Platform Party Information

The platform party for the College of Public Health Degree Celebration consists of the dean, associate deans, assistant deans, department chairs, the director of operations and budget, college advisory board members, members of the president’s executive council, and readers.

Check-In

1:00 pm: All platform party members should arrive at the Hospitality Room in the EagleBank Arena no later than 1:00 pm to robe. The Hospitality Room is located on the east side, lower level of the arena with the entrance facing the Johnson Center. Light refreshments will be available. Please do not leave any valuables in the Hospitality Room. 

1:45 pm: The platform party marshal will assist in lining up the platform party for the processional. 

1:50 pm: The marshal will lead the platform party outside near the loading dock doors to wait for a cue from Events Management to join the processional into the arena. 

Processional

The platform party will process into EagleBank Arena in one line behind the graduating students. At the bottom of the stage, the line will turn right and walk up the ramp to the stage and down the center aisle of the platform. Seating will be from back to front and name cards and programs will be on the seats. Please remain standing until the master of ceremonies takes the podium and asks everyone to be seated.

During the Ceremony

Department chairs should move to the front of the stage when their doctoral students are called, and when their master’s and bachelor’s candidates are called. Students' names are read as they cross the stage where the department chair will hand them a faux diploma.

Recessional

When the ceremony is over, everyone should rise and applaud. The dean will exit towards her right (facing the audience), down the ramp, and down the center aisle (in front of center of stage), leaving EagleBank Arena through the loading dock doors. The platform party will immediately follow the dean.

Staff will be available to direct you on the floor of the arena for both the processional and recessional.

Questions

Contact Lesley Irminger at lirminge@gmu.edu or 703-993-6061