Commencement Information
Information for December 2008 Graduates
This information will be circulated to graduating seniors via e-mail on November 17, 2008
On behalf of the faculty and staff of College Park Scholars, we would like to congratulate you on your upcoming graduation from the University of Maryland. We hope that your undergraduate career has led to success and fulfillment.
To commemorate this exciting milestone, we wish to present you with the College Park Scholars Medallion. The Medallion signifies your successful completion of College Park Scholars and should be worn proudly with your cap and gown during the commencement exercises on Saturday, December 20th and Sunday, December 21st.
To receive your Scholars Medallion, we ask that you complete our commencement survey online:
http://www.collegeparkscholars.com/comm_survey/
Upon completing the survey, you may pick up your Scholars medallion at the Scholars main office in 1125 Cumberland Hall between Monday, December 1st and Friday, December 19th. The office is open between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30, Monday - Friday, and access to the building is available by the entrance closest to the Eppley Recreation Center during these hours. Should you experience any difficulties in completing this survey, you may fill it out during your visit to the Scholars main office. In addition, we hope you will want to continue your involvement with Scholars following your commencement by becoming a part of the College Park Scholars Alumni Association, Inc. To find out more about this group, which more than 1,000 former Scholars have already joined, please visit:
http://www.collegeparkscholars.com
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Baxter at 301.314.2777 or via email at bax@umd.edu.
General Information
College Park Scholars takes great pride in supporting the commencement activities for our alumni. Scholars who have earned their citation from the program are provided the opportunity to receive the College Park Scholars Medallion. Each spring and fall, Scholars central office runs a report on Scholars who have applied for commencement. Our office is then in touch with these students to outline the process for receiving their medallion. In short, each graduating Scholar is asked to complete an exit survey online, the answers from which are used to improve College Park Scholars. They will then receive their medallion and they are strongly encouraged to wear it at campus and college commencement ceremonies.
In addition to supporting campus and college ceremonies, many Scholars programs host receptions each spring for their graduating seniors. Please be in touch with your former faculty and staff, or continue to consult this website for updates on scheduled events.
Finally, please recognize that you are now an alumnus of College Park Scholars and eligible to become a member in our College Park Scholars Alumni Association. It's free and will be your gateway to a growing network of Scholars alumni around the world. In addition to possible opportunities and advice with graduate school and careers, the Association hosts annual events in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Please visit the Scholars Alumni Association website for more information.
Upcoming commencement dates
2008/2009 - 2010/2011 Academic Years
- December 20, 2008: Main Winter Commencement (evening)
- December 21, 2008: College Commencement Ceremonies
- May 21, 2009: Main Spring Commencement (evening)
- May 22, 2009: College Commencement Ceremonies
- December 19, 2009: Main Winter Commencement (evening)
- December 20, 2009: College Commencement Ceremonies
- May 20, 2010: Main Spring Commencement (evening)
- May 21, 2010: College Commencement Ceremonies
- December 18, 2010: Main Winter Commencement (evening)
- December 19, 2010: College Commencement Ceremonies
- May 19, 2011: Main Spring Commencement (evening)
- May 20, 2011: College Commencement Ceremonies
Scholarship and Honors Information
Bachelor's degree candidates who have qualified for scholarship honors upon graduation are designated by appropriate symbols adjacent to their names within the alphabetical listing of colleges or schools. To be eligible for consideration for such honors a candidate must meet the following general criteria:
- (1) have completed at least two years of work at the University of Maryland (60 semester hours, 30 hours of which were earned at the College Park campus) and
- (2) have a scholastic average of "B" (grade point average of 3.0) or higher in the University of Maryland work prior to the last semester of registration before the awarding of a degree.
Degree candidates who have met these criteria are shown in the listings as qualifying, upon graduation, for the designators Summa cum Laude (if they ranked in the top 2 percent of the candidates in their respective colleges or schools), Magna cum Laude (if in the next 3 percent), or cum Laude (if in the next 5 percent) based on the grade point averages of students in the preceding three graduating classes of their degree-granting unit.
Specific information on semester academic honors by UM College and School are available at this link.
Helpful links
- Apply for Graduation
- Senior Marshal Program
- Cap and Gown Information
- Commencement Activities Information
- Main Ceremony Tickets
- Commencement Parking
- Dates and Times for College and School Ceremonies
- College Park Scholars Alumni Association
- University of Maryland Alumni Association
