The University of Texas at Austin to Honor 3,100 Graduates in Fall Semester Ceremonies

Speakers for fall convocation ceremonies at The University of Texas at Austin on Dec. 3 and 4 will include a former university president, a Texas state representative, executives of major corporations and members of the university’s faculty, administration and student body. To honor the graduating students who are receiving their degrees during the ceremonies, the university’s Tower will be lighted orange with “11” displayed in the building’s windows on Dec. 3 and 4.

The roughly 3,100 graduates this fall semester include about 2,124 undergraduates, 740 students receiving their master’s degrees, 221 doctoral students and 15 law students, according to the Office of the Registrar.

Convocation ceremonies are hosted by the various colleges and schools and provide opportunities for graduates to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Fall graduation activities do not include a universitywide commencement ceremony. More information about fall convocations is available online.

Parking for commencement activities is free in designated areas on a first-come, first-served basis. On Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4, with the exception of spaces marked “At All Times,” all university parking garages and most surface lots will be available.

In addition to official convocation and graduation ceremonies, other celebrations will honor graduating students. These include The Great Texas Exit, an event hosted by the Texas Exes alumni for members of the fall class and their families at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto St. The event is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Fall convocation activities include:

Saturday, Dec. 3:

• 9 a.m. Cockrell School of Engineering, in the Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Sara Ortwein, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company.
• 9 a.m. School of Nursing, in Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: William Sage, MD, JD, vice provost for health affairs and the James R. Dougherty Chair for Faculty Excellence in Law in the School of Law.
• 9 a.m. School of Social Work, in the LBJ Auditorium. Speaker: Jennings “J.W.” Burnside III and Bethany Berkeley. Both are fall semester 2011 graduates and were chosen by their peers to be the speackers.
• Noon College of Communication, in the Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Shirley Strum Kenny, former president of the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a 1999 Distinguished Alumna of The University of Texas at Austin.
• Noon College of Education, in Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Maria Franquiz, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the Bilingual-Bicultural Education program area.
• 1 p.m. Jackson School of Geosciences, in McCullough Theatre. Speaker: Donna Howard, state representative for Texas House District 48.
• 3 p.m. College of Fine Arts, in the LBJ Auditorium. Speaker: Professor Susan Mickey, head of design and technology in the Department of Theatre and Dance and recipient of the 2011 College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teaching Award.
• 6 p.m. College of Liberal Arts, in the Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: John Sibley Butler, director of the IC2 Institute and the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship Professor, Department of Management, Red McCombs School of Business.
• 6:30 p.m. School of Architecture, in Mebane Gallery of Goldsmith Hall. Private ceremony includes dinner with undergraduate and graduate students. Speaker: Frederick Steiner, dean of the School of Architecture.

Sunday, Dec. 4:

• 10 a.m. McCombs School of Business, in the Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Scott S. Ingraham, principal of Zuma Capital.
• 2:30 p.m. College of Natural Sciences, in the Frank Erwin Center. The College of Natural Sciences will not have a guest speaker for fall convocation.