Participating in Commencement

• Take your gown of it the bag as soon as you receive it to help it release wrinkles.
• Do not iron your gown – IT WILL MELT!
• Please dress comfortably and wear sensible shoes!  There is no true dress code, but many past grads have opted for business causal. There will be extended periods of standing/waiting.
• Please avoid bringing any personal belongings, such as purses, to the ceremony, as there is nowhere to securely store these items.

• If you have changed your mind, and no longer wish to participate in the ceremony, please contact us immediately.
• There is no limit to the number of guests you may bring, but seating is first come-first served.

Cards are distributed at both ceremonies to aid faculty members in announcing your name and award.

If you would like to make changes to how your name is said you should write those changes directly on your card when you obtain it. This includes:

• Adding/omitting a name (middle, last, etc.)
• Providing a phonetic spelling of your name if it is frequently mispronounced.
• Including a “rhymes with” description to aid pronunciation.

You can also email your correct pronunciation to the registrar’s office:

• Quad-Cities Campus: Cody Clark Bloomquist
• East Campus: Olivia Newcomb

If you plan to transfer or seek employment after BHC, you are encouraged to order transcripts. You can have it sent current/as-is (NOW), or you can have it held for grades to be posted or held for your degree to be posted.  We offer paper and electronic delivery.

GradImages will be there to take professional photos. You will work directly with them to place an order. You may have already received info from them.  If you have not, we’ll work with them to get you connected.

If reasonable accommodations are required, please contact Disability Resources and Access Coordinator, Jen Holldorf.

• All grads and guests will enter Vibrant Arena through security checkpoints.
• Vibrant Arena at the Mark has a strict NO BAGS policy. Read specific policies.
• No helium balloons are allowed inside Vibrant Arena. Guests attempting to bring in helium balloons will be denied entry and asked to return them to their car or other area outside the arena.

• There will be one concession stand open. Please note that Vibrant Arena is CASHLESS.
• The Hawk’s Hub will be hosting a pop-up store in the concourse, with graduation related items for sale – CARD, APPLE PAY, or CASH APP only.

Graduates will line up alphabetical by program and then alphabetical by name.

• Career Certificates (only)
• Associate in Applied Science degrees (including those who also have Career Certificates)
• Transfer degrees (AA/AS) (including those who also have Career Certificates)

Below you’ll find a rough layout of the venue seating, along with a brief description of the process.

Each colored square represents one chair on the floor.

• Yellow: Graduate reserved seating.
• Gray: BHC reserved seating; Deans and Special Guests
• Green: Faculty
• Purple cells with S: BHC Staff who will provide you directional assistance

Entering the arena before the ceremony.

1. Stage Party: using both ramps to access the stage.
2. Deans and Special Guests: filling Row 1 on Right side (Gray).
3. Graduates: Graduates will enter the area in 2 lines (left and right, black arrows and blue arrows), led by honor marshals, entering rows from the exterior aisles – Left (left side) and Right (right side) respectively (Black arrows and blue arrows).

Grad seating is divided into sections:

• Left side front (facing the stage) black arrows represent the Career Certificate candidates.
• Right side front (facing the stage) black arrows represent the Associate in Applied Science degree candidates.
• Left side rear blue arrows represent the Transfer degree candidates, AA first, then AS. Right side rear blue arrows represent the Transfer degree candidates, AA first then AS.

1. When called Certificate graduates will exit their rows toward the left (1) and approach the Up Ramp (2) to access the stage (Purple arrows)
2. The first graduate in each program will have a yellow program card to hand to the name reader
3. Name reader will announce the program, followed by names of all students in that program.
4. Graduates will give their name cards to the name reader (3) and proceed across the stage.
5. There will be several folks there to congratulate you (X) with handshakes, etc., and to present you with your BHC Diploma cover.
6. Graduates will have a photo taken on stage with President Thomas (4).
7. Graduates will exit the stage using the Down Ramp (5) and go directly to the second photographer (6) near the bottom of the ramp.
8. After the photo is taken, graduates will return to their seats (7 purple arrows) and remain standing until all graduates in their groups have returned to their seats and are asked to be seated.
9. This will be repeated for AAS degrees, and then again for AA/AS degrees, with stage conversation in between.

Exiting the arena after the ceremony.

1. Stage Party: using both ramps to leave the stage and exit the arena via the center aisle.
2. Faculty: (seated behind you, so please be patient and wait for directions) exit via the center aisle.
3. Graduates: Led by the Marshals and BHC staff, and beginning with row 1, exit rows toward the center aisle, forming 2 lines to exit the arena.
   • Stage Party and Faculty will form a Spirit Line to congratulate you and celebrate with you.

You will be directed to exit the building, but you can return for photos and celebrations. Please encourage your guests to meet you on the arena floor AFTER all graduates have exited.

The bookstore will be hosting a pop-up store outside the armory with graduation related items for sale.

Certificate candidates

Line up on sidewalk NORTH of the entrance.

AAS candidates

Line up on the East/West sidewalk, starting near the entrance.

AA/AS candidates

Line up on the sidewalk SOUTH of the entrance.

Graduates will line up alphabetical by program and then alphabetical by name.

• Career Certificates (only)
• Associate in Applied Science degrees (including those who also have Career Certificates)
• Transfer degrees (AA/AS) (including those who also have Career Certificates)

Below you’ll find a rough layout of the venue seating, along with a brief description of the process.

Each colored square represents one chair on the floor.

• Yellow: Graduate reserved seating.
• Gray: BHC reserved seating; Deans and Special Guests
• Green: Faculty
• Purple cells with S: BHC Staff who will provide you directional assistance

Entering the arena before the ceremony.

1. Stage Party
2. Deans and Special Guests
3. Graduates:Graduates will enter the Armory gym through the left side entrance/door and process to the seating area (BLACK ARROW), entering rows from the left and filling to the right.

1. When called, graduates will exit their rows to the right (1) and enter the door to access the stage by stairs (2)
   • Any students who have already arranged wheelchair (W/C) access/assistance will use the W/C LIFT (Blue) to enter and exit the stage; no other changes will be needed.
2. The first graduate in each program will have a yellow program card to hand to the name reader
3. Name reader will announce the program, followed by the names of all students in that program
4. Graduates will give their name cards to the name reader (3) and proceed across the stage.
5. There will be several folks there to congratulate you (X) with handshakes, etc., and to present you with your BHC Diploma cover.
6. Graduates will have a photo taken on stage with President Thomas (4).
7. Graduates will exit the stage using the stairs (5) and go directly to a second photographer (6).
8. After the photo is taken, graduates will return to their seats (7) and remain standing until all graduates in their groups have returned to their seats and area asked to be seated.

Using right aisle end exit (ORANGE ARROW). Guests will be held until all graduates have exited the building.

1. Stage Party: exit from left stairs, and exit via RIGHT (facing stage) aisle.
2. Deans, Faculty and Special Guests: exit via RIGHT (facing stage) aisle.
3. Graduates: led by Marshals, beginning with Row 1, exit from the right into the RIGHT (facing stage) aisle
4. Faculty: will form a spirit line outside (optional). Graduates will exit the building and celebrate!

Guests will be released once all graduates have exited the building.