U of A Commencement Planned to Handle Record Numbers

U of A Commencement Planned to Handle Record Numbers
Photo by Matt Reynolds

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A record number of University of Arkansas students — more than 4,200 — are expected to “walk” during graduation ceremonies Friday, May 13; Saturday, May 14; and Saturday, May 21. Record crowds of family and friends are also expected, to cheer the graduates’ accomplishments.

All commencement ceremonies are free, and no tickets are required.

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.

Guests with mobility impairments may be dropped off near the entrances to both Walton and Barnhill Arenas, where six of the ceremonies are being held. For accommodations at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center call 479- 575-2763 or email melindas@uark.edu.

Reserved seating is available for people with mobility impairments at all commencement locations.

Normal security precautions will be taken at each of the commencement locations. All guests attending a 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.

For those who can’t attend the ceremonies live video streaming will be available for ceremonies Bud Walton Arena and Barnhill Arena. See below for details

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

FRIDAY, MAY 13

J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

  • 3 p.m., in Bud Walton Arena, doors open at 1:30 p.m.
  • All guests please enter through the south entrance
  • Speaker: Hilary Zedlitz, Outstanding Senior  
  • Live streaming at http://livestream.com/uark/events/4810238

SATURDAY, MAY 14

All-University Commencement

  • 8:30 a.m., in Bud Walton Arena, doors open at 7:15 a.m.
  • All guests please enter through the south entrance.

College of Engineering

  • Noon, in Barnhill Arena, doors open at 11 a.m.
  • All guests please enter through the upper deck of the south entrances.

Sam M. Walton College of Business

  • 1 p.m., in Bud Walton Arena, doors open at approximately 11:30 a.m.  
  • All guests please enter through the south entrance.
  • Speaker: Shelley Simpson, chief marketing officer for J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.

Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design

  • 1 p.m., in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center, doors open at noon.
  • All guests please enter through Garland Avenue entrance.
  • Speaker: Cynthia Weese, architect and former dean of the School of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis.
  • No live streaming is available

Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

  • 3:30 p.m., in Barnhill Arena, doors open at approximately 2 p.m.
  • All guests please enter through the upper deck of the south entrances.
  • Speakers: Distinguished Alumni Maj. Gen. William Bowden, USAF (ret.), and Kerri Boling, a litigation and regulatory attorney for Tyson Foods Inc.
  • Live streaming at http://livestream.com/uark2/events/5317213

College of Education and Health Professions

  • 5 p.m., in Bud Walton Arena, doors open at approximately 3 p.m.
  • All guests please enter through the south entrance.
  • Speaker: Jeff Long, U of A vice chancellor and director of athletics.
  • Live streaming at http://livestream.com/uark/events/4810231

SATURDAY, MAY 21

School of Law

  • 2 p.m., in the Fayetteville Town Center, doors open at noon.
  • Limited free parking is available in the Town Center garage and around the Fayetteville square. The Fayetteville Farmers Market reserves the square until 1 p.m., so parking and traffic will be very limited on the square prior to that time, although limited parking remains available off the square.
  • All guests please enter through the north entrance.
  • Speaker: Eddie H. Walker Jr., attorney.
  • Live streaming at http://livestream.com/uark/events/5328369

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.

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