.
Child care services will be available during Commencement for children eight weeks to five years of age. We've learned from past experiences that babies and young children sometimes get restless during the proceedings. Please plan to use these FREE services, but we must be advised prior to the ceremony how many children and the age group so we can make necessary staffing arrangements. Please sign up in Student Activities (Student Union), or call the number listed below, for this service.
Immediately following the graduation ceremony, a reception will be held in the Forum. This will include punch and snacks. Everyone is invited to participate.
You should receive your actual diploma around August 1, 2008. Please wait until then before inquiring.
For any additional information, contact the Student Activities office at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6261.
Once again, Congratulations Graduates.
