Information for Family/Guests

Otterbein hosts an annual commencement for students receiving degrees at the Bachelors (undergraduate) level and an annual commencement for students receiving degrees at the Masters (graduate) level.

In 2010, the Bachelors ceremony will be held at 12:00 p.m. (doors open at 11:00 a.m.), Sunday, June 13 in the Rike Physical Education Recreation Center and will last approximately two and one-half hours. The Masters ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 3:00 p.m.), Saturday, June 12 in Cowan Hall and will last approximately one hour. Detailed information is mailed to all students who have made application to graduate well in advance of the June event. This information is also displayed on the remaining links of this commencement website.

Bachelors Commencement - Sunday, June 13

9:00 - 9:45 a.m.	Baccalaureate - Cowan Hall
9:45 - 11:30 a.m.	Cardinal Brunch - Campus Center
10:45 - 11:30 a.m.	Departmental Honors Pins (if applicable) distributed in front of Towers Hall if not received prior to commencement from the Department Chairperson
11:00 a.m.	Doors to Rike Center Open - seating is first-come, first-served; there is no reserved seating
11:15 a.m.	March Line-Up Begins - front lawn of Towers Hall; rain location is Clements Center
11:30 a.m.	Commencement Concert, Otterbein College Alumni Band - Rike Center
11:45 a.m.	Commencement March Across Campus Begins - line forms in front of Towers Hall; rain location is Clements Center
12:00 noon	Commencement- Rike Center (concludes approx 2:30 p.m.)
Masters Commencement - Saturday, June 12
3:00 p.m.	Doors to Cowan Hall Open - seating is first-come, first-served; there is no reserved seating
3:00 p.m.	Hooding Process Begins - front lawn of Towers Hall; rain location is basement of Cowan Hall
3:25 p.m.	Commencement March to Cowan Hall Begins - line forms in front of Towers Hall; rain location is basement of Cowan Hall
3:30 p.m.	Commencement - Cowan Hall (concludes approx 4:30 p.m.)
Approx 4:30 p.m.	Reception for All- Roush Hall North Plaza (side lawn)

Baccalaureate Service

A Baccalaureate Service will be held at 9:00 a.m. in Cowan Hall on Sunday, June 13. Both Bachelors and Masters students and their guests are invited to attend. Members of the graduating class and faculty will constitute a major part of the program. Academic regalia and a procession are not part of the Baccalaureate Service.

Tickets

While tickets are not required for the Masters ceremony, they are required for the Bachelors ceremony. They must be requested by the graduating student and picked up in person by the graduating student. Extra tickets are not available.

Parking

Family and guests may park in any campus lot. See the campus map for the location of parking lots.

Special Needs Drop-Off for Bachelors Commencement:Guests who would have difficulty walking from the parking lot to the Rike Center can be dropped off at the west doors of the Rike Center opposite Davis Annex. This entryway is closest to the area where special needs guests will be seated (which is in comfortable chairs directly behind the graduates on the main floor). Those with special hearing needs can be dropped off at the front of the Rike. This entryway is closest to the area where you will be sitting (which is at the front in bleacher seating).

Special Needs Drop-Off for Masters Commencement: The entrance to Cowan Hall is right off Grove Street so drop off is easy.

Additional Note:At the Rike, only one ticket holder is permitted to sit with a special needs guest due to space limitations and the need to accommodate other special needs families.

Lodging

Click here for area accommodations.

Professional Photographer

GradTrak Images is the College's official commencement photographer. Two pictures will be taken of each graduate who will then be contacted directly by GradTrak within one to two weeks after the ceremony. GradTrak may be contacted via their website or at 1-800-424-3686.