All students should be aware of the criteria to graduate and evaluate their own progress for program completion. To attain graduate status, all students must*:

• be in good academic standing
  
  
• have completed all coursework within the specified degree program with a grade point average of 3.0 or above
  
  
• have completed all required internship hours confirmed by the Internship Review Committee
  
  
• have completed the Capstone Experience confirmed by the chair of the Capstone Committee with the certificate of completion of program requirements
  
  
• have completed the specified degree program within the maximum time frame allowed by the College
  
  
• have no outstanding payments due
  
  
• be in 'graduate status,' or anticipate a graduation date of no later than September 23, 2018 in order to participate in the 2018 Commencement and order regalia
  
  

*Ed.D. students must successfully defend their dissertation at least 30 days prior to commencement. If the dissertation is not successfully defended for any reason, the candidate will no longer be able to participate in commencement.

If a graduation date is extended due to a change in enrollment or class progression to a date later than September 23, 2018, the student will no longer be eligible to participate in this year’s commencement.

The Degree Map feature located under the My Academics menu in MyACE Student Portal will help you evaluate how many more courses you must complete before you have met the requirements for your degree.

To view and update your record for accuracy, log into the MyACE Student Portal. Under Personal Information, you can update your address, phone number and email.

First and middle names may be complete or initialed, but must match your name in the student portal. Omission of first name is acceptable. Last names should match your last name exactly in the MyACE Student Portal.

Suffixes, such as Sr., Jr., III, etc., may be used if included in the student portal and documented in the student record on the student's original application, a transcript from another school, or a Certificate of Birth.

Hispanic maternal surnames may be included if documentation is provided to the Registrar's Office for the student record. Proper documentation is a copy of a Certificate of Birth showing the maternal surname, or on the student's original application.

Hyphenated maiden-married last names may be used, provided the student's file and student portal have documentation to verify the names. A Change of Student Information Form accompanied by a Certificate of Marriage will be required if a name change has not been processed since the marriage. In all cases, verification will be based on information in the student portal and the Registrar's Office student's record and not on information provided verbally or only via emails to Student Services.

Neither titles nor degrees previously earned will be included as part of a graduate's name on a diploma.

A diploma may be ordered with a new name in expectation of a name change. If this is done, the diploma will not be delivered until an official Change of Student Information Form is provided to the Registrar's Office with supporting documentation. Any re-printing of a diploma caused by this type of order will be charged to the student.

Earning your degree is a great achievement and an important reason to celebrate. Each year, American College of Education honors our graduates with one commencement ceremony. 

Commencement offers a unique opportunity to meet faculty and fellow students in person, and to cultivate friendships that began in your online program. Participation is optional, and you are responsible for your travel arrangements and regalia if you choose to attend.

We are pleased to announce the theme of the 2018 Commencement is “Making the Connection.”

The 2018 Commencement will take place in our home state of Indiana to celebrate the connections you have formed over the past months, and your many accomplishments. 

Date: Saturday, July 21, 2018
Location: The Center of the Performing Arts – Home of the Palladium
Address: 355 City Center Dr., Carmel, IN 46032

All eligible graduates* are encouraged to attend in person, but if you are unable to make the trip to Indianapolis, we will also offer a virtual commencement ceremony.

This year’s post-ceremony reception is generously sponsored by the ACE Alumni Association. Reception will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and refreshments for graduates and their guests.

*Ed.D. students must successfully defend their dissertation at least 30 days prior to commencement. If the dissertation is not successfully defended for any reason, the candidate will no longer be able to participate in commencement.

If a graduation date is extended due to a change in enrollment or class progression to a date later than September 23, 2018, the student will no longer be eligible to participate in this year’s commencement.

The 2018 Request to Participate form is now available. Graduates* who plan to attend Commencement either virtually or in-person must fill out this form in order to participate in the ceremony. Graduates who do not plan to attend do not need to take any action. 

The deadline to register for Commencement is June 22, 2018.

Virtual Attendance
On the day of the ceremony, graduates who plan to attend virtually can view the live stream of the ceremony. The link will be available here as we get closer to the event. Virtual graduates will have their names read aloud with their degree program after in-person graduates have been called. 

Once available, the link can also be shared with friends and family so loved ones near and far can share in your accomplishment with you. 

Alumni Attendance
Alumni who would like to attend Commencement can send an email to alumni@ace.edu with the following information: 

First Name
Last Name
Mailing Address
Number of guests (including yourself)

*Ed.D. students must successfully defend their dissertation at least 30 days prior to commencement. If the dissertation is not successfully defended for any reason, the candidate will no longer be able to participate in commencement.

If a graduation date is extended due to a change in enrollment or class progression to a date later than September 23, 2018, the student will no longer be eligible to participate in this year’s commencement.

Graduates* who plan to participate in Commencement must wear ceremony regalia. American College of Education's commencement regalia is provided by Herff Jones. Please visit the website and select American College of Education as your school to order your cap and gown. 

Graduates will first need to select a degree program, and then choose between three levels of graduation packages. Each level includes the ACE hood, gown, tassel, and cap. The only difference between each package is the number of announcements included with the order. Graduates may also choose to add additional announcements and other commencement memorabilia.

Graduates must place regalia orders by Monday, June 25 to avoid incurring late charges. Please contact Student Services by email at graduation@ace.edu with questions regarding regalia.

*Ed.D. students must successfully defend their dissertation at least 30 days prior to commencement. If the dissertation is not successfully defended for any reason, the candidate will no longer be able to participate in commencement.

If a graduation date is extended due to a change in enrollment or class progression to a date later than September 23, 2018, the student will no longer be eligible to participate in this year’s commencement.

Graduation Day Schedule

Join us for the entire fun-filled day of activities on Graduation day. Schedule below. 

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Time	Event Information	Event Location
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.	Prepare for Commencement! Pick up Welcome Packet, name tag, National Board Certified Teacher Cords, Kappa Delta Pi cords, Honor Grad cords, and receive line-up and staging information	Palladium Foyer – Registration Founders Room – Herff Jones
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.	Informal Meet & Greet – ACE Faculty and Administration	Founders Room
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: 4 p.m.	Visit the Alumni Association – Register and learn more about the Association	Palladium Foyer
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.; 4 p.m.	Graduate photos – Get your official graduation portrait by Stephanie Nicole Photography, or have your picture taken with friends and family.	Founders Room
1:30 p.m.	Theater Room Doors Open	Palladium Theater
1:30 p.m.	Graduate & platform party line-up	Box Tier South
2 – 4 p.m.	Commencement Ceremony 2018	Palladium Theater
4 p.m.	ACE Alumni reception – Following the ceremony, join us for a light reception and this additional opportunity to meet your ACE professors and fellow graduates. Light refreshments will be served.	Palladium Foyer – South Lobby

Graduation Day Parking 

It is strongly recommended that you and any guests plan to arrive around 12:00 PM ET to avoid traffic delays. The venue doors will open at 12:30 PM ET. FREE parking is available in the parking garage at City Center. Directions to the parking garage are provided below. 

From South and West 
Take 1-465 to exit 31. Go north on Meridian St. to 116th St. Turn right on 116 St. and follow to Range Line Rd.  Turn left. Turn left on Carmel Dr., then turn right on 3rd Ave. 

From South and East
Take I-465 to Keystone Ave exit. Go north to 116th St. Turn left on 116th St. following to Range Line Rd and turning right. Go north to Carmel Dr. and turn left. Turn right on 3rd Ave. 

From North 
Take US-31, turn left onto Range Line Rd. and follow south to the intersection of City Center/126th St. Turn right onto Center City, and turn left on 3rd Ave. 

Entering Garage 
You will turn into the Garage Entrance from 3rd avenue depending on the direction you are coming from. Once parking, you can exit from the north side exit. Once you exit, you will have a short walk to the Palladium entrance passing the Studio Theater on your right and the Tarkington to your left. 

The Palladium is located directly behind the parking garage between the Monon Walking trail and 3rd Avenue. You will enter the Palladium from the south entrance directly facing the parking garage. There will be directional signs for your convenience. 

Graduate Portraits

Capture your special day by having your FREE official graduation portrait taken by Stephanie Nicole Photography on Saturday, July 21 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Founders’ Room.

Stephanie Rounds of Stephanie Nicole Photography is a sought-after, award-winning photographer who loves capturing the authentic beauty of her clients. Her ten-year portfolio includes weddings, families, corporate portraits, personal achievements, and non-profit organizations, inclusive of locations around the United States and Europe.

If you’d like to have your official graduation portrait taken or just get a photo with your friends and family before the Commencement ceremony begins, make sure you arrive with plenty of time to spare. Photos will be ready one week after the event, and graduates will receive an email with details about how to access their photos.

Additionally, you will receive an information card on graduation day detailing how to download all your Commencement photos after the event. All photographs will be available for download via an online gallery courtesy of Stephanie Nicole photography.

Hotel Information

This year's preferred hotel for Commencement is the Renaissance Indianapolis North in Carmel, Indiana. Graduates and their guests may now book hotel rooms for Commencement weekend at a special rate of $139.00 per night.

This upscale hotel near the Arts and Design District offers many nearby dining options, a heated swimming pool, free parking, and a fitness center. The hotel is also just a 3-mile drive from the Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts,where the graduation ceremony will take place.

Click here to reserve your special ACE group rate at the Renaissance by June 28, 2018. Rooms are limited, so make your reservations today!

If you have questions related to Commencement weekend, please direct them to Student Services via email at graduation@ace.edu.

Travel from Indianapolis Airport

Indianapolis Renaissance North 

Please note direct public transportation is not currently available from the Indianapolis Metro Airport to the Renaissance hotel. 

Driving Directions from Indianapolis International Airport:

• Take I-70 East
• Take exit onto I-465 North To Exit 31 (Us 31/N. Meridian Street)
• Continue north For 1.7 Miles
• Turn right onto 116th St.
• Make an immediate left turn onto Pennsylvania St.
• Continue For .5 Mile
• The Indianapolis Renaissance North hotel will be on the left at 11925 N. Meridian St. 

Visit here for further directions, travel, and parking information at the Indianapolis Renaissance North Hotel. 

The Indianapolis Renaissance North offers free parking for guests.

Public/Alternative Transportation

Visit IndyGo for public transit options if you plan to visit downtown Indianapolis or other parts of the city.

http://www.indygo.net/route/

Indianapolis International Airport
1-317-487-7243 

Alternate transportation: UBER and Lyft are available throughout the city, including the airport. Black Car Service is also available at the airport; reservation required.
Estimated taxi fare: $75 USD (one way)

  Visit IND airport website

Hotel Parking

• Complimentary on-site parking

Bus Station

• Greyhound Bus Station

Train Station

• Indianapolis Amtrak Station (14 miles South)

Car Rentals

• Hertz 10290 N Meridian St. Indianapolis, Indiana 46290

Michael Bonner

• Author of Get Up Or Give Up
• Visionary in positive mindset and innovation
• Featured on "The Ellen Degeneres Show"

I wish I could go back to second grade, so Mr. Bonner could be my teacher," were the words Ellen Degeneres released on her social media accounts in early January 2017. This is when she learned of how Mr. Bonner's unique, rap-filled teaching methods encouraged students to go above and beyond on a reading test.

Mr. Bonner is an inspiring second grade teacher at North Carolina's South Greenville Elementary, where the majority of students have strenuous familial dynamics and many are homeless. The school is 100% FRL (free and reduced lunch) and is located in an impoverished neighborhood in Eastern North Carolina. In early 2017, Bonner was honored by Ellen DeGeneres in recognition of his positive and innovative educational approaches for children coping with the challenges of poverty. Ellen presented Bonner and his school with technical equipment to assist in the creation of music videos serving as aids to education. Additionally, Wal-Mart presented the school with $25,000, and the Ellen Show created a Go Fund Me site for South Greenville, which has raised over $88,000 for the Title I school. However, the amazing journey did not stop there!

One month after he first appeared on her show, Ellen flew Mr. Bonner and his entire second grade class to visit with her again at her studio. Twenty children from Mr. Bonner's class received an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles, California. The students recorded in a professional studio had class on a Hollywood set, and made a professional music video with Ellen, Big Sean, Ice Cube, Migos, Ty Dolla Sign, and Lin Manuel Miranda! Mr.Bonner's class was then awarded another $20,000 from Wal-Mart to assist in creating a more prosperous learning environment.

His efforts to change the proficiency learning culture have also captured attention from other national news outlets. NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Flocabulary, the Ashton Kutcher Foundation, and Remind all released stories on how Mr. Bonner is utilizing music as a tool to help counter the negative statistical data concerning children living in poverty. He's had the privilege of speaking at NC State University, the American Association for Blacks in Higher Education, and various other institutions, delivering powerful messages on improving student performance and resilience.

With only four years in K-12 education, Mr. Bonner is consistently seen as a visionary leader who strives to create a positive mindset among all of his students. He understands that his students come to class each day with diverse backgrounds, strengths, needs, and challenges, and seeks to identify strategies to ensure the growth of their social, emotional, academic, and psychological needs. Because of his approach to education, students leave feeling a little more hopeful, challenged, inspired, and forever a part of Bonnerville!

 

Graduation is a significant accomplishment and deserves to be celebrated. If you’re looking to turn Commencement into a weekend-long celebration. ACE has put together a suggested list of attractions in Indianapolis for graduates and their families to enjoy at their leisure.

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest and the fourth oldest. The five-story building houses 10 major galleries exploring the physical and natural sciences, history, foreign culture and the arts. Highlights include the Dinosphere, the world's largest water clock, a turn-of-the-century carousel, and the Space Quest Planetarium. There is a purpose behind each display, a story to tell with each exhibit, and an idea to unfold in each gallery! The museum's excellent educational presentation is extremely appealing to children (as well as adults) and offers a guaranteed day of fun learning!

Indianapolis Zoo

Trek through an Amazon rain forest, visit an Indiana pond, and catch a panoramic view of polar bears underwater. Dolphins are anxious to perform especially for you in the arena and the dolphin adventure dome. Journey into the desert amidst lizards, tortoises, snakes and meerkats. Venture down a winding path for a trip to Africa and Australia where you will find giraffes, gazelles, and zebras grazing, lions roaring, elephants bathing, and Australian birds displaying their beautiful colors. All of this and more awaits your discovery at the Indianapolis Zoo. Numerous animals are also available for interaction with the children of the group at the "petting barn."

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park

Spanning 800 wooded acres in central Indiana just minutes north of Indianapolis, Conner Prairie is a nationally acclaimed interactive history park that depicts Midwestern life in the 1800's. Conner Prairie offers seven outdoor destinations, five of which are historically themed, and two indoor experience areas that combine history and art with science, technology, engineering and math to offer an authentic look into history that shaped society today.

The ACE Alumni Association continues the College's tradition of improving education through shared knowledge and experience. Visit the Alumni Association page for more information on the resources available and to join the association. For questions about the association, contact alumni@ace.edu.

*Travel arrangements provided by ACE include transportation for the honoree and one guest up to $1,000, as well as two nights of hotel accommodations. The recipient is responsible for transportation expenses in excess of $1,000, as well as meals and incidentals.