Corporate executives, outstanding university professors and administrators, a prominent movie producer and the director of the university’s Energy Institute are among the keynote speakers for fall convocation ceremonies at The University of Texas at Austin, Dec. 5 and 6.
In honor of graduating students receiving their degrees during fall convocation ceremonies, the university’s Tower will be lighted orange with “09” displayed on all sides of building windows on Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6.
About 3,100 graduates this fall semester include about 2,350 undergraduates, 20 law students, 200 doctoral students and 540 students receiving their master’s degrees, said Shelby Stanfield, associate vice president for student affairs and registrar at The University of Texas at Austin.
Convocation ceremonies, hosted by the various colleges and schools, are occasions when these academic units celebrate their graduates’ achievements with individualized honors and traditions. Fall graduation activities do not include a university-wide commencement ceremony.
The convocations provide photo opportunities for candidates’ families to capture memorable moments as students are recognized and walk across the stage. More information about fall convocations is available online.
Parking for convocation activities is free in designated areas on a first come, first serve basis. On Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6, with the exception of spaces marked “At All Times,” all university parking garages and most surface lots are available.
In addition to official convocation and graduation ceremonies, other celebrations will honor graduating students. These include The Great Texas Exit, whereby the Texas Exes alumni invite members of the Class of 2009 and their families to a celebration at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto. The events are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6.
The fall convocation activities include:
Saturday, Dec. 5
- 9 a.m. – Cockrell School of Engineering in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Thomas L. Baker, B.S.M.E 68′, chairman emeritus of Energy Future Holdings Corp.
- 9 a.m. – School of Nursing in Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Eduardo Sanchez, vice president and chief medical officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
- 9 a.m. – School of Social Work in Hogg Auditorium. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Speaker: Joanna Gail Daniels, a graduating senior.
- Noon – College of Communication in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Elizabeth Avellan, producer and vice-president of Troublemaker Studios in Austin.
- Noon – College of Education in Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Janice Todd, professor in the university’s Department of Kinesiology and Health.
- Noon – School of Information in the ATandT Executive Education and Conference Center Salon. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Joy Palmer, founder and managing director of Interknectives U.S. L.L.C.
- 1 p.m. – Jackson School of Geosciences in McCullough Theatre. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Dr. Ray Orbach, director of the Energy Institute at the university.
- 3 p.m. – College of Fine Arts, in the Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: In lieu of a speaker, Nathaniel Brickens, a professor of trombone in the university’s Butler School of Music, will lead the trombone choir in a 15-minute performance.
- 6 p.m. – College of Liberal Arts, in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Charles Hale, chair for Western Hemispheric Trade Studies in the Department of Anthropology and director of the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies.
- 6:30 p.m. – School of Architecture in Mebane Gallery of Goldsmith Hall. Ceremony includes dinner with undergraduate and graduate students. Speaker: Frederick Steiner, dean of the School of Architecture.
Sunday, Dec. 6
- 10 a.m. – McCombs School of Business in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Ken DeAngelis, a founder of Austin Ventures and a member of the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council.
- 2:30 p.m. – College of Natural Sciences in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speakers: Richard Jordan, a lawyer and patent consultant, and Erica Rubin, an honors biology student.
