Commencement Ceremonies Expanded

VALDOSTA -- With the steady increase in enrollment at Valdosta State University -- including a 16 percent growth in graduate students -- the need to expand the commencement ceremonies was inevitable. More than 1,200 students have applied to graduate this semester.

In celebration of the scholarly and personal achievements of students receiving a master’s, specialist or doctoral degree, a graduate commencement ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday May 7, in the Whitehead Auditorium.

According to Dr. Karla Hull, interim assistant vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate School, more than 20 graduate students who participated in one of Valdosta State’s 12 online programs will be in attendance and receive their diploma.

“We are excited to have these students on campus, for many of them it will be their first opportunity to visit,” Hull said. “This is a time for us to celebrate with these students and their families. It also gives us an opportunity to showcase the availability of technology that allows students from across Georgia, the county and the world to be a member of Valdosta State’s graduate school.”

Also on Friday night, Valdosta State will confer the first doctoral degrees in public administration. The Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA) began three years ago and today has 60 students from across the country. The mostly Web-based program allows non-traditional students to complete their degree while continuing full-time employment.

On Saturday, May 8 three ceremonies for undergraduate students will be held in the P.E. Complex, beginning at 10 a.m. for the Dewar College of Education and Air Force ROTC. At 1 p.m., College of the Arts, Langdale College of Business Administration, and Nursing students will walk across the stage. The graduation ceremony for the College of the Arts and Sciences will commence at 4 p.m.

Additional information about graduation schedules, directions and seating may be found at http://www.valdosta.edu/commencement/