Record Number of U of A Students to Participate in Spring Commencement Ceremonies

Photo Submitted

Participants in the All-University Commencement 2013.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A record number of University of Arkansas students are registered to attend the spring 2014 graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies. A total of 4,042 students have applied to graduate and indicated they plan to attend one of the seven ceremonies that will be held Saturday, May 10, with another 110 registered so far to take part in the School of Law commencement on Saturday, May 17.

This total number represents over 400 more students than attended the spring 2013 university commencement ceremonies.

Six of the commencement ceremonies can be viewed live online, a service offered particularly for family members who are not able to attend on campus.

No tickets are required for any of the commencement ceremonies.

Free parking is available in any unrestricted parking lot on campus. The campus parking map shows all available parking, as well as parking reserved for people with disabilities.

Normal security precautions will be taken at each of the commencement locations. All guests attending a commencement ceremony will be required to pass through a security checkpoint. Cameras and personal items such as handbags will be inspected. Please allow extra time for this process. Please do not bring baggage, wrapped packages, backpacks, strollers or noise makers to the ceremony. These items are not permitted in the arena.

The All-University Commencement

• 8:45 a.m. Bud Walton Arena
• Speakers are Gov. Mike Beebe and sculptor Anita Huffington.
• Live streaming is available at https://new.livestream.com/uark/events/2910814.

This ceremony is for graduate students and their guests. A pre-ceremony concert featuring the University Wind Symphony will begin at 8:15 a.m.

All guests must enter through the south entrances of Bud Walton Arena.

Seating for people with disabilities is available on the concourse level, which is accessible by elevator. Because there are a limited number of disabled seats, only two additional guests may accompany those utilizing the disabled seating. People with limited mobility may be dropped off at the south entrance to Walton Arena.

More information is available at the registrar’s website. 

Sam M. Walton College of Business 

• 12:30 p.m. Barnhill Arena
• Speaker is Donna Cochran McLarty, co-founder of Vital Voices Global Partnership.
• Streaming video is available at http://waltoncollege.uark.edu/commencement-streaming-video.asp.

Parking adjacent to Barnhill Arena is not available to those attending this ceremony.

All guests must enter the seating area through the stairways on the north, east and south entrances, except those with mobility impairments, who will be allowed to enter through the floor level and have access to seating at the floor level. Floor seating is limited, so persons with disabilities will only have access to one additional seat per person.

Guests with mobility impairment may be dropped off at the northwest entrance to the arena.

More information is available about the Walton College commencement

J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

• 1 p.m. Bud Walton Arena
• Speaker is Curry Kennedy, outstanding undergraduate.
• Live streaming is available at https://new.livestream.com/uark/events/2910814  

All guests must enter through the south entrances.

Parking near the arena will be limited because the All University Commencement ceremony will be ending as Fulbright College guests begin arriving. Seating for people with disabilities will be available on the concourse level of the arena and ushers will assist them in locating elevators to reach that level.  

Additional information is available about the Fulbright College commencement.

Fay Jones School of Architecture

• 1 p.m. Verizon Ballroom, Arkansas Student Union
• Speaker is Robert A. Ivy, chief executive officer of the American Institute of Architects.

No streaming video is available for this ceremony.

The Verizon Ballroom is located on the 5th floor of the Arkansas Student Union, and doors will be open by noon. Parking for people with disabilities is available on floors 3-5 of the Stadium Parking Garage. There is an elevator in the garage and a covered walkway connecting to the Arkansas Union.

College of Engineering

• 3:30 p.m. Barnhill Arena
• Speaker is Patricia Hoffman, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Live streaming is available at http://ice.waltoncollege.uark.edu/Mediasite/Play/cbd4f8ec384545949e18dffd45b326af1d

All guests must enter through the upper deck of the south entrances of Barnhill Arena, except those with mobility impairments, who may enter through the west entrance. Limited floor level seating is available to guests with disabilities each one may be accompanied one additional guest.

More information is available at http://www.engr.uark.edu/home/4974.php

College of Education and Health Professions

• 4 p.m. Bud Walton Arena
• Steaming live at https://new.livestream.com/uark/events/2910814
• Speaker is Melody Musgrove, director of the Office of Special Education Programs for the U. S. Department of Education.

All guests must enter through the south entrances.

Parking near the arena will be limited because the Fulbright College ceremony will be ending as College of Education and Health Profession’s guests begin arriving. Seating for people with disabilities will be available on the concourse level of the arena and ushers will assist them in locating elevators to reach that level.  

More information is available about the College of Education and Health Professions commencement.

Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

• 6:30 p.m. Barnhill Arena
• Speaker is Bernie Murphy is president of Jones-Hamilton Co.
• Streaming is available at http://ice.waltoncollege.uark.edu/Mediasite/Play/ac02e099743b4dd08e153b4f5c5cf0a71d

All guests should enter through the top south entrances, except guests with mobility impairment, who may be dropped off at the southwest entrance of Barnhill Arena. Limited floor level seating is available to guests with disabilities, so each one may be accompanied by onle one additional guest.

More information is available about the Bumpers College commencement

School of Law – Saturday, May 17

• 2 p.m. Fayetteville Town Center
• Speaker is Lewis E. Epley Jr., lawyer, banker, businessman and public servant.

No live streaming of this ceremony is available.

Parking will be available on and around the Fayetteville square.