Convocation – Fall 2010

From: Elliot Hirshman

We look forward to your participation in Convocation 2010, the formal beginning of the academic year at UMBC, on Monday, August 30, at 3:30 p.m.

CEREMONY:

Convocation will take place in the Retriever Activities Center. This is a special opportunity for faculty, staff and administrators to welcome new students to the UMBC academic community. We encourage you to participate in the academic procession that symbolizes for our new freshmen and transfer students the community of scholars they have joined.  President Hrabowski will address the gathering, and we will continue the tradition of pinning the new students.  The Presidential Teaching Professor for 2010-13 Professor Wendy Salkind will also make brief remarks.

PICNIC:

We welcome faculty and staff to attend the community-wide picnic on the Quad immediately following Convocation. The rain location is the Residence Life Dining Hall.  There is no charge for faculty and staff.  We appreciate the assistance of our dining service provider, Chartwells, in sponsoring the picnic for the UMBC community.  Convey your R.S.V.P. as described below.

REGALIA:

Ordering – Faculty and staff – including members of the platform party and all those in the academic procession – will march in regalia. The deadline for ordering regalia is Monday, July 12. The cost of regalia rental is underwritten by the Provost’s Office if ordered by this deadline.  Faculty and staff who order after the July 12 deadline will be charged a $20 late fee.  To order regalia, go to https://my.umbc.edu/convocationform.  If you have ordered from UMBC before, your information will appear on the screen. If this is your first time to order, you should be prepared with the following information: height, weight, cap size, highest degree earned and name of the school where degree was earned.

Pick-up – Regalia will be available for pick-up at the Bookstore August 23-27.  Faculty and staff must pick up regalia at the Bookstore. 

RSVP:

Give your reply for both the ceremony, including regalia order and the picnic at https://my.umbc.edu/convocationform by July 22, so we can plan seating and food for you.  Even if you own your own regalia, reply through the response form.

We look forward to welcoming a talented and enthusiastic group of new freshmen and transfer students to UMBC this fall and to the start of a new year that holds much promise for excellence in teaching and learning, research and service in our academic community.  We hope you will join us to begin the school year at Convocation on August 30.