Common Questions

What is the Baccalaureate Celebration?

This special evening will include dinner, a hooding ceremony, testimonies of thanksgiving, and a special presentation recognizing fellow graduates and faculty at Talbot. Graduates are encouraged to invite those who have supported them through their time at Talbot.

What is a “Baccalaureate”?

Baccalaureate has long been held as an ecumenical celebration of academic achievement since the 8th century. At Talbot, the Baccalaureate Celebration has been held the evening before Commencement ceremony. Faculty and graduates would agree that the Baccalaureate Celebration is a highlight of the academic year. It is a joyous occasion for the entire Talbot community: a time to rejoice, to raise, to honor and to celebrate with each other.

Is it required that I attend both the Baccalaureate and the Commencement?

It is NOT required that you attend the Baccalaureate, although it is a very special way to give thanks to God and to those He has provided you with during your Talbot journey. Please RSVP to Sarah Winfrey with your plans to attend. However, it IS required that you attend the Commencement ceremony, except in cases of extreme emergency or other difficult circumstances. Permission to graduate in absentia must be secured well in advance by writing a letter to the Dean of Talbot.

Where is the Baccalaureate Celebration held?

Baccalaureate is held at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel and Resort in Buena Park (formerly, Radisson Resort Knott’s Berry Farm). The hotel is about 5.5 miles south west of Biola. The address to the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort and Hotel is: 7675 Crescent Ave Buena Park, CA

How do I get to Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel?

Head south on Beach Blvd, pass Knott's Berry Farm, turn right on Crescent. After Grand, turn right into the hotel parking lot. Once you inform the parking attendant that you are attending the Talbot Baccalaureate, you will be asked to park in the front parking lot. Parking is free. Enter through the main entrance into the lobby and proceed up the stairway to the right to check-in.

When is the Baccalaureate Celebration?

The Baccalaureate Celebration dinner is on Thursday, May 22 at 5:00pm. It is typically held the evening before commencement.

How long is the Baccalaureate program?

The Baccalaureate Celebration begins at 5:00pm with dinner and ends at around 8:30 or 9:00pm.

Who attends the Baccalaureate Celebration?

All Talbot graduates and full-time faculty are invited to the Baccalaureate. Graduates are encouraged to invite their spouses, relatives, Caring Couples, mentors, friends, and church members. There is no limit to the number of guests that graduates may bring. However, please note that tables seat 10 people.

What about children?

Although we strongly encourage graduates and guests with children to make arrangements for child care at home, children are welcome to attend the evening provided that you pay for their dinner meal. If any children are going to be in your party, we ask that you let us know the names and ages of the children, and if you will require a high chair at your table. Children under 3 will not require a ticket. Sorry, there is no "children's meal."

How much does it cost?

The Baccalaureate is free for faculty, graduates and their spouses and each additional ticket for guests is $25. Unused spouse tickets are not transferable to guests. There is no actual physical ticket that will be given or required for admission.

Is there a limit to the number of guests I can bring?

No, there is no limit to your party, provided that all guests are paid for. Please consider asking your guests to help cover the cost of their ticket. Since tables seat ten (10) people, your party may be split into separate tables if it exceeds 10. As seating will be arranged, you will also submit your requests for seating when you RSVP.

When is the latest that I can add a guest to my party?

Although we ask that guest names and tickets be paid for by the date in your invitation, you can remove guests up to one week before the Baccalaureate. If you wish to add guests after our deadline, we will do so whenever possible. However, no new guests can be added once the seating chart is made. Please contact Tim Batdorf with any change requests. Please note that unused guest tickets cannot be refunded after your payment has been charged/deposited.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please let us know if you or in anyone in your party are unable to attend the event as soon as possible. Please note that unused guest tickets cannot be refunded after your payment has been charged/deposited.

When should I expect an invitation?

Invitations will be issued from the Intentional Character Development Program Office in the middle of the semester. Students expecting to graduate should contact Indra in the Registrar's Office at least one year prior to graduation in order to be on the invitation list. Invitations will be sent to the home address that graduates give to the Registrar's Office.

What should I wear?

This is an event that is somewhere in between dressy casual and semi-formal. Nice slacks and a tie are appropriate for men and a nice dress or skirt and blouse is appropriate for women. Bring your cap, gown and hood in a bag and keep it with you during dinner. After dinner, you will be dismissed to put on your regalia for the hooding ceremony.

How do I get my cap, gown, and hood?

If you are a masters student, your cap, gown and hood will be ordered for you, and will be available for purchase in the Biola Bookstore during regular Bookstore hours. Please bring your masters regalia in a bag to the Baccalaureate service and keep it with you at your table. As this is a purchase, your regalia does not need to be returned, but is yours to keep.

If you are a doctoral student, your regalia will be ordered for you by Carol Baker at Talbot, and your cap, gown, and hood will be available for you to pick up after May 19, in Myers Hall Room 200. The cost of the rental regalia is $45.00 and will be charged to your account. Please bring your regalia on a hanger to the Baccalaureate service. Since doctoral regalia is rented, doctoral graduates must return all regalia to Carol Baker in Myers Hall Room 200 immediately following the commencement ceremony.

Graduates will be hooded at the Baccalaureate service and will wear their hoods to the Commencement ceremony.

I have out-of-town guests coming for my graduation, can you suggest accommodations?

Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel and Resort offers a special rate--$89/night. Make a reservation with special code HCATER. Call 800-333-3333.

What’s for dinner?

The dinner will be a chicken dish. If you or anyone in your party requests a vegetarian dinner or is lactose intolerant, please let us know so that we can notify the caterer.

Is there anything I should do to prepare for the Baccalaureate?

In addition to RSVPing by the due date on your invitation, inviting guests, and submitting your payment and your requests for seating and hooding, we ask each of the graduates to submit the following items so that we might include them in the programming of the hooding ceremony:

• Note of Appreciation
• Picture of Graduate
• After Graduation Plans

We will ask you to submit these items to the ICD Office by the due date on your invitation. Late submissions may not be included in the evening’s program.

What is the Note of Appreciation?

The hooding ceremony will not only honor you as a graduate, but will also give you an opportunity to personally thank those who have encouraged, supported, prayed for and taught you during your time at Talbot. As each graduate is hooded, your note of appreciation will be read by a faculty member. Please limit your note to 100 words or less. Due to time limitations at the Baccalaureate Celebration and the large number of graduates, we may edit your note if it is too long. Please include phonetic spellings of words or names that our readers may find difficult to pronounce.

Is the Note of Appreciation like an Oscar award acceptance speech?

Yes, it can sound like an Oscar Award acceptance speech, but really, you could make it "read" however you'd like--a short testimony, "To my mom: thanks for your support," a poem, a list of thanks to people, etc. Most are written in the first person—“I’d like to thank…”

Examples from previous years:

EXAMPLE #1: A POEM

EXAMPLE #2:

4 years. $30,000, an MDiv degree and one thing is certain…All I really needed to know about life I learned at Talbot
“Most Revelation questions can be answered with one word …Daniel” –A.Hultberg.
“The gospel is bigger than the 4 spiritual laws”-W.Russell
Don’t mess with Dr. Wilkins’ boys
“Restate, Restate, Restate” –D.Sunukjian

Two things convince me of God’s lavishing love:
1. Jesus, my Savior.
2. My wife. Life’s journey blossomed the day God brought us together. You’re my greatest encourager, most faithful cheerleader, strongest supporter. My best friend, my soul mate, and my love. I love you and thank God for you. Trusting Him together, I’m certain we’ll find our journey is just beginning.

EXAMPLE #3

It's taken me ten long years to get this degree finished, and my beautiful wife Cyndi has sacrificially supported me the entire way. I love you deeply for being the best teammate in life and ministry I’ve ever had. Thanks to my loving family – Mom & Dad, Abraham & Sarah, Ricky & Lucy – for your continual encouragement. Dad, I appreciate you for modeling a rare kind of humble servant leadership that I’ll always try to imitate. Thanks to Dr. Rigsby for your fatherly wisdom, Dr. Russell & Dr. Saucy for challenging my ideas of leadership, Dr. Boersma for your constant care, and Dr. Finley for making even Hebrew fun.

Why do you need a photo of me?

The Baccalaureate Celebration will feature a slide show presentation, which will include pictures of all our graduates. Please submit a recent photo—hard copy or digital. Your photo will be returned to you at the Baccalaureate Celebration. If you do not have a recent photo, please contact Tim Batdorf to schedule a time for a snapshot or stop by the office at Grove 6A. Your photo may be a portrait studio picture or a casual picture. Although photos with family members are acceptable, please ensure that you, the graduate, are the most prominent person in the photo.

What should I submit as my “after grad plans?”

Please let us know what your plans are after you graduate or what you hope to do after you graduate. The after- gradation plans will be compiled and printed in the program so our Talbot community can be praying for your next steps. If you will be continuing in the ministry that you are currently involved, please let us know what and where that is. If you are not sure and are continuing to trust in God for your next steps, please feel free to tell us so. A short sentence such as “I will be depending on the Lord for further direction in how I might serve Him” or “My family and I will be returning to Churchtown, Mississippi to serve at ABC Church as the missions pastor” should suffice.

What happens at the Baccalaureate Hooding Ceremony?

After dinner, graduates and faculty will be dismissed to the coat room to put on their gowns and line up for the hooding ceremony. As the graduate's name is being called, your spouse will join you on stage and will be recognized for his/her support, encouragement and prayers during your time in seminary. More detailed directions will be provided for you and your spouse at the check-in table and via email prior to the Baccalaureate.

Are fiancés invited to participate in the Hooding Ceremony?

Because the purpose of inviting spouses to share in the hooding ceremony is to thank them for the special role that they have played in supporting the graduate towards finishing his/her degree throughout his/her program, we ask that only spouses go up during the hooding ceremony. However, we do invite fiancés to participate in the sharing of communion after the hooding ceremony.

Who will hood me at the Baccalaureate Hooding Ceremony?

You may request the faculty member who will hood you during the Baccalaureate Celebration Hooding Ceremony. We ask that you submit several names as your first choice may not be available. Although we will try our best to match your with one of the faculty members on your list, we cannot guarantee anything.

Who do I contact about Baccalaureate and other Graduation Details?