Fourth commencement ceremony added for April
Feb. 5, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Large class sizes and an increasing interest in the pomp and circumstance of a formal graduation ceremony are prompting Western Michigan University officials to schedule four separate April commencement ceremonies to accommodate an expected record number of graduates.
The four ceremonies are set for Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27.
Friday, April 26
8 p.m. - College of Arts and Sciences
Saturday, April 27
8:30 a.m. - Haworth College of Business, General University Studies program
11 a.m. - College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, College of Aviation, College of Fine Arts, College of Health and Human Services
1:30 p.m. - College of Education
Applications for graduation are being accepted through Friday, March 15, but already, University officials are expecting between 2,500 and 2,700 students will be eligible for graduation, surpassing the previous record of 2,475 eligible students.
"Commencement is an important rite of celebration for our students, their friends and families, and the entire University community," says Dr. Fredrick J. Dobney, WMU provost and vice president for academic affairs. "We're making this move to ensure those participating have the best possible opportunity to enjoy the event and have in attendance those who helped them achieve this milestone."
Each graduating student will be eligible for up to six tickets for the ceremony that they are eligible to attend. Miller Auditorium and the WMU Bookstore will handle ticket distribution, with the initial ticket distribution set to begin Thursday, April 18, when students may pick their tickets up at the bookstore. Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, April 26, any remaining tickets will be available at Miller Auditorium's ticket office and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Complete commencement ceremony details will be mailed to eligible students at their local addresses during the week of WMU' s spring break, March 4-8. Details also will be available on the University's commencement Web site at <www.wmich.edu/commencement>.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu