Thinking outside the Box From Traditional Ways to
Thinking outside the Box From Traditional Ways to New Ways Rolling Commencement
Mission PRESIDENT SAID: Paige – come up with a way to have a graduation and present to Exec Council
Time to Brainstorm Kim and I went to work calculating the number of students, trying to figure out how many we could have at one time and researching and talking to the area high schools Came up with 2 options and Negatives/Positives: Traditional – with multiple ceremonies, limited people Too hard to control the crowd Sanitizing Rolling – Constant movement of students/guests/families Break down into groups No seating No time to “congregate” Cut down on sanitizing/set up
Discussion Points/Things to Consider Ø Set up two different places and hold over two different weekends Ø Had announcers at both locations (made a huge deal for each student) Ø Ticketed to keep numbers down – hope to have better scanning method by fall (University Tickets) Ø Required Masks – had absolutely no issues Ø Could remove masks for pictures Ø Mailed name cards and medallions with a note to bring to ceremony Ø Most everyone brought their cards and medallions – sent reminder emails too Ø First come first serve – students were not in any particular marching order Ø Students will pick up their own diploma covers Ø Put Program online and emailed to the students Ø Did a survey to Spring Graduates to see who wanted to attend Ø Hired event staff to help
Two locations used: Field House
Rec Center • Tried to make as much like Field house as possible • Will add a barrier next time between guests and use carpet instead of tarp • Sound not as good
Breakdown of groups
Posted Online Schedule
Letters to Students
• Download Count them all on the APP store (. 99) or any other app • Create a group and set limits • Add users to particular group by selecting the QR code • and scanning with their phone Then just have someone counting them in and out Count them All - Tracking the Numbers
Last Minute Change President wanted another photo opportunity so had to scramble to put that together I tasked Marketing with this Lifetouch can help with QR coded name cards next time that can be scanned
Signage
s e v i t i s o Easy Parking P Do not have to fight crowds No speaker Family Friendly (togetherness) Less to clean up (carpet/chairs) MORE COST EFFICIENT Started early so home early Averaged about 6 minutes a group with the family pictures Staff members cheered the students Families and Graduates LOVED the multiple picture opportunities
Live Streamed https: //www. tamuc. edu/admissions/registrar/graduation/commencementvideo. aspx Summer 2020 Doctoral/Master/Specialist ceremonies Friday, August 7, 2020 • Field House: https: //youtu. be/Izm 3 Pds-jgc • Morris Recreation Center: https: //youtu. be/tnh. CPcc. Jk 9 s Undergraduate ceremonies Saturday, August 8, 2020 • Field House: https: //youtu. be/o 7 XVc. A 8 xp. UE • Morris Recreation Center: https: //youtu. be/u. DBRbf. WBCw 8 Spring 2020 Doctoral/Master/Specialist ceremonies Friday, August 14, 2020 • Field House: https: //youtu. be/uq. X 1 JWcluw. Y Undergraduate ceremonies Saturday, August 15, 2020 • Field House: https: //youtu. be/DD 6 Vv. Dkj. Wiw • Morris Recreation Center: https: //youtu. be/4 Rhvag. KP 2 tg
Biggest Lesson Learned Shorten times and add more graduates
Student/Parent Comments • #1 Comment - BEST GRADUATION EVER!!!!!! • THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS • ORGANIZED, SAFE • KEEP IT THIS WAY • YOU PROVED ME WRONG!
And that’s how it’s done https: //lifetouchjf. shootproof. com/gallery/tamuc/album/9028934
Presented by: Paige Bussell Paige. Bussell@tamuc. edu Kimberly Green Kimberly. Green@tamuc. edu
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