Information for Parents, Families and Guests
Thank you for the many ways you have supported your student throughout her time at Meredith. You have played an essential role in her success, and we are grateful for all that you have done to help her reach this important milestone. We look forward to welcoming you to commencement.
Baccalaureate Worship Service:
A worship service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, in Jones Auditorium. Members of the Class of 2012 will participate in their academic regalia. A special invitation is extended to families/guests, faculty and staff to join graduates for this service.
Commencement Practice:
Commencement practice is scheduled for Friday, May 4, at 3:30 p.m. in the Amphitheater. (Rain location will be Jones Auditorium.) Graduates may dress in casual attire for the practice. Attendance at practice is required.
Line-up for Class of 2012:
The Class of 2012 will gather in the courtyard area between Johnson Hall and Belk Dining Hall promptly at 8:30 a.m. on May 6 in preparation for line-up for the academic procession. Staff members from the Academic Programs Division will coordinate the procession line-up. Commencement exercises begin at 10 a.m. in McIver Amphitheater.
Location
Commencement will be held in the Elva Bryan McIver Amphitheater on the campus at Meredith College. This location will allow unlimited seating. The rain location will be the J.S. Dorton Arena on the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Tickets will not be necessary for either location. Chairs with legs are permitted in the area surrounding the amphitheater, but not in the amphitheater itself.
Inclement Weather Information
In the event of inclement weather on Sunday, May 6, Commencement will be held at the J.S. Dorton Arena on the N.C. State Fairgrounds. The official decision regarding the location of Commencement will be announced on the Meredith web site and Inclement Weather Line (919-832-8878) prior to 7 a.m. on Sunday.
Graduates are asked to arrive at Meredith’s campus by 8:30 a.m. and line up in Jones Auditorium before being transported to the arena. Guests should proceed to the arena.
Directions to Campus
The Meredith campus is in west Raleigh. Easy access to the campus is provided by Wade Avenue -- an Interstate 40 connector -- and by US 1/I-440. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport, served by the major airlines, is only eight miles from Meredith.
The directions below guide you to Exit 3, Hillsborough St./Meredith College, on I-440. Turn left off the exit onto Hillsborough Street. At the second traffic light on Hillsborough, turn left into the main entrance to campus. Johnson Hall is straight ahead; there you'll find signs and an information booth for help in locating other facilities.
- From Highway 70 West -- Exit onto I-440 South (US 1 and 64 West); take I-440 to Exit #3.
- From Highway 70 East and I-40 East -- From 70 East, take I-40 West. Follow I-40/ 440 West to Exit 293. East travelers, take I-40/440 West as well. At Exit 293, take I-440 North to Exit #3.
- From I-40 West -- West of Raleigh, follow the Wade Avenue Exit (#289). At the I-440 junction, take I-440 South; stay in right hand lane and take the next exit (#3).
- From US 1 South and 64 West -- 64 West travelers take US 1 North. US 1 will become I-440 North. Follow it to Exit #3.
- From US 64 East -- At the I-440 junction, take I-440 North. Follow it around the western part of the city to Exit #3.
- From US 1 North and 401 North -- At the I-440 junction, take I-440 West to Exit #3.
- From US 401 South -- Take I-440 South; follow I-440 to Exit 293, which becomes I-440 North. Take I-440 North to Exit #3.
Directions to Dorton Arena (Rain Site):
From Meredith College, travel west on Hillsborough Street to Blue Ridge Road. (Make a right out of the main entrance of Meredith’s campus.) Turn right onto Blue Ridge Road. Travel approximately a quarter mile and turn left onto Trinity Road. Guests will access parking through Gate 9 on the left side of Trinity Road. Handicapped parking is available. Travel on Hillsborough Street and access handicapped parking through Gate 2 on the right side of the street.
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Special Needs/Accessibility Information
For handicapped parking, vehicles should enter the campus from the Hillsborough Street Entrance and alert Campus Police. There will also be golf cart transportation from the parking areas for those with special needs. For guests who are sun-sensitive, the ceremony may be viewed on wide-screen video in the air-conditioned Jones Auditorium.
Should you have additional questions about commencement, please contact the Office of Academic Programs at (919) 760-8117.
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