Will be Implemented at ASU's May 12, Spring Commencement/Graduation Ceremony
Growth of Graduation Attendance & Better Serving Students and Their Family's Needs is Catalyst for Change
Shorter Ceremony/ More Seats for Family & Friends to Witness the Wonder of an ASU Graduation is Goal -
Alabama State University's Spring Commencement/Graduation Ceremony on May 12, will have a new and restructured ceremony, which will have its Spring graduating student's commencement ceremony held in two separate sessions - with the first being held at 9:45 a.m. and the second ceremony at 2:45 p.m.
"This is all about meeting the needs of ASU's graduating students, their families and friends, and the University better serving all of them during one of the most important and precious times of their lives; their college graduation," said President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. "By having two separate ceremonies, there will be more seats available for our student's loved ones and a shorter ceremony in the Acadome for our students," Ross added.
The person who was appointed by President Ross to devise the details of the plan to better serve ASU's graduating students is the coordinating chairman of ASU's Commencement Ceremony - Dr. Carl S. Pettis - who is the University's interim associate provost. Pettis said that session-one of ASU's Spring graduation ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome (doors will open at 8 a.m.). During the May 12, ceremony, the ASU Golden Class of 1968 will participate in the morning commencement ceremony.
He said that with fewer candidates for graduation, the graduation ceremony will last approximately two hours or less, which is substantially less time than previous ceremonies. After session-one is over, there will be a two-hour break to allow the graduates and their visitors to leave the campus, which will allow traffic to subside, the cleaning of the Acadome, and preparation for session-two, which will begin at 2:45 p.m. (doors will open at 1:30 p.m.). A similar expected time frame will take place for the day's second graduation ceremony.
"It is a wonderful and great thing that the attendance for our commencement ceremonies has grown over the years with an expanded audience who wish to witness their loved one's receiving their degrees. Because these large numbers have stretched the capacity of seating in the Acadome, we are growing with it by implementing this new plan, which should accommodate all who wish to be inside the Acadome at the ceremony," Pettis said.
He added that complete instructions on who graduates at what session will be communicated with ASU's Spring graduates in many ways, including rehearsal ceremonies to ensure that they understand all of the new procedures, times and protocols.
"The only reason we have implemented this new plan is for the happiness and safety of our students and for all those who wish to witness the splendor and solemnity of a commencement ceremony at The Alabama State University," said Pettis. "It is an awesome sight to observe and attend."
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, February 20th 2018 at 4:58PM
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