Growing Commitment
CURRENTS Article Connecticut College presents saplings to students at commencement.

The Big Reveal
CURRENTS Article Queen's University Belfast uses an impromptu fashion contest at graduation to engage its brand-new young alumni.

These Gowns Are Made for Walking
CURRENTS Article This article discusses Brigham Young University's "Walk" campaign, the centerpiece of which was a lighthearted yet sentimental YouTube video designed to encourage students to participate in commencement.

Past and Circumstance
CURRENTS Article This article looks at efforts in California to award honorary degrees to U.S. students of Japanese descent who were forced to leave the state's colleges and universities as a result of Executive Order 9066, signed soon after the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Santa Ana College is looking for these former students to honor them in the campus's 2011 commencement ceremony. Meanwhile, the California State University system is working on a project to educate people about what happened using video footage and interviews of its 2010 commencement ceremonies at six CSU campuses.

An Academic Costume Code and An Academic Ceremony Guide
Eugene Sullivan, American Council on Education
Article Reprinted with permission from American Universities and Colleges, 15th Edition, this article provides a brief history of academic dress, a detailed costume code, and a guide for academic ceremonies including commencement and inauguration.

Odds and Ends: Commence Operations
CURRENTS Article Judy Woodruff, veteran journalist and commencement speaker, shares her thoughts on how to deliver a memorable speech at graduation.

Academic Ceremonies: A Handbook of Traditions and Protocol
Product This handbook covers all aspects of planning academic ceremonies. The author details the traditions of academic regalia, processions, commencements, convocations, hooding ceremonies, and inaugurations, and features checklists, sample text, and illustrations.

AdvanceWork: You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello
CURRENTS Article Giving graduates a meaningful commencement ceremony can foster long-term good will and philanthropic support. Faculty and staff members from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas State University offer a “Do’s and Don’ts” list to help advancement officers make graduation day a success.

AdvanceWork: Make It Personal
CURRENTS Article Tips for pitching successful commencement stories

AdvanceWork: A Golden Opportunity
CURRENTS Article The University of Scranton honors members of the 50-year reunion class by inviting them to follow graduates in the commencement procession.