I. Pre-commencement

Step 1 | Register online

• Students who graduated in the 2019/2020 Fall Semester and those who are expected to graduate in the 2019/2020 Spring Semester or Summer Session should register online for the Commencement Ceremony 2020, noting that several ceremonies will take place during the first week of August (exact dates to be confirmed later).
  N.B.: Parents and invitees will not be attending the ceremony.
• Register here
• Deadline: Monday, July 20 (no request will be accepted after this date).
• N.B.: To cancel your request, please send the cancellation via the same registration form (before Friday, July 24). Students who cancel their request before this date are eligible for a 100,000 LBP refund during the cap and gown restitution period.

Step 2 | Deposit a guarantee

• 150,000 LBP for students wishing to participate in the ceremony (50,000 LBP refundable upon return of cap and gown)
• 100,000 LBP for students wishing to rent the cap and gown only (50,000 LBP refundable upon return of cap and gown)
• Location: Accounting Office – Student Service (Registrar Office)
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday | 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Deadline: Monday, July 20 (no request will be accepted after this date)

Step 3 | Collect your graduation cap and gown

• For your safety, you cannot try on the cap and gown; you will only pick them up based on your choice in the registration link.
• Location: Room ES101 – Building E
• Date: Please respect the date chosen upon your online registration.
• N.B.: To cancel your request, please send the cancellation via the same registration form (before Friday, July 24).

Step 4 | Take your own picture for the e-yearbook

• Take your own picture following the guideline.
• Don’t forget to add a motto.
• Upload your picture by clicking on the relevant link.

II. Commencement Day

• Location and time of the ceremony: Esplanade of Building E at 7:30 p.m.
• You will receive your line-up seat number by email one day before the ceremony (USEK student email).
• Your presence at the Esplanade of the School of Music and Performing Arts is mandatory at 5:30 p.m.
• Men should consider wearing slacks with a buttoned white shirt.
• Consider wearing comfortable shoes (to make walking across the stage easier).
• Keep your mobile phone on silent mode at all times.
• While receiving your diploma, pause slightly next to the President so that the professional photographer can take a photo (for your safety, no handshaking with the President). Once the photo is taken, you can return to your seat.
• Smoking is not allowed during the commencement ceremony.
• Participation in the commencement ceremony cannot be considered as valid proof of having obtained a degree/diploma.

III. Post-commencement

Cap and gown restitution

• Monday, August 10 to Friday, August 14 – excluding Wednesday, August 12 (the deposit will not be refunded after August 14).
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Location: Room ES101 – Building E

Refund

• 100,000 LBP refundable for students who cancelled their participation within the deadline (before Friday, July 24)
• 50,000 LBP refundable for students who participated in the ceremony.
• 50,000 LBP refundable for students who rent the cap and gown only.

Diploma Pickup and Alumni Card
Students will receive an email and SMS once the parchment diploma and Alumni Card are ready to be collected from the Registrar Office. If students cannot collect the documents in person, they may delegate a representative to do so by completing the Letter of Authorization to Release Information or by sending an email to the Registrar Office at registrar@usek.edu.lb.

IV. Important dates

• Commencement Day: Several ceremonies during the first week of August (exact dates to be confirmed)
• Registration deadline: Monday, July 20
• Cancellation date: Friday, July 24 (no refund will be given after this date).
• Refund and cap and gown restitution: Monday, August 10 to Friday, August 14 | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.| excluding Wednesday, August 12.

V. FAQ

1. How can I edit or cancel my request to participate in the ceremony?
Students can change the option chosen (or cancel the request) through the same registration form.

2. How can students from the Regional University Centers (RUCs) participate in the ceremony?
The same online procedure is applicable for students of the USEK Campus and the RUCs of Chekka, Rmeich, and Zahle. Students should respect the dates chosen during online registration for the cap and gown collection from the USEK Campus.

3. Are there any rehearsals prior to the ceremony?
No rehearsals: students are required to attend the Commencement Day briefing starting 5:30 p.m. at the Esplanade of the School of Music and Performing Arts.

4. Is assistance for people with physical disabilities provided?
If assistance for guests or students with physical disabilities is needed, please contact the SAO on +961 9 600 196/7 or at commencement@usek.edu.lb.

5. Are the necessary safety measures taken during the commencement ceremony?
A whole set of precautionary measures will be implemented on campus during all the commencement ceremonies to ensure having a safe event. Social distancing will be maintained in the seating of the graduating students. Several ceremonies will be held instead of one to avoid crowding. In line with such measures, students will not be shaking hands with the President while posing for photos on stage.

6. Why the exact dates have not been announced yet?
We have announced the preliminary date of the commencement ceremonies during the first week of August so that graduates and their families can have enough time for the necessary arrangements. However, students should keep in mind that these plans are subject to change if unforeseen circumstances might occur.

7. Are parents/invitees allowed to attend the ceremony?
No; as the University’s administration intends to celebrate as safely as possible, the ceremony is limited to students only in order to avoid crowding.

VI. Contact

For more information, you can contact the SAO on +961 9 600 196/7 or at commencement@usek.edu.lb.