Commencement Spring 2007--Media Guidelines

At colleges and universities across the nation, commencement is a joyous time to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of those students (along with their family and friends who supported them along the way) who have completed their academic course of study.

This year, Virginia Tech’s commencement ceremonies come just four weeks after the tragic events at West Ambler Johnston and Norris halls. This year’s joy and celebration will be tempered with grief following the loss of 32 members of our community.

As you report on these ceremonies, we ask that you be respectful of both the accomplishments and pride of the approximately 5,000 graduates and their families as well as the sorrow felt by the families of the 32 deceased and the entire Virginia Tech community.

On Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12, we anticipate some 25,000 to 35,000 students and guests on our campus. We hope you understand that the needs of our students and their families are our highest priority this weekend.

In addition, we have worked to accommodate the needs of the press. These guidelines, we hope, will help you accomplish your job while ensuring the dignity and respect that must be afforded to all the students, families, and guests who will participate in the ceremonies.

General Information:

All media representatives will be required to obtain media credentials. Credentials must be worn and clearly displayed at all times. Credentials may be obtained Thursday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and again on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Holtzman Alumni Center. On Friday, credentialing will continue at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the South Tower (facing Spring Road) at Lane Stadium.

All commencement and convocation events will be staffed by Virginia Tech public information officers (PIOs) who will be credentialed with large white badges. They are here to assist you during the weekend.

Seating at all commencement and convocation venues is prioritized for graduates and their families and guests. We ask you to stay in the areas designated for media and to respect the decorum afforded to these ceremonies. Questions related to press seating and use of cameras and tripods may be directed to the PIOs.

At all commencement and convocation ceremonies, members of the press are not allowed on the floor (where graduates are seated) or on or near the stage where the ceremony takes place.

To ensure that our graduates and their guests can fully focus on and participate in the commencement ceremonies, we ask you to refrain from interviewing students and families during the ceremonies and avoid up-close contact with them. Any interviews with graduates or their guests must take place outside the commencement or convocation venues to ensure a timely transition between events.

Due to space restrictions at the various commencement venues, tripods can be accommodated only in the specified areas in Lane Stadium (for more detail, please see below). Use of broadcast cameras and flash photography at university convocations will be directed by university PIOs stationed at all events.

Pool still photography is available for the Graduate Commencement Ceremony (Friday, May 11, 3 p.m., Cassell Coliseum) and the University Commencement Ceremony (Friday, May 11, 7:30 p.m., Lane Stadium) through the Roanoke Times posted on the AP wire. Contact: Dan Beatty 540-981-3450 (Roanoke Times switchboard: 800-346-1234).

Pool broadcast coverage (three cameras) will be available for the Graduate and University commencement ceremonies and for the College of Engineering convocation (Saturday, May 12, 8 a.m., Cassell Coliseum) courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics broadcast media unit. Contact is Kevin Hicks (cell: 540-998-5921). Digital KU-Band contact is Sam Doyle, 540-314-3763.

Coordinates are:

C-Band coordinates: Galaxy 3 Transponder 4V, 91 degrees West Digital KU-band: Galaxy 26 (G-26) satellite formerly known as IA-6, Located at 93 degrees West, Transponder: 1-D, Downlink frequency / polarity 11721.375 vertical, Data rate 5.5 FEC ¾. Symbol rate 3.9787

General questions on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 may be directed to Mark Owczarski (cell: 540-357-0126).

Driving / Parking Information:

Spring Road, along the west side of Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum, will be closed to thru traffic beginning Friday, May 11 beginning at 8 a.m.

All media satellite trucks must be parked at the Environmental Health and Safety Parking Lot (located off Tech Center Drive) and the Litton Reaves Parking Lot accessible off Washington Street (next to Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Phase 1) or Duck Pond Drive (next to Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Phase 2).

All other press vehicles may park in the Litton Reaves Parking Lot.

NO press vehicles or satellite trucks may be parked on the Drillfield or other major campus roadways the week of May 7 – 13.

All media vehicles must display a media parking pass made available when you check in during credentialing.

DO NOT park in any handicap or metered spaces. You will be ticketed.

Thursday, May 10:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Media sign-in and credentialing at the main entrance of the Holtzman Alumni Center.

Friday, May 11:

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Media sign-in and credentialing at the main entrance of the Holtzman Alumni Center.

5 p.m.: Media sign-in and credentialing continues in the lobby of South Tower lobby, Lane Stadium.

2 to 2:30 p.m. Media Availability: Gen. Philip Abizaid, U.S. Army (Ret.), former Commander of the United States Central Command Fifth Floor, media dining room, Lane Stadium (enter via elevator in South Tower). Media credentials must be worn to be admitted. Press conference format; introductory remarks followed by questions and answers.

3 p.m. Graduate Commencement Ceremony – Cassell Coliseum: Media credentials are required to be worn at all times. Assigned media space in section 15 Mult box will be available in section 15 Pooled still photography. See “General Information” (above) for details. Pooled broadcast coverage. See “General Information” (above) for details.

5 p.m. Lane Stadium Press Box Available to Working Press Media credentials must be worn at all times. Mult box available for radio media outlets Broadcast outlets may use platform outside press box to shoot ceremony. Use of tripod acceptable only on this platform. PIOs will escort interested press to platforms. Commencement broadcast and sound available in press box. Wireless Internet access available in press box.

7:30 p.m. University Commencement Ceremony – Lane Stadium: Instructions from PIOs and stadium ushers must be followed at all times. Pooled still photography. See “General Information” (above) for details. Pooled broadcast coverage. See “General Information” (above) for details.

Saturday, May 12:

Approximately 30 college and departmental convocations will be held on this day. Virginia Tech public information officers (PIOs) will be present at all ceremonies to assist reporters if needed.

Media credentials must be worn at all times to attend these ceremonies.

Please do not enter the venue floor, where our graduates will be seated and do not block families’ and graduates’ views. Ushers and PIOs will be available to assist you; please follow their guidance.

To ensure that our graduates and their guests can fully focus on and participate in the commencement ceremonies, we ask you to refrain from interviewing students and families during the ceremonies and avoid up-close contact with them. Any interviews may occur outside the venue

Because of the intimate nature of convocations and the venues, no broadcast cameras will be allowed in Saturday convocations.

Guidelines to assist in major venues:

Cassell Coliseum – College ceremonies (Engineering, Ag & Life Sciences, Business) Will host Engineering (8 a.m.) Agriculture and Life Sciences (11 a.m.) and the Pamplin College of Business (2 p.m.) Pooled broadcast coverage. See “General Information” (above) for details. No still photographers, broadcast cameras, or reporters allowed on the floor or on or near the stage.

Assigned media space in section 15:

Mult box will be available in section 15. Please do not block families’ and graduates’ views. Ushers and PIOs will be available to assist you; please follow their guidance. To ensure that our graduates and their guests can fully focus on and participate in the commencement ceremonies, we ask you to refrain from interviewing students and families during the ceremonies and avoid up-close contact with them.

Other colleges’/departments’ ceremonies (various locations):

Convocation venues vary in size and therefore, allocated room for the press. Please follow the instructions of PIOs attending each event. Primary consideration will be given to graduates, family members, and guests attending the event.

General Facts and Figures:

Degree candidates

• 32 associate degree candidates
• 3,585 bachelor degree candidates
• 1,179 graduate degree candidates (947 master's degree candidates and 231 doctorate degree candidates)
• 88 students are expected to receive Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, nine students are expected to receive a Ph.D., and 14 students are expected to receive a master's degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

On Sunday, May 13, Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center commencement ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Va. 370 degree candidates will be honored at this event.

Should inclement weather be a factor in Friday’s Lane Stadium ceremony, call the university Weather Line at (540) 231-6668 or check the university homepage.

For more information on Virginia Tech spring commencement activities, call the Commencement Hotline at (540) 231-3208 or visit the Commencement website.