SIUE Adjusts 2018 Spring Commencement
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is adjusting its Spring 2018 Commencement schedule to accommodate growth at the event and create an even better experience for the graduates and their guests.
“We are making a serious effort to ensure that all of the graduates’ family members and guests are able to see their graduate receive their degree in person, and have the most enjoyable experience possible,” said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. “We had reached a state where our growth was forcing some to view their graduates via video from another location within the Vadalabene Center because the arena was at maximum capacity, and we decided that adjustments were necessary.”
For the first time, SIUE will present Friday ceremonies during the day. The School of Business will begin the schedule with a 10 a.m. exercise on Friday, May 4 in the Vadalabene Center (VC). The School of Nursing will follow in the afternoon at 2 p.m. by combining both its traditional pinning and commencement exercises into one ceremony. The first day will conclude with the Graduate School at 6:30 p.m.
The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) will start Saturday, May 5, in the VC at 8:30 a.m. The first of two College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m. The School of Pharmacy will combine its traditional hooding and graduation ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom. The second CAS ceremony will combine with the School of Engineering for the final exercise in the VC at 5 p.m.
Strategic projections utilizing past attendance foresee VC attendance figures surpassing 75 percent capacity for each of the various ceremonies.
“Commencement is the culminating experience for our students and their families,” Pembrook said. “We want everyone to enjoy this experience as a special moment in time, and we think these changes will help ensure that outcome.”
