For the first time in its 155-year history, Emporia State University will celebrate students’ graduations with three separate commencement ceremonies.
All students earning graduate degrees will be honored at 6 p.m. Friday, May 11. Students earning bachelor’s degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will be honored at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12, with School of Business and The Teachers College conferring degrees at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12.
All ceremonies will be in White Auditorium, 111 E. Sixth Ave., in Emporia.
The university first separated graduate and baccalaureate ceremonies in May 2012 to accommodate more family members for all graduates. This year, the size of the undergraduate class led to separating ceremonies based on the academic schools.
Students who are finishing their degrees in May and August are eligible to walk during spring exercises. There are more than 560 undergraduates and 350 graduate students who are candidates for degrees.
“We want our graduates to be able to celebrate their great accomplishment with their family and friends,” said Dr. David Cordle, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “By holding two different baccalaureate ceremonies, we won’t have to turn anyone away.”
Daniel J. Thomas of the Kansas Board of Regents will give remarks at all three ceremonies.
For more information about commencement, including a link to live streaming, go to https://www.emporia.edu/commencement/.