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The university-wide commencement will be more festive and more memorable, featuring a nationally prominent speaker, degree conferral and celebrations before the event. During commencement, graduates will be seated together based on the degree they will earn (bachelor's, master's or doctoral) rather than by college so they can celebrate this important milestone with friends.

In moving to this new format, we don't want to lose the intimacy and important moments that make graduation special for many graduates and their families. Throughout the same weekend, colleges will host recognition ceremonies during which graduates will hear their name called, walk across the stage and shake hands with their college dean. The university-wide commencement will be the formal, official graduation event, and we encourage graduates to attend both.

We will hold college recognition ceremonies twice a year in May and December. We will no longer hold August commencement and those who expect to graduate in the summer can participate in May or December ceremonies, depending on how close they are to graduating.

These changes will not impact December 2014 ceremonies. Commencement ceremonies are set for Dec. 12-13, 2014, and will proceed as usual. Read the December 2014 Schedule of Events.

You likely still have questions about these changes so I encourage you to read the Commencement Changes FAQs to learn more. Many details are still being finalized and we will post information as it's available.

This is the start of a new commencement tradition that will help us honor the most important milestone in our students' journey as a university community while preserving the special moments that make graduation meaningful. I hope that this new tradition gives our graduates plenty of new memories and strengthens their bonds to their alma mater.

UNT proud,

Neal Smatresk


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oldguystudent

Posted

Seems like it may take a long time to gradate everyone at once.

I think I'm starting to figure this out. You get your degree at your college recognition ceremony, then everybody sits together in Apogee and listens to the big head speak.

degree conferral and celebrations before the event.

Sorry I'm posting so much on this. It fascinates me for no reason I can come up with.

That_Guy_Arlo

Posted

Yeah...can't say that I'm a fan of this idea. My gf will be graduating this Spring too, so it looks like I'll be there regardless. I just don't like the idea of possible bad weather, nor do I like dragging that ceremony out any longer than it needs to be.

MeanGreenTexan

Posted

Not as sympathetic for those graduating in May as I am for those graduating in August or December (although, this Saturday's commencement is supposed to be 70 degrees!).

MEANGREENCOACH2

Posted

This could possibly help alumni membership. As they walk across the stage and shake Neil Smatresk's hand RV should be waiting at the end of the stage ready to shake their hand as well. Maybe then we could get some more young alumni interested.

Cerebus

Posted

Let me try to clear the confusion:

  • There will be COLLEGE recognition ceremonies in May and December. This is where the name is read and the diploma is handed out. It will be up to the colleges to organize and structure these. I am sure there will be variations, In Engineering we'll probably have a huge LAN party, I assume COBA will just have a kegger of some sort, interpretive dance sessions for COVAD, etc.
  • Once a year there will be a UNIVERSITY commencement at Apogee where anyone who graduated in the past year can attend. This is where they'll have the big speakers, bitchin fireworks, probably Scrappy parachuting in.

As a side note to all you CAS grads: There is a big push from the president to split the college into a College of Sciences and a College of the Humanities. Still a ton up in the air.

oldguystudent

Posted

  • I assume COBA will just have a kegger of some sort,

Puh-leaze. The COBA name went out with the Dodge administration and we don't have keggers, we have monocles and martinis whilst jesting about stealing from the lesser classes.

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MeanGreenDan

Posted

Let me try to clear the confusion:

  • There will be COLLEGE recognition ceremonies in May and December. This is where the name is read and the diploma is handed out. It will be up to the colleges to organize and structure these. I am sure there will be variations, In Engineering we'll probably have a huge LAN party, I assume COBA will just have a kegger of some sort, interpretive dance sessions for COVAD, etc.
  • Once a year there will be a UNIVERSITY commencement at Apogee where anyone who graduated in the past year can attend. This is where they'll have the big speakers, bitchin fireworks, probably Scrappy parachuting in.

As a side note to all you CAS grads: There is a big push from the president to split the college into a College of Sciences and a College of the Humanities. Still a ton up in the air.

Thanks for this, but not sure why there is so much confusion in this thread to begin with...

President S is doing things right, and is the first president since I have been around to treat the University in the manner other universities of our size are treated.

The reading comprehension displayed by some of our alums in this thread does frighten me though...

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oldguystudent

Posted

The reading comprehension displayed by some of our alums in this thread does frighten me though...

My sincerest apologies afforded to you, oh great man of letters.

Christopher Walker

Posted

And another thing many here seem to be missing: there will be no walking of the stage in May. Everyone grouped by degree type (UG, M, PhD & DMA) will stand at a designated time and have their degrees conferred upon them.

oldguystudent

Posted

And another thing many here seem to be missing: there will be no walking of the stage in May. Everyone grouped by degree type (UG, M, PhD & DMA) will stand at a designated time and have their degrees conferred upon them.

Sounds like a Sun Myung Moon (That's 문선명 for those who insist on accuracy) wedding gone academic.

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VideoEagle

Posted

This sounds like a good idea overall. I like the individual college programs that still allow you to walk across the stage and shake hands with a dean. It keeps the length of the programs reasonable.

As for the heat, I've had to wear a suit and tie in 100 degree/95% humidity before. It's not the most comfortable but you get through it. Once, I was awaiting for security outside the US consulate in HCMC for over an hour with no shade nor place to sit. We all got through it just fine.

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Ryan Munthe

Posted (edited)

I think what's quite cool that a lot of people are missing is this gives the opportunity for us to get some distinguished speakers at the commencement ceremonies that UNT has been unable to before. UNT will probably be able to get some distinguished speakers, considering they've had Steve Wozniak and George Takei this year as part of the DLS, for example.

Edited by Ryan Munthe
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Ryan Munthe

Posted

I graduated high school outside in south Texas in June and I lived (sorry my UNT90 just came out).

I'm more concerned about the length of the ceremony since they will not be having multiple commencements. Seems like it may take a long time to gradate everyone at once.

So did I. It was hot, but not unbearable. And that was in June at 1 pm. This will be early May at 7 or 8pm.

greenjoe

Posted

Did no one notice the post DEEP GREEN made as to the Athletic Department charging the University to use Apogee Stadium ?

Well played and apparently unnoticed.

GO MEAN GREEN

Army of Dad

Posted

Did no one notice the post DEEP GREEN made as to the Athletic Department charging the University to use Apogee Stadium ?

Well played and apparently unnoticed.

GO MEAN GREEN

Will this count as the 6th home game?
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Army of Dad

Posted

My thoughts exactly... May/June in Texas.... Shirt & tie under your black cap n gown. Someone one is gonna pass out, bank on it.

Nah, just follow the band's lead and wear shorts instead of a cap and gown.
Withers940

Posted

Cornell

Cornell_commencement_2008.jpg

Army West Point

USMA-West-Point-graduation-2012-913.jpg

Duke

commencement_H.jpg?1367607676

Oregon State

stadium.jpg

Michigan

michigan-graduation-450-2.jpg

These places arent in Texas. You cant predict the weather down here. Especially for the May and summer graduations, are you kidding me? Black robes in Summer?

Ryan Munthe

Posted

These places arent in Texas. You cant predict the weather down here. Especially for the May and summer graduations, are you kidding me? Black robes in Summer?

We did my high school in June in Houston at 1pm. It was rough, but we did it. If I survived that then, it'll be fine in May at night.

oldguystudent

Posted

Not everyone handles heat the same way.

Fish don't fry in the kitchen.

Beans don't burn on the grill.

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TheTastyGreek

Posted

Not everyone handles heat the same way.

I'm familiar with Professor Robert Palmer's work in the field, and I'd say his insights on interpersonal variation of thermodynamic processes are quite profound.

Cerebus

Posted

Fish don't fry in the kitchen.

Beans don't burn on the grill.

Now that's a song you can really dance to.

XaNvHfH.gif

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FirefightnRick

Posted

These places arent in Texas. You cant predict the weather down here. Especially for the May and summer graduations, are you kidding me? Black robes in Summer?

My class wore Green Robes and Caps.

Rick

  • Upvote 1



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