Changes In Summer, Fall Commencements

2-26-96
University Park, Pa. --- Beginning with the summer commencement this August, all summer and fall semester commencement ceremonies at Penn State's University Park campus will be held immediately following the final exam period.

"The permanent change has been made after wide consultation with faculty, students and staff at all locations," said Dr. John Cahir, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education. "This schedule will be more convenient for students and their families, greatly reducing the need for return trips to University Park, especially in January, when driving conditions are more likely to be poor."

Another change is that since final graduation lists will not be completed by the time of the ceremony, diplomas for summer and fall semester commencements will be mailed to all undergraduate students within a few weeks. This will take effect with the summer 1996 commencement this August.

Summer 1996 commencement at University Park will be held Aug. 10, with 10:30 a.m. for undergraduate and associate degrees in the Bryce Jordan Center and 2 p.m., graduate school, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The fall commencement 1996 ceremony at University Park will be held on Sunday, Dec. 15, rather than Jan. 11, 1997, in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Final exam scheduling will not be affected by this change. No changes are anticipated for any of the spring commencements at all locations; diplomas will continued to be distributed at all spring commencements at the end of an academic year.

"We will be monitoring these changes to ensure that the ceremonies serve students, families and guests," Dr. Cahir said. "But the new changes allow students to start new jobs as soon as possible, and ease any inconvenience for graduating students and their families."

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Vicki Fong
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(814) 238-1221 (home)
vyf1@psu.edu