Dear Members of the Class of 2007,

Congratulations on the completion of your legal education.  You will be joining a distinguished group of alumni, more than 5,500 strong and we hope that you will continue your relationship with the Law School through the alumni association. 

I have watched you work hard and persevere to become the best lawyers you can be. You have been given the tools you need to pursue the dreams that brought you here; how you choose to use those tools is now in your hands. 

I look forward to seeing you at the commencement.  The material on the following pages contains important information about the graduation process and procedures.  Please read this information carefully so that we can ensure a successful graduation ceremony. 

Best wishes for your continued success.

Sincerely,
Angela M. D’Agostino, Dean for Students

This pamphlet will be your guide through the various steps leading to commencement and should answer most of your questions.  Please read all of the enclosed material carefully.  If you require more specific information regarding commencement, please feel free to contact our commencement coordinator:

Kay Longworth
Special Events Coordinator
78 North Broadway
White Plains, NY  10603
(914) 422-4360

 Time and Place of Commencement

Commencement for the Law School is scheduled for Sunday, May 20, 2007.  The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. Graduates must report for robing and formation of the line of march by 9:00 a.m. If you have not fulfilled your academic requirements for your degree or have not satisfied your financial obligation to the University you will not be eligible to participate in the ceremony.

The 2007 Law School commencement speaker is the Honorable Margaret A. Ryan, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. 

Her complete biography can be found at http://www.law.pace.edu/currentstudents/commencement2007speaker.html

 
National Anthem Auditions

If you are interested in auditioning to sing the National Anthem at commencement 2007, please submit an audiotape of your rendition to the Office of the Dean for Students, Preston Hall, 306 by March 30, 2007.

Students who expect to receive degrees in January, May and September 2007 are welcome to participate in May 2007 commencement ceremony.  All University “financial obligations” must be removed on or before Tuesday, May 1, 2007.  If any academic requirements (with the exception of final grades) or financial obligations have not been met by these dates, you will not be eligible to graduate.  Inquiries regarding degree completion may be directed to the Registrar’s Office, Aloysia Hall, first floor.

If your family needs to obtain a Visa to attend your commencement ceremony please contact the Office of the Dean for Students no later than March 30, 2007.  We will provide you with the necessary forms and verify that you are a candidate for graduation.  You should also contact the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) who can assist you.  The contact is Mira Krasnov at (212) 346-1368.  Please also contact OIPS for information on applying for Optional Practical Training.

Academic attire consisting of a cap, gown and hood will be distributed to all graduates participating in the ceremony.  You must order your cap and gown no later than April 1^st at 12:00 a.m.  To order your apparel online please complete the following steps: Go to www.herff-jones.com/college/graduation.

As you enter the website, each page will instruct you how to order the items necessary. We have arranged with the company to have default items on some of the pages to avoid the need for students to make specific selections. Individual information required of each graduate is name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Students will also be required to submit height and approximate weight information.

The distribution date for the academic attire is Thursday May 3^rd in the Tudor Room of Preston Hall from 10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.  We will not have extra gowns available at commencement.

The graduation ceremony is a special occasion for family and friends of the graduates and seating is designated primarily for them.  Except for the graduates, there are no reserved seating areas.  Graduates requiring special arrangements regarding the seating or line of march should contact Kay Longworth (914) 422-4360 or by e-mail at klongworth@law.pace.edu

Graduates may invite an unlimited number of guests, if the weather permits, to the outdoor ceremony on the Chapel Lawn.  If it rains, however, the ceremony will be held under a tent on the Glass Lawn and each graduate will be entitled to (3) guest tickets for admission into the tent due to the number of seats allowed by fire code regulation. We expect that all people who possess a ticket will be accommodated but cannot make a guarantee because of the open nature of an outdoor ceremony.  Security will be available to assist us with allowing all those with a ticket to enter the tent.  The ceremony will be broadcast to the Moot Court Room to accommodate additional guests.  If you are unable to attend graduation or do not need all 3 rain tickets, you may give the tickets to your fellow graduates.

 It is the responsibility of the graduates to inform us if a guest requires special arrangements regarding parking or seating.  Our disabled parking is limited but Security will keep a list of those people that will need to be discharged at the Security booth so that they may easily navigate onto the lawn.  The driver of the vehicle will then be instructed to follow the traffic flow to the parking areas.

In April, each graduate will be able to pick up their printed announcements from the Office of the Dean for Students.  The announcements are NOT tickets of admission and cannot be considered invitations because graduates will be limited to 3 guests each in the event of rain.  

The announcements display the ceremony date, time, and place.  In addition, the back of the card is imprinted with the names of candidates for degrees in January, May and September 2007.  To have their name appear on this list, graduates must have met the Registrar’s deadline.  Graduates are entitled to receive these announcements whether or not they are attending Commencement.

The Registrar’s Office will be notifying 2007 degree candidates about the dates for diploma distribution.  Candidates must have completed all academic requirements and have no outstanding University “holds” to receive their diplomas.  For additional information about diplomas, please see the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Portraits: Graduates will have an opportunity to take a graduation portrait on March 27^th and 28^th in the Preston Hall Student Lounge from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00p.m. Men should dress with a shirt and tie. Graduation attire will be provided for the portraits.  Proofs will be mailed to you with an order form and pricing information.

 Photographs will also be taken during the commencement ceremony.  The photographer will take individual photos of graduates as they leave the stage.  Proofs will be mailed to you with an order form and pricing information.

The commencement ceremony will be videotaped and the tapes will be available for purchase.  You will receive an order form with your graduation packet the day you pick up your cap and gown.  Order forms will also be available the day of graduation.

March 23^rd:      Barristers’ Ball at Tappan Hill

May 3^rd:            10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., Tudor Room distribution of caps and gowns. Instructions, and rain tickets. Graduation portraits.

May 20th:         Graduation Ceremony

These listings do not constitute an endorsement of these establishments by Pace University School of Law. 

Special hotel rates will be available to your family and guests during the graduation weekend at the White Plains hotels listed below.  Please call the hotels directly during normal business hours (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and ask for the PACE LAW SCHOOL SPECIAL RATE. 

Hampton Inn…………………………... (914)592-5680

Rate:  $109.00 per room, per night (a continental breakfast is included).  Reservations must be made by April 18, 2007. 

Crowne Plaza…………………………. (914)682-0050

Rate:  $134.00 per room, per night.  Reservations must be made by May 4, 2007.  

Listed below are local restaurants that provide brunch and/or lunch on Sunday. Reservations are suggested. 

Café Mozart…………………………….(914)698-4166

3089 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck 

Fenimore’s Bistro at Crowne Plaza…….(914)682-0050

66 Hale Ave., White Plains 

Gedney Grill……………………………(914)949-0978

52 Gedney Way, White Plains

95 South Broadway, White Plains 

Legal Sea Foods………………………..(914)390-9600

5 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains 

Woodlands at Renaissance Westchester Hotel

(914)694-5400, x776 or x787

80 Red Oak Lane, White Plains