Campuses, units celebrate Spring Commencement 2007

Updated 4:30 AM April 28, 2007

Campuses, units celebrate Spring Commencement 2007

Watch live coverage of the 10 a.m. April 28 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony>
Graduate's guide to commencement>

By Kevin Brown

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is the highlighted speaker April 28 for undergraduate Spring Commencement, and noted alumni are returning to address graduates and their families as well.

David Westin, president of ABC News and a 1977 graduate, is the featured speaker for Law School Senior Day from 2-4 p.m. May 5 at Hill Auditorium.

Dan Glickman B.A. 1966, president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, will deliver commencement remarks from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. April 28 at Rackham Auditorium, to Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy graduates.

Speaking to Stephen M. Ross School of Business graduates is Steve Case, former chairman of AOL Time Warner and founder of the company Revolution, at 5 p.m. Friday, April 27 at Crisler Arena.

At the Ann Arbor campus, 7,790 students—undergraduates and graduate students—have applied to graduate in the winter 2007 term. U-M-Flint reports its largest-ever graduating class at 540, and U-M-Dearborn reports a graduating class of 772.

Spring Commencement

Commencement will be at 10 a.m. April 28 in Michigan Stadium. The University will award undergraduate degrees and confer honorary degrees at the event. The graduate procession will begin at 9 a.m.

A live broadcast will be carried on Michigan Television: WFUM-TV 28 in Flint and Channel 22 on Comcast cable in greater Ann Arbor. A Web link to live streaming video will be available at www.umich.edu/news.

Speaker

William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd U.S. president, who has continued his life in public service supporting humanitarian causes, will receive an honorary degree and give the main address.

Clinton was elected the 42nd President of the United States in 1992, and won reelection in 1996. During his presidency the nation experienced the longest period of economic growth in its history. Welfare reform, tax relief for working families, the North American Free Trade Agreement and elimination of the federal deficit were among the many hallmarks of his administration.

Venue

Michigan Stadium gates will open at 8 a.m. Families and guests may enter through the Champions, Varsity, and Wolverine plazas, and gate 9. All guests are asked to be seated by 9 a.m. if they wish to view the graduate procession.

Commencement is scheduled to take place in Michigan Stadium rain or shine. Umbrellas are not permitted inside the stadium. The ceremony may be shortened, suspended or concluded in the event of severe weather. If a schedule adjustment is required, instructions will be given to guests via public address announcements and video scoreboard messages .Graduates and guests are asked to listen for announcements and remain seated until instructed otherwise.

In the event of rain or other non-severe weather, the ceremony will continue in Michigan Stadium and be shown on video screens inside Crisler Arena. Each graduate will receive two general admission tickets for guests to use at Crisler Arena.

AATA shuttle

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) will provide service on six shuttle routes from 18 hotel and parking sites to Michigan Stadium. Service will begin at 8 a.m., running approximately every 20 minutes with the last pickup at 9:30 a.m. Shuttles will operate for 60 minutes after commencement ends. The shuttle will cost $2 each way, and AATA will have signs posted outside Gates 2 and 3 for boarding after the ceremony. For more information call (734) 973-6500, visit www.TheRide.org or go to www.umich.edu/~gradinfo

Graduate exercises

University Graduate Exercises is the celebration for all master's and doctoral graduates and candidates who receive their degrees through the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Held at 1 p.m. April 27 in Hill Auditorium, this formal program recognizes doctoral degree recipients. The speaker will be Phillip Converse, emeritus professor of political science.

Assembly for graduates and candidates

Graduates and candidates gather beginning at 11:45 a.m. (and arriving no later than 12:15 p.m.) in Rackham Auditorium to participate in the academic procession to Hill Auditorium. Doctoral degree recipients gather in a designated area within Rackham.

Inclement weather plan

In the event of inclement weather, the academic procession may be canceled. A cancellation will be announced at the graduate assembly in Rackham Auditorium. Graduates and candidates arriving at Rackham would be asked to go directly to Hill Auditorium.

Venue

The doors to Hill Auditorium will open at 12 p.m. Faculty marshals will direct all graduates and candidates to the correct seating or gathering areas.

More campus celebrations and ceremonies

Wednesday, April 25

Lavender Graduation presented by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, Division of Student Affairs, 4:30-6 p.m., Pendleton Room, Michigan Union, www.umich.edu/~lgbta/lavgrad07.html

U-M-Flint College of Arts and Sciences Honors Convocation, 6:30 p.m., Michigan Rooms

Thursday, April 26

U-M-Flint School of Health Professions and Studies Honors Convocation, 7 p.m. Room 1205, William S. White Building

Friday, April 27

Tri-Service ROTC Commission, 10 a.m., Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 764-2400

School of Public Health, 5:30 p.m., Michigan Theater. Speaker: Marianne Udow, 1978, director, Michigan Department of Human Services, 764-5425

School of Information, 4-6 p.m., Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 763-2286

La Celebración Latina, 8 p.m., Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. Speaker: Professor Catherine Benamou, 615-0419

Division of Kinesiology, 8 p.m., Hill Auditorium, 647-2689

Stephen M. Ross School of Business, 5 p.m., Crisler Arena. Speaker: Steve Case, 647-0342

Communications Studies, noon, Michigan Theater. Speaker: author Terry Gamble, '77

U-M-Flint Nurse Pinning Ceremony, 5-8 p.m., Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth

School of Music, Theatre & Dance, 4:30 recital and 5 p.m. ceremony, Power Center for the Performing Arts, 764-0594

Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, 1-3 p.m. congratulatory event, third floor of Thayer Building

Saturday, April 28

School of Art & Design, 1 p.m., Art & Architecture Building courtyard, 647-9886

School of Nursing, 12:20-2:20 p.m., Hill Auditorium, 763-9435

School of Social Work, 1-2 p.m., Power Center. Speaker: State Sen. Liz Brater, 764-3309

Black Celebratory, 7:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium, 936-0664

College of Engineering, 3 p.m., Crisler Arena. Speaker: Donald Winter, 74th Secretary of the Navy, 647-7046

Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., Rackham Auditorium. Speaker: Dan Glickman B.A. 1966, president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, 615-3893

School of Education, 4 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Speaker: Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, 763-4061

Residential College, 2 p.m., Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Speaker: Barbara Kessler, '72, 763-0032

Sunday, April 29

U-M-Flint Commencement, 2:30 p.m. Perani Arena and Event Center. Speaker: Chief Judge of the Genesee County Circuit Court Archie Hayman, B.B.A. '81

U-M-Dearborn School of Management and College of Engineering and Computer Science Commencement, 10:30 a.m., Fieldhouse. Speaker: writer Daniel Howes

U-M-Dearborn School of Education and College of Arts, Sciences, 2:30 p.m., Fieldhouse.

A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, 1-3 p.m., Hill Auditorium

Friday, May 4

School of Dentistry, 3:00 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Speaker: Dr. Dushanka Kleinman, former chief dental officer, U.S. Public Health Service

Saturday, May 5

2007 Law School Senior Day, 2-4 p.m., Hill Auditorium, Speaker: David Westin, '77, president of ABC News

Friday, May 11

Medical School Commencement, 3 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Speaker: Dr. Tadataka Yamada, president, Global Health Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Saturday, June 2

School of Pharmacy, 2 p.m., Rackham Auditorium, 764-7144

Campuses, units celebrate Spring Commencement 2007

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