The number of graduates eligible for spring commencement has increased steadily during the past several years prompting the University’s Commencement Committee to adopt three ceremonies for May 2014.
According to the committee, Halton Arena was at capacity for the 10 a.m. ceremony in May 2013, and student demand for tickets continued to be a concern. Therefore, the committee recommended adding a third ceremony. In 2013, University officials estimated 17,400 individuals filled the arena for two ceremonies, this included graduates, guests, faculty, members of the platform party and the Commencement Band.
For 2014, a ceremony has been added at 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 9, for undergraduate and graduate candidates in the Belk College of Business, College of Computing and Informatics, College of Health and Human Services and the Graduate School.
On Saturday, May 10, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Graduate School will confer degrees at 10 a.m., and at 3 p.m., the College of Arts + Architecture, College of Education, William States Lee College of Engineering and Graduate School will award degrees.
With the move to three ceremonies, graduates were able to request eight tickets, an increase of two per student from May 2013.
More than 3,600 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students have applied for graduation this spring. More details on spring commencement are on the Web.