Speakers for fall convocation ceremonies by schools and colleges at The University of Texas at Austin on Dec. 4 and 5, include a corporate executive, university scholars and a Pulitzer Prize winner.
In honor of graduating students receiving their degrees during the ceremonies, the university’s Tower will be lighted orange with “10” displayed in the building’s windows on Dec. 4 and 5.
The roughly 3,100 graduates this fall semester include about 2,400 undergraduates, 13 law students, 230 doctoral students and 470 students receiving their master’s degrees, according to the Office of the Registrar.
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 served basis. On Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5, with the exception of spaces marked “At All Times,” 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, an event hosted by the Texas Exes alumni for members of the fall class and their families to a celebration at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto St. The events are from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 5.
Fall convocation activities:
Saturday, Dec. 4
- 9 a.m. – Cockrell School of Engineering in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Daniel J. Crowley, P.E., president of Raytheon Network Centric Systems.
- 9 a.m. – School of Nursing in Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Marybeth Thomas Ph.D., RN, director of nursing for the Texas Board of Nursing.
- 9 a.m. – School of Social Work in Hogg Auditorium. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Speaker: Rachael Leah Risser-Sperry, a graduating senior.
- Noon – College of Communication in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: John Pope, Pulitzer Prize winner, New Orleans Times Picayune.
- Noon – College of Education in Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Dr. Dolly Lambdin, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.
- 1 p.m. – Jackson School of Geosciences in McCullough Theatre. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Dr. William Carlson, professor of geological sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences.
- 3 p.m. – College of Fine Arts in the Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: Associate Professor Byron Almén, the primary instructor for the history of music theory, music theory pedagogy, freshman music theory and score reading, and recipient of the 2009-2010 College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teaching Award.
- 6 p.m. – College of Liberal Arts in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Robert D. King, a professor in the Department of Linguistics, Asian Studies and Germanic Studies. He also is a Distinguished Teaching Professor, the Audre and Bernard Rapoport Regents Chair of Jewish Studies and founding dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
- 6:30 p.m. – School of Architecture in Goldsmith Hall Gallery. Speaker: Frederick Steiner, dean of the School of Architecture.
Sunday, Dec. 5
- 10 a.m. – McCombs School of Business in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Jamie Rhodes, entrepreneur in residence at Texas State University’s Office of Commercialization and Industrial Relations.
- 2:30 p.m. – College of Natural Sciences in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate degree candidates. Speaker: Reginald Baptiste, M.D. of Austin, Texas.
