Academics

Graduation Information

Graduation Activities Schedule

GRADUATE'S CHECKLIST

  • Check out the Senior Finale on March 1
  • Order Cap & Gown on-line by March 16
  • Complete senior questionnaire by March 26
  • Order announcements and class ring
  • Complete federal loan exit counseling
  • Complete alumni office questionnaire
  • Pay student account in business office, if applicable, by April 6
  • Provide a forwarding address to mailroom
  • Purchase a student life magazine
  • Return all library materials
  • Pick up cap and gown April 17-28

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Congratulations from the office of advancement and alumni relations! As you begin the next phase of your Simpson Experience, we hope that you take with you fond memories and lifetime friendships. Upon graduation, you will become part of the Simpson College Alumni Association. There are no dues, but you will enjoy lifelong benefits. It is important that you complete the Alumni Association Questionnaire so that you receive the alumni magazine, are notified of special events, reunions, and news from campus. If your contact information changes, please let us know via the website or by calling us at 515-961-1544 or 800-610-6369. Our Simpson alumni are spread throughout the nation and the world. By networking with other proud alumni, you will discover wonderful professional and personal opportunities. Our very best wishes go out to our newest members!

OPTION TO ORDER ROSES
Each year, the Student Alumni Association sells roses for commencement as a fundraiser for student activities.  Roses are red and include a yellow ribbon, a water tube and a personal message from you.  They are only available by pre-order and will not be sold at commencement.  Bouquets are placed on the graduates chair prior to the ceremony.  Orders will be taken through April 6. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Personalized announcements may be ordered through the bookstore website at www.bkstr.com.

BUSINESS OFFICE
Your account must be paid in full by April 6, 2012. Your transcripts and/or diploma will not be released until your student account is paid in full. For further assistance call ext. 1509 or 1655. 

CAPS AND GOWNS
You can now order your cap and gown online! 

On-campus and Indianola graduates:
 To order your cap and gown, please visit the Simpson College Bookstore website or go to http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/simpson on or before March 16th . Placing your order on-line will guarantee you have the correct size for your height and weight. If you are not able to place an order on or before March 16th, we will have extra caps & gowns available at the bookstore in various sizes but we cannot guarantee we’ll have your exact size. Caps and gowns may be picked up at the bookstore from Tuesday, April 17th through Saturday, April 28th during our regular business hours. If you have any questions please feel free to call our store at 515-961-1635


West Des Moines and Ankeny Evening, Weekend, and Graduate Program graduates:
 To order your cap and gown, please visit the Simpson College Bookstore website or go to http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/simpson on or before March 16th . Placing your order on-line will guarantee you have the correct size for your height and weight. If you are not able to place an order on or before March 16th, we will have extra caps & gowns available at the bookstore in various sizes but we cannot guarantee we’ll have your exact size. If you’d like to have your cap & gown shipped to either the West Des Moines or Ankeny campuses, please call the bookstore at 515-961-1635 as soon as you place your order on-line to let us know where you’d like to pick up your items. Orders specified to be shipped to the West Des Moines or Ankeny campuses will be available at those locations beginning Friday, April 20th. Orders specified to be picked up at the Simpson College Bookstore in Indianola may be picked up there from Tuesday, April 17th through Saturday, April 28th during our regular business hours. If you have any questions please feel free to call our store at 515-961-1635.


CAREER SERVICES
Remember that all of our services are available to you as alumni. Contact the career services office for job search planning, resume critiquing, consultation regarding graduate school, and other career-related concerns. If you are interested in receiving e-mails regarding job openings, please send an e-mail to careers@simpson.edu indicating the e-mail address to which they should be sent and listing the fields in which you are interested, subject line: Simpson Grad. Do you already have a job or plan to attend graduate school? We would love to know! Please go to our website www.simpson.edu/career/alumni/status.html and submit the Graduate Status Report. For assistance call 961-1667 or e-mail careers@simpson.edu. 

CLASS RINGS
Students may order rings through the bookstore personnel. For more information, call ext. 1635 or stop by the bookstore.

DIPLOMAS
During the Commencement Ceremony each graduate will receive a diploma cover.  Diploma's will be mailed out approximately 6-8 weeks following the commencement ceremony once all requirements for completion have been met.  Your diploma will be mailed to your permanent address on file in the Registrar's office.

GRADUATION DVD
A DVD of the graduation ceremony will be available for $10. Please contact Sheila Allbee to order. 

HONOR GRADUATES
On Saturday morning in front of Smith Chapel (rain site, Hopper Gymnasium), students who are graduating with honors will receive a red and gold neck ribbon with an honors medallion.   Students may keep these ribbons and medallions.  Honors for the Commencement Ceremonty are based on the cumulative GPA as of March 15, 2012.   For more information call the registrar's office at ext. 1734.

Shortly before Commencement, cords will be put in the mail boxes of students who have been inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa. Inside the envelope with the honor cord will be a return envelope in which students are to return the cords by campus mail after graduation. For more information call the student development office at ext. 1592.

HOUSING CHECKOUT
Residence Life will send information in early April to all graduating seniors regarding the check-out procedures.   If you have any questions please contact the Department of Residence Life at ext. 1592.

LIBRARY MATERIALS
The staff at Dunn Library wishes you the best in your lifelong learning adventure - your local libraries will be there! You will receive an e-mail from us in early April if you have any items to return before you leave. If you have any questions, please call Karin Hooper at ext. 1518.

LOAN INFORMATION
Exit Counseling - Federal regulations require all students borrowing under the Federal Perkins or Federal Stafford student loan programs to complete exit counseling prior to graduation. The exit counseling will provide information on your cumulative student loan debt and repayment options.

Federal regulations also require TEACH Grant recipients to complete exit counseling prior to graduation in preparation of your teaching commitment. The exit counseling will prepare you for proper management of your grant should it become payable as a Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan.

Information regarding your loans, grants, and exit counseling will be provided in March.

MAILROOM

If you have a campus mail box and you were unable to attend the Senior Finale make sure to stop by the mailroom to let them know that your forwarding address will be.  First Class mail will be forwarded for one year and magazines for only sixty days. For additional information contact Sue in the Mailroom at 515 961-1638.

PHOTOS
A professional photographer from Grad Images will take photographs as each graduate is handed a diploma cover and shakes hands with the President of Simpson College. Proof copies will be mailed to each graduate and prints can be ordered from the photographer. Purchase is optional.

REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
You will receive a SENIOR QUESTIONNAIRE, which must be returned to the registrar’s office by March 26 in order to complete your graduation process. The registrar’s office needs to know whether or not you plan to attend the ceremony and the pronunciation of your name. 

STUDENT LIFE MAGAZINE
The Storm Tracker student life magazine is available in June to all students who have paid the student activity fee. If you would like to have the magazine mailed to you for a $2 shipping fee, contact Steven Chappell at ext. 1220 or e-mail at steven.chappell@simpson.edu. Payment must be made in advance.

TICKETS FOR COMMENCEMENT
No tickets are required to attend the Commencement Ceremony.  Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.   Doors for the Cowles seating areas will open at approximately 8:15 a.m.

Student Development
Kristie Elbert
kristie.elbert@simpson.edu
515-961-1306

Evening, Weekend, and Graduate Program Offices:
Ginger Hermon, Indianola
515-961-1313
ginger.hermon@simpson.edu

Becky Armstrong, Ankeny
becky.armstrong@simpson.edu
515-965-9355

Paula Palmer, West Des Moines
paula.palmer@simpson.edu
515-961-1881


Graduation Activities Schedule

 

Last Updated: 4/24/12