The University of Texas at Austin’s Tower will be lighted orange with “12” displayed on the sides of the building windows Dec. 8 and 9 to honor about 3,100 students receiving degrees at the end of this fall semester.
The graduating students include about 2,300 undergraduates, 512 students receiving their master’s degrees, 225 doctoral students and 15 law students.
Convocation ceremonies, which provide opportunities for graduates to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, will be hosted Dec. 8 and 9 by the various colleges and schools. Fall graduation activities do not include a universitywide commencement ceremony. More information about fall convocations is available online at http://www.utexas.edu/commencement/2012/fall/.
In addition to official convocation and graduation ceremonies, other celebrations will honor graduating students. These include The Great Texas Exit, an open house 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 Blvd. The event is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 8.
Fall convocation activities:
Saturday, Dec. 8
9 a.m.: Cockrell School of Engineering, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Dr. Hector de Jesus Ruiz, founder and chief executive officer of Bull Ventures LLC.
9 a.m.: School of Nursing, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Toni Inglis, MSN, RN, CNS, FAAN, who was an Outstanding Graduate Student from The University of Texas at Austin in 1992.
9 a.m.: School of Social Work, Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: A student will be chosen by her/his peers as the speaker.
Noon: College of Communication, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Chris Bell, former U.S. representative and Houston city councilman.
Noon: College of Education, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Dr. Richard Reddick, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Administration, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin.
1 p.m.: Jackson School of Geosciences, McCullough Theatre. Speaker: Brewster McCracken, executive director of Pecan Street Inc., a smart-grid research and commercialization consortium headquartered at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a former member of the Austin City Council and served as the council’s mayor pro tem.
3 p.m.: College of Fine Arts, Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: Dr. Lucien Douglas. senior associate chair in the Department of Theatre and Dance, where he also teaches acting and directing and is head of the acting program.
3 p.m.: College of Liberal Arts, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Dr. Aletha Huston, Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor Emeritus in Child Development at The University of Texas at Austin.
6:30 p.m.: School of Architecture, Goldsmith Hall Gallery. No speaker.
Sunday, Dec. 9
10 a.m.: McCombs School of Business, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Steven R. LeBlanc, founding partner, CapRidge Partners LLC.
2:30 p.m.: College of Natural Sciences, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Dr. Tanya Paull, the Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Arnold, Sr. Regents Chair in Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin.
