Commencement

CONGRATULATIONS! As a prospective candidate for graduation, you are eligible to attend the Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) Commencement Ceremony. The Commencement Ceremony will take place at 9:00 AM, Saturday, May 16, 2020 at the Watsco Center, formerly known as the BankUnited Center located on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, Florida. You will find all necessary information for Commencement weekend activities taking place on Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th in the document to the right. Please click on the image to access the full document. If you have any questions regarding the ceremony or reception, please contact [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR COMMENCEMENT AND THE PRE-COMMENCEMENT RECEPTION

Please click on the link below and complete the order form appropriately with your height, weight, and school information (indicate whether you are a medical or veterinary graduate). For more information regarding the ordering of your graduation regalia, contact Debbie Mclnerney at [email protected] . Additional charges may apply for international shipping. No orders can be made after April 28, 2019 for the ceremony, without prior arrangements with Debbie Mclnerney for pickup at the ceremony. If you choose to pick up your regalia at the ceremony, the cost is $110 cash only. Please be sure to order by April 28, 2019 to avoid additional fees for a rush order. You will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony if you do not have a tam, gown, hood, or tassel. It is your responsibility to have these items with you for the ceremony.

ORDER REGALIA HERE

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony will take place at 9:00 AM, Saturday, May 18, 2019 at the Watsco Center, located on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, Florida. Tickets are NOT required for the ceremony. However, it is important that you indicate how many guests will be attending with you and if any of your guests require assistance or handicap accessible seating when completing the Commencement registration process. All students must complete registration for the commencement ceremony by May 3rd.

The following is a brief outline of the ceremony:

• Processional

• Welcome and Introductions

• Commencement Address

• Conferral of School of Medicine Degrees

• Recognition of Honors Graduates & Recitation of the Hippocratic Oath Recessional

Guest Information

Your guests will be allowed to enter the Watsco Center at 8:00 AM through the main entrance. Please discourage guests from bringing extraneous personal belongings, as there is no coat check. Additionally, be aware that large bags and backpacks of all guests may be searched upon entrance into the Watsco Center. Light refreshments will be available for purchase in the concourse. The facility will not permit balloons inside the arena.

Arrival for Ceremony

Graduates should arrive at the Watsco Center by 7:30 AM with their robe, tam, hood, and tassel. Graduates should enter through the breezeway to the right of the main entrance (street level) and go to the Multi-Purpose Room (Field House). Please have someone hold your personal belongings as the Multi-Purpose Room will remain unlocked during the ceremony and you will NOT return to the same seat after going on stage. There will be signs to guide you. Graduates must check in no later than 8:00 AM. Please line up at the appropriate check-in station based on the first letter of your last name. At check in, you will be required to show your student ID or valid government issued ID in order to receive your seating card. Graduates will receive seating cards placing them in one of four groups alphabetically: A-D, E-K, L-R and S-Z printed with their name and honors information. Please do not lose this seating card as it will also be used to announce your name during the ceremony (See Conferral of Degrees).

Line Up for Processional

Once you arrive in the Multi-Purpose Room, please place tassel on the left side of your tam. Drape your hood, folded lengthwise, felt side up, and over your left arm. You will be “hooded” during the ceremony. A continental breakfast will be available for graduates at this time. At 8:15 AM, you will be instructed to form distinct lines based on your section of the alphabet and seating card color. RUSM group leaders will share the procedures for the processional, row arrangements, standing protocol, how to receive the diploma, and where to stand for pictures. While we want you to socialize with your fellow graduates, please be sure to listen to line-up instructions, as there will be limited time to prepare.

Conferral of Degrees

A Commencement staff member will instruct you when it is time to stand and when it is time to walk. When directed, you will proceed to the right side of the stage. You will then walk up the stairs to be hooded. A faculty member* will take your hood from you and place it over your head. Please hand your seating card to the appropriate staff member on stage when you approach the microphone. You will then proceed across the stage to receive a diploma jacket from the Dean. Shake with your right hand and take the diploma with your left hand above your right shaking hand. A picture will be taken at this time. Continue to the left where you will proceed off the stage for your portrait, and then back to the seating area.

*Ross University School of Medicine faculty officials selected by the Dean to participate in the RUSM Commencement ceremony hood all graduates. Guest hooders are not permitted.

Professional Oath

Following the awarding of the last diploma, graduates receiving Honors, High Honors, and Highest Honors will be announced and asked to stand. Graduates earning a 4.0 GPA will be invited to come up to the stage for special recognition and to assist in the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath. All graduates will then participate in a recitation of the Hippocratic Oath, which is provided in the program.

Recessional

Once the dignitaries on stage have exited, the recessional will begin by section. A Commencement staff member will direct you when to stand and begin the recessional. From this point, you will be able to exit the arena through the breezeway entrance to receive your graduation gift from the Alumni Association and to reunite with your guests.

Diploma Distribution

Please note that diplomas will not be distributed at the May 2019 Commencement Ceremony. Your diploma will be mailed to the address provided on your graduation application within 6-8 weeks after you have been cleared for graduation. We are unable to provide graduates with a copy of their diploma or a final transcript until the degree audit has been completed and you have been cleared for graduation.

The Office of Alumni Relations will host a special reception for graduates on Friday, May 15 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel. Due to limited space, each graduate may bring ONE GUEST to this complimentary event. Light hors d’oeuvres as well as beer, wine and soft drinks will be served. All graduates who wish to attend the reception MUST REGISTER during the Commencement registration process and will need to check in upon their arrival at the reception. All students must be registered for the graduation reception by May 3rd.

Friday, May 15, 2020
Fontainbleau Miami Beach Hotel
441 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33140
6:00PM - 9:00PM

Hampton Inn Miami Dadeland
8200 SW 70th Avenue
Miami, FL 33143
(305) 269-0072
$134/night
MAKE A RESERVATION

Hyatt Place Miami Airport East
3549 NW Le Jeune Road
Miami, FL 33142
(305) 667-1003
$124/night
MAKE A RESERVATION

Four Points by Sheraton Coral Gables
3861 SW 40th Street
Miami, FL 33142
$145/night
MAKE A RESERVATION

Residence Inn Miami Coconut Grove
2835 Tigertail Avenue
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
MAKE A RESERVATION

From South of Coral Gables (Homestead/Florida Keys)

Take Florida Turnpike North
Take SR 874 exit (#17) on the left toward SR 826/Miami
Continue on SR 874 (Don Shula) to 878 East toward South Miami
Stay on 878 East
Merge onto US 1 north via exit on the left
Continue on US 1 north to red Road (SW 57Avenue)
Turn left onto Red Road
Take immediate first right turn onto Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Continue about 1 mile; Watsco Center is on your left

From US 1

Take US 1 North to Red Road (SW 57 Avenue)
Turn left onto Red Road
Take immediate first right turn onto Ponce de leon Blvd.
Continue about 1 mile; Watsco is on your left

From Southwest of Coral Gables:

Palmetto Expressway (826)

Take Palmetto Expressway North to MIller Road exit
Turn right (east) on Miller Drive (SW 56 St)
Continue on Miller till the end (San Amaro Drive)
Turn right on San Amaro Drive to Ponce de Leon Blvd. (about ¾ mile)
Turn left on Ponce
Continue half mile to Watsco Center on your left

From North of Coral Gables:

From I-95

Drive south on I-95 until it exits onto US 1
Turn right onto Stanford Dr.
Take immediate first left onto Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Continue on Ponce de Leon Blvd. to Watsco Center (about 2 blocks on right)

From US 1

Go south on US 1 to Stanford Dr.
Turn right onto Stanford Dr.
Take immediate first left onto Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Continue on Ponce de Leon Blvd. to Watsco Center (about 2 blocks on right)

From Northwest of Coral Gables:

From Palmetto Expressway (826)

Go south on Palmetto Expressway to Miller Drive exit
Turn left (east) on Miller Drive (SW 56 St)
Continue on Miller till the end (San Amaro Drive)
Turn right on San Amaro Drive
Continue on San Amaro Drive to Ponce de Leon Blvd. (about ¾ mile)
Turn left on Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Continue half mile to Watsco Center on your left.

All guests are to park in the general parking areas, as highlighted on the map. PayByPhone is $1.50/hourly, plus .27 cents transaction fee. Parking session of 5-hours or more converts to all day parking at $8 plus .27 cents transaction fee. On-foot pay station is $1.50/hourly; no transaction fee.

How to use PayByPhone

1. Create a PayByPhone account at https://www.paybyphone.com or call 1-877-885-8899. You will need to provide an email address, mobile phone number, vehicle’s license plate, and a credit card.
2. Using a smartphone, download PayByPhoneapp from the Blackberry, Google Play, or iOS App Store.
3. Enter the location code posted in the parking area signage.
4. Enter parking duration.
5. Extend parking time from your smart phone, visit https://www.paybyphone.com, or call 1-877-885-8899.

REGISTER FOR THE PRE-COMMENCEMENT RECEPTION AND COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Graduation RSVP

• Due to limited space, each graduate may bring ONE GUEST to this complimentary event. Light hors d’oeuvres as well as beer, wine and soft drinks will be served. Registration for the reception is required and can be completed as part of the Commencement Ceremony registration process.
• Commencement Ceremony RSVP
  You must indicate how many guests will be attending with you and if any of your guests require special assistance or handicap accessible seating.
• Handicap Access
  If you or your guests need wheelchair access or other special accommodations, please indicate the nature of the accommodation and the number in your party requiring accessible seating. Please instruct your guests to enter through the handicap entrance where they will be ushered to the appropriate seating area.
• Pronunciation of Names
  We want to make sure your name is pronounced correctly at the ceremony. To help us do that, we would like you to record your name via NameCoach on the registration form.
   

ORDER ACADEMIC REGALIA (TAMS, GOWN, HOODS, AND TASSELS)

• Tams, Gown, Hoods, and Tassells
  Please search for “Ross University” and complete the order form appropriately with your height, weight, and school information (indicate whether you are a medical or veterinary graduate). For further information regarding the ordering of your graduation regalia, contact Debbie Mclnerney at [email protected] Additional charges may apply for international shipping. No orders can be made after April 22, 2019 for the ceremony, without prior arrangements with Debbie Mclnerney for pickup at the ceremony. If you choose to pick up your regalia at the ceremony, the cost is $110 cash only. Please be sure to order by April 22, 2019 to avoid additional fees for a rush order. You will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony if you do not have a tam, gown, hood, or tassel. It is your responsibility to have these items with you for the ceremony.
   

SUBMIT PHOTOS AND NOMINATE STUDENT SPEAKER

• Please Submit Photos for Graduation Reception
  A photo montage displaying all the great memories you have from Dominica and your clinical rotations will be projected throughout the arena prior to the start of the Commencement Ceremony. Please be aware that the photos submitted will be shared with the general audience attending the ceremony. Submit your electronic photos to [email protected] by May 1st, 2019.
• Student Commencement Speaker Nominations
  The Commencement Ceremony will feature a student speaker who represents the 2019 graduating class. The individual will be selected from a group of nominees based on the quality of their prepared remarks. Academic performance will also be considered. If you are interested in nominating yourself or a peer, please submit your speech or nomination to [email protected] by April 14, 2019. The student speaker will be announced by May 3, 2019.
   

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

• Hotel Accommodations
  For your convenience, we have secured room blocks at a number of area hotels at a discounted rate. Please click on the Hotel Information tab below for a list of participating hotels and their reservation links.
• Parking
  Parking is free at both events and directional signage will be posted for all parking locations.
• Directions
  For directions, please click in the Directions tab below.