The below email was sent to 2023 Champlain College Online graduates on Friday, May 5, 2023.
We are excited to celebrate YOU with a joyful and meaningful Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
IN-PERSON ATTENDEES
Remember to bring your cap, gown, tassel, and hood (if applicable) with you. Your regalia was mailed to you directly.
Location:
Champlain Valley Exposition
GPS address: 105 Pearl St., Essex Junction, Vermont 05452
*If you are driving yourself, please leave plenty of time to allow for traffic.
Timeline:
2:00–2:30 PM: Mandatory student check-in at Blue Ribbon Pavilion
2:00 PM: Doors open for guests
2:00–2:45 PM: Commencement pre-ceremony content airs
2:45 PM: Commencement procession begins
3:00 PM: Ceremony begins
Post-Ceremony Gathering in Expo North & Outdoors
Tickets:
Tickets are not required.
Transportation:
There is plenty of parking available at the Champlain Valley Expo. If assistance is needed, golf carts will be available to get you to the entrance. Shuttle service will be available to and from Champlain College in Burlington for those who require transportation to the Champlain Valley Expo. You can see the shuttle schedule here under the transportation FAQ.
*We recommend students not bring items such as purses or backpacks as there is no secure place to keep them.
Accessibility:
The Champlain Valley Exposition is fully accessible. Our Commencement staff are pleased to direct our guests with accessibility needs to a designated section of the Expo Center. We ask that you plan for one additional family member to sit in that section as well. The staff will assist you if needed. Please plan to arrive early. If you are a graduating student who has accessibility needs, please email graduation@champlain.edu.
Pets:
Absolutely no pets, besides properly identified service animals, are permitted at the ceremonies or post-ceremony gatherings. We appreciate your cooperation.
Concessions and Post-Ceremony Gatherings:
Prior to the ceremony, paid concessions (light snacks and beverages) will be offered outside the main guest entrance to Expo South, as well as a floral vendor, and the Champlain College Campus Store. Following Commencement, we will have a brief post-ceremony gathering for graduates, guests, faculty, and the platform party in Expo North at the Champlain Valley Expo. Join us for light refreshments!
Photography:
Grad Images will be on hand to take official photos of the graduate on stage and immediately following as they exit the stage with their diplomas. Images will be available for purchase in the weeks following the ceremony. We will also have an event photographer capturing photos that will be available for free on Champlain’s Flickr account.
VIRTUAL ATTENDEES – LIVESTREAM
For those attending virtually, the main ceremony livestream begins at 3:00 PM (ET). You are invited to join us for pre-ceremony content starting at 2:00 PM (ET) on our Commencement homepage and to participate on social media using hashtag #ChampGrad.
All August, December, and May graduate names will be read via a recorded video diploma ceremony, which will include the conferral of degrees. You will find the diploma ceremonies linked on our graduation homepage on the day of commencement. Only the names of graduates joining in-person will be read live as they cross the stage.
May graduates attending virtually will receive a digital diploma via email on May 13. You will receive your physical diploma in the mail following Commencement. If you graduated in August or December, you already received your diploma.
Questions:
Please reach out to graduation@champlain.edu or visit commencement.champlain.edu if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
The Commencement Planning Team