Commencement Details
- Commencement Ceremony
- Tickets
- Special Seating
- Transportation
- Caps/Gowns/Announcements
- Alumni Association
- Commencement Dress
- Rehearsals
- Parking
- Commencement Photos
- Commencement Video
- Questions
Commencement Ceremony
Graduates will be honored in three separate ceremonies, which all will take place at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street. The ceremonies will be held Friday, May 11, at 3 p.m. for graduates in the Schools of Industrial and Engineering Technologies, Integrated Studies, and Natural Resources Management; on Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m. for the graduates in the Schools of Construction and Design Technologies and Health Sciences, and on Saturday, May 12 at 1:30 p.m. for the graduates in the Schools of Business and Computer Technologies, Hospitality and Transportation Technology.
Community Arts Center visitor information
Graduating students must report to the Genetti Hotel and Convention Center, 200 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, one hour prior to the start of their graduation ceremony. Friday graduates should report to the Garden Terrace Room at 2 p.m. Friday; Saturday morning graduates should report at 9 a.m. Saturday, and Saturday afternoon graduates should report at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, to the first-floor ballroom of the Genetti Hotel and Convention Center, 200 West Fourth Street, Williamsport (just east of the Community Arts Center)
Directions to the Genetti
Participation in graduation exercises is not, in itself, evidence of satisfactorily completing a course of study. Each student marching at commencement remains a candidate until his/her academic record has been given a final audit. A diploma from Pennsylvania College of Technology, signed and sealed by its proper officer, remains the official testament to possession of a degree.
Tickets
All guests attending the Commencement ceremonies will be required to present a ticket upon entering the Community Arts Center. Tickets do not include an assigned seat, but only guarantee a seat within the auditorium; guests are encouraged to arrive at least a half-hour before the ceremony for a better choice of seating. The number of guest's tickets available to each graduate will be based upon the number of graduates participating in the ceremony (determined by March 7). Graduates participating in the ceremony will have the first opportunity to pick up their Commencement tickets at the Grad Finale held on Tuesday, April 10 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Penn's Inn. April 11 through 20, graduates can pick up their commencement tickets in the Registrar's Office, room 1020 of the Student and Administrative Services Center (SASC) anytime between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Photo ID and signature are required. Tickets for distance learning graduate will be mailed to the permanent address that is on file in the Registrar's Office.
Special Needs Seating
If a graduating student has a guest with a disability (such as requiring the use of a wheelchair), please report this at Commencement rehearsal so that seating accommodations can be provided.
Guest Transportation to and from the Community Arts Center
Bus transportation for guests will be provided between the Main Campus and the Community Arts Center from 1:45 - 3 p.m. for those participants in the Friday afternoon ceremony, 8:45 - 10 a.m. for the Saturday morning participants and 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. for the Saturday afternoon participants. Buses will depart from the Main Campus parking lot located outside the Hager Lifelong Education Center along West Third Street. Bus transportation for guests will be provided back to Main Campus.
Reception
A reception for graduating students and their guests will take place from 1 - 2 p.m Friday and 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Keystone Dining Room, located on Main Campus in the Hager Lifelong Education Center. Refreshments will be provided.
Caps/Gowns/Graduation Announcements
Students who plan to participate in the commencement ceremony are required to wear appropriate graduation attire. Gowns/caps/hoods/tassels can be picked up at the College Store. Please make payment at the time of pickup. The College Store also will have graduation announcements available for purchase. Please check with College Store staff about ordering class rings. Purchase cap/gown/accessories online, or by visiting the College Store.
Cap, Gown, Required Accessory Prices
- Certificate cap, gown, and tassel . . . $26.00 (plus sales tax)
- Associate cap, gown, tassel, and hood . . . $48.00 (plus sales tax)
- Bachelor cap, gown, tassel, and hood . . . $48.00 (plus sales tax)
Alumni Association
Did you know alumni benefits include career services, scholarship opportunities, campus privileges, and a life time e-mail account? Learn more about your alumni benefits by attending Grad Finale April 10, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Penn's Inn, or visit Alumni Relations at www.pct.edu/alumni.
You can also find Alumni Relations on Facebook!
Commencement Dress
All candidates for graduation wear the caps and gowns of their certificate or degree over appropriate dress clothing.
- MEN should wear dark, long pants (black, gray, brown), dark socks, and hard-soled dress shoes. Light-colored slacks and rubber-soled shoes (sneakers, deck and work shoes, etc.) should be avoided. Long-sleeved shirts in white or blue are preferred.
- WOMEN should wear skirts or dresses with neutral or dark hosiery or dark-colored slacks and dark, hard-soled shoes.
Rehearsals
Student rehearsals will take place Monday, April 23, and Tuesday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m. in the Community Arts Center. All students participating in the ceremony are expected to attend. PLEASE ATTEND THE REHEARSAL THAT BEST SUITS YOUR SCHEDULE. Details regarding the ceremony will be reviewed at the rehearsals, so attendance is important.
Parking
On the rehearsal date(s), please pay attention to the metered parking spaces on streets and in lots to avoid parking tickets. A parking deck is located at Third and William Streets.
Commencement Photos
To help preserve the memory of commencement, Island Photography will photograph all graduates on stage when greeted by the Penn College's President and again after exiting the stage.
Within 48-72 hours, graduates will receive an e-mail (at their Penn College e-mail account) with color proofs attached and instructions for accessing and ordering photos from Island Photography. A few days later, graduates also will receive complimentary color proofs and order form by U.S. mail. These color proofs will be mailed to the graduate’s permanent home address listed on SIS.
There is absolutely no obligation to purchase photos. Please direct all inquiries about photos or orders to Island Photography at 800-869-0908.
Commencement Video
A video recording of the commencement ceremony will be posted on the College's website approximately 3-4 weeks after the ceremony. An e-mail notification will be sent to all graduates with instructions for accessing the video.
Questions
If you have questions about the commencement ceremony, contact the Registrar's Office at:
Phone 570-327-4772, or stop in the Student & Administrative Services Center, Room 1020.
