FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Students who originally hoped to walk at the 2020 Spring Commencement before it was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis, now have the option to attend Fall Commencement ceremonies instead. 

Spring graduates are invited to participate in a combined graduation weekend in conjunction with the fall graduation set for Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. 

Students who had applied to graduate this spring will be contacted by the registrar's office regarding their attendance at fall commencement. A message will go to the student's university email account and will be posted on the University of Arkansas Graduation app, which can be downloaded on Google Play or Apple devices. Students will be asked to respond regarding their plans to attend.

Depending on the number of spring graduates interested in participating in the fall graduation ceremonies, an additional ceremony could be added on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. 

The university will also recognize spring graduates online in May as part of an enhanced website. The same commencement info that would have been printed in the graduation program next to each recipient's name will be included as a part of an online directory currently being developed. Additional details will be released in the coming weeks. 

Students who plan to graduate in spring 2020 still need to complete all degree requirements no later than May 7. In addition, graduate students must submit their thesis or dissertation by May 1. The submission process has been modified to allow for digital submissions but the deadline has not changed.  Graduate students can see procedure changes on the graduation checklist for spring 2020. 

CHARLES SCHARLAU – HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT

As a World War II veteran, a former chairman, president and CEO of a major energy corporation, a former University of Arkansas Board of Trustees member and chair of the board, as well as a philanthropist, Charles Scharlau will be the honorary degree recipient for the Spring 2020 Commencement.

Scharlau, a native of Mountain Home, helped build Arkansas Western Gas into the Southwestern Energy Corp. we know today. Scharlau was a major part of transforming Southwestern Energy from a small distribution company to one of the nation's leaders in exploration and natural gas providers.

He also served two terms as president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and three terms as chair of the board of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Scharlau served on the U of A Board of Trustees from 1997-2007 and was the board's chair for the 2005-06 academic year.

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 fewer than 3 percent of colleges and 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.