Gretchen's Memorial Service Program
Gretchen's Accomplishments
General
- Creation of new academic ceremonies logo
- New Commencement regalia for students to be phased in beginning May 2009
- Re-design of new Marshals Robes
- New system developed for distributing and collecting Marshals’ robes before and after ceremonies
- Restoration of SMU Mace
- Better communication between Registrar’s Office and Diploma Ceremony Coordinators
- Creation of new banner stands and bases
- Selected dressier ceremony attire for staff and volunteers
- Tate banners used on the stage and first balcony at ceremonies held in McFarlin Auditorium
- Development of a new and more efficient process for producing Commencement programs which includes proofing candidate lists prior to being sent to designer
- Better communication with ceremony staff including revised instructions and “cheat sheets”
- Revision of instructions for CPPO, Police, McFarlin Auditorium staff to clear up inaccuracies and to make more readable
Opening Convocation
- Redesign of program
- New online faculty RSVP system used to track ceremony attendance
- Water bottles handed out to students in procession line-up
- New custom SMU lantern will be incorporated into Opening Convocation in August 2008
- Addition of 32 country flags representing international students to Flag Alley
- Water bottles handed to students while they wait for procession to begin
- Phi Beta Kappa delegation leads processional symbolizing academic excellence
- Bullhorns beckon students from residence halls to ceremony
- Party on the Quad attracts SMU staff to cheer for new students during processional; we lure SMU community to the Quad with popsicles, chilled water, and giveaways
- Choir performs during the ceremony
- Howard Lantern introduced at ceremony
- Students walk through giant balloon columns, greeted by the Mustang band and receive a small, fun giveaway as they recess to a welcome picnic hosted by the President
- President’s Picnic held following the ceremony beginning in August 2008
December Graduation
- Relocation of December Graduation from three ceremonies in McFarlin Auditorium to one ceremony in Moody Coliseum
- Redesign of website to be extremely user-friendly
- Redesign of program
- Creation of an online faculty RSVP system to track dinner/ceremony attendance
- Inclusion of faculty and faculty dinner prior to ceremony
- 15-piece brass band added; fanfares announce various groups processing into Coliseum as well as used during diploma cover presentations
- Special choral selection performed during the ceremony
- Coliseum decorated in holiday motif
- Convert a gym into a sanctuary by covering athletic posters with piping and drapery
- Winter slideshow of SMU on Jumbotron as guests arrive
- Ceremony simulcast on large monitor located in lobby
- Photo-op created by mustang statue
- Expansion of communication with students including enhancement of instructions for Commencement to include better information in a readable design, more email reminders
- Memento given to students who attend December graduation
- Re-design of new procession passes to look more professional
Honors Day
- Redesign of program
- New online faculty RSVP system used to track ceremony attendance
- Balloon columns decorate the front steps of McFarlin
- Students’ award certificates distributed during ceremony instead of through the individual schools the following week
- Lapel pins given to every student who attends Honors Day instead of Honors cord
- Choir performs during the ceremony
Baccalaureate
- Visible signage outside of McFarlin
- Earlier time for guests to enter McFarlin to reduce wait-time outside of auditorium
- Giddy-Up shuttles transport guests at Baccalaureate
- Design and creation of new custom SMU lantern for Baccalaureate ceremony resembling Dallas Hall
- Addition of trumpet fanfares during the Rotunda Recessional
- Re-design of new guest tickets to look more professional
- Safer exit plan developed for guests after the ceremony to prevent the lobby and front steps of McFarlin from becoming jammed
May Commencement
- Redesign of website to be extremely user-friendly
- Redesign of program
- Creation of an online faculty RSVP system to track breakfast/ceremony attendance
- Expansion of communication with students including enhancement of instructions for Commencement to include better information in a readable design, more email reminders
- Addition of the 50th Class Reunion Chair on the Platform Party with a speaking role
- Addition of commencement ceremony announcer
- Transformation of Moody Lobby including blue draping to disguise athletic posters and ticket booth, addition of state flags and plants for color and decoration
- Addition of a large monitor to simulcast the ceremony in the Moody Lobby
- Visible signage for candidate line-up and faculty breakfast
- Shuttle bus now transports Platform Party from Moody to the President’s Luncheon
- Giddy-Up shuttles transport guests at Commencement
- Mementos given to students who attend Commencement
- Re-design of new procession passes to look more professional
- New student line-up entry
- Commencement Slideshow appears on the Moody Jumbotron prior to Commencement which includes photos from the 50th reunion class, campus shots, and a candidate seating guide for the audience
- Addition of simulcast of the ceremony on the Moody Jumbotron
- Enhancement of emergency preparedness plan including “crow’s nest” observers, and police and public affairs participation in training staff
- New system for guests to safely exit Moody Coliseum at the end of Commencement while retaining the dimming of lights during “Varsity;” script added to the text and new protocol created
- Commencement Check-Off Lunch re-initiated
- Banner Bearers receive a framed photo taken with their banners along with a note from their dean
- Faculty Senate President receives a framed photo with the mace along with a note from the Provost
- Additional seating available for the elderly and disabled in Moody