ACADEMY OF MUSIC
Holy Family University Commencement Day
May 18, 2013

Message for Administrators, Faculty, Staff and Trustees
Participating in the Commencement Ceremonies

Commencement Day is at the world class venue of the Academy of Music. For those who will actually participate in one or both commencement processionals and plan to use public transportation or personal vehicles for getting to the Academy of Music, it is important to arrive at the Academy of Music by 8:30 am.

For those who are participating in the processionals and/or assisting in some way to make Commencement Day a success, and planning to ride the buses to and from the Academy of Music, the motor coach ride to the Academy of Music will take approximately 35 minutes. Riders must be at the Campus Center of the Northeast Philadelphia Campus for boarding by 7:30 am.

Upon arrival at the Academy of Music, the buses will unload on Locust Street at the side entrance. Approximately 25 minutes after the afternoon baccalaureate ceremony concludes, the buses will load in the same location for the return trip to Holy Family’s Northeast Philadelphia Campus. Don’t worry for the buses will not leave until all riders are accounted for. If you have academic attire, please don’t forget your attire and any personal belongings when getting on or leaving your bus. If you are not returning to campus on the bus, please inform your Holy Family bus coordinator. 

Whether you ride the bus or go to the Academy of Music on your own, upon entering the Academy of Music’s entrance on Broad Street, a Holy Family host will direct you to the Stage Door Canteen Lobby downstairs.

Faculty marching in the processions will be directed to the Academy of Music Stage Door Canteen located in the lower level Canteen Lobby where they will enjoy a continental breakfast, robe and queue up for the graduate degree ceremony which begins promptly at 9:30 am.

Members of the President’s special stage party will also enter through the Broad Street entrance and will be directed to the Stage Door Canteen for a continental breakfast and queuing for the first processional.

Banner and flag bearers, the student song leaders, and all those faculty and staff involved in supporting the ceremonies in some leadership manner will be directed to the Rehearsal Hall or another appropriate venue. Sisters and guests with Concert Hall reserved tickets will be able to enter the Concert Hall at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. A prelude will be performed by a concert pianist during the seating of Concert Hall guests prior to each ceremony.

Immediately after the morning graduate ceremony, there will be a buffet lunch in the Ballroom located on the second floor. The location of our buffet lunch and/or where exactly our faculty queue up for the processions may change prior to May 18. Rest assured that guidance will be provided prior to May 18 or upon arrival at the Academy of Music on Commencement Day so that all of our administrators, faculty and staff know where to go. Faculty should return to the Stage Door Canteen after the morning ceremony to take off their academic attire before going to the buffet. Faculty and members of the President’s special stage party should then return to their staging area to prepare for the afternoon ceremony which begins at 12:30 pm. Honored members of the Class of 1963 and their guests will be at the buffet as well as some of our honorary degree recipients and their guests.

There will be staff members at our Holy Family information desk in the Lobby at all times as well as Academy of Music ushers and security officers.

While May 18 is a very special day, don’t forget the Mass of Thanksgiving honoring all of our graduates and the Class of 1963, to be held at 6 pm, on Friday, May 17, in the Campus Center. Light refreshments will be served following the Mass. Reservations are not needed for the Mass. Over 700 guests are anticipated.

May God bless all members of our Holy Family Community as we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, honor the Class of 1963, and remember the support and guidance provided to our undergraduate and graduate degree recipients by our distinguished faculty, staff and administrators.