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Members of the class of 2006 applaud during last year's graduation ceremonies at Gampel Pavilion. This year's undergraduate ceremonies take place today at Gampel and Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.

GRADUATION DAY

Individual Schools Hold Own Commencement Ceremonies

By: Kala Kachmar

Posted: 5/6/07

The School of Pharmacy, the Neag School of Education and the School of Fine Arts volunteered to have individual commencement ceremonies this year in an effort to reduce crowds at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and to personalize commencement.

"The ten deans in the Council [of Deans] were discussing how we could make improvements to make it a student-centered commencement," said David Woods, the Dean of Fine Arts.

According to UConn spokesman Rich Veilleux, the number of commencement tickets each student gets varies from year to year.

"Every year people crowd into Gampel," he said.

With separate graduation ceremonies, education students were allowed up to seven tickets, fine arts students were allowed up to six tickets and students in all other schools and colleges were allowed up to five tickets, according to the UConn commencement Web site.

"With the merge of colleges where CLAS (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) added family studies, it got so big that something had to be done," said Richard Schwab, the Dean of the School of Education.

Having a separate graduation will give the School of Fine Arts the opportunity to introduce all of their candidates and give them each an art print made by graduating senior Teagan Smith, Woods said. All fine arts faculty will be seated on stage and introduced, he said.

"Parents can take pictures on stage and the students can feel special," Woods said. "We're really personalized this year. It's great for everyone."

Schools with their own ceremony were given a chance to have their own guest speaker, Woods said.

Chris Donavon, a producer and director of the Golden Globes, and Steven Brezzo, president of Sotheby's art auction in New York City, have been chosen to speak during the fine arts commencement ceremony, according to Woods.

"It's really exciting for us," Woods said.

At the Neag School of Education's commencement, students and families will be given a chance to personally meet Ray Neag, the benefactor for the school and guest speaker.

"We've always wanted the opportunity to individually recognize students," Schwab said. "This was our opportunity to make a more personalized graduation ceremony."

School of Pharmacy students receiving their PharmD received their diplomas Saturday at a ceremony in the Lewis B. Rome Ballroom, separate from the remainder of PhD and masters degree candidates who will receive their diploma in Gampel Pavilion, according to the UConn Advance. Pharmacy bachelor candidates will receive their diplomas with the remainder of the schools in Gampel Pavilion today.

The School of Fine Arts commencement ceremony is at 10 a.m. today in the Jorgensen Auditorium, and the Neag School of Education ceremony is at 3 p.m. in Jorgensen.

The schools of agriculture, business, engineering, continuing studies, nursing, and pharmacy will hold their commencement today at 10 a.m. in Gampel Pavilion and the college of liberal arts and sciences will hold its commencement at 3 p.m. in Gampel, according to Michael Darre, chair of the Commencement Committee.

"So far, I've received positive feedback from students I've talked with," Schwab said. "I think it'll be a huge success. And if it is, we'll continue it in the future."