Rogers State University’s commencement exercises this year will feature two ceremonies – one each for bachelor’s and associate’s degree candidates.
Graduates receiving associate’s degrees will participate in a morning ceremony, while graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees will participate in an afternoon ceremony. Both events will be held on Saturday, May 6, at the Claremore Expo Center.
The university previously has held one ceremony for both sets of degree candidates, but RSU’s growing enrollment has necessitated the switch to two commencement exercises to allow graduates’ families and friends to enjoy the ceremony, RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley said.
“This is a good problem for the university to have because it’s another manifestation of the university’s continued growth and the rising demand for higher education in northeastern Oklahoma,” said Wiley, who will be the commencement speaker for both events.
The schedule of events for the day includes:
- 8 a.m., the pinning ceremony for the RSU nursing program graduates will be held on campus at the Will Rogers Auditorium.
- 9 a.m., associate’s degree candidates will line up on the south side of the Expo Center. Family and friends are encouraged to be seated in the Expo Center at that time.
- 10 a.m., the commencement ceremony for associate’s degree candidates will begin in the Expo Center.
- 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a free brunch will be held on campus for all graduates and their families and friends in Thunderbird Hall, the former library building.
- Noon, bachelor’s degree graduates will line up on the south side of the Expo Center. Family and friends are encouraged to be seated in the Expo Center at that time.
- 1 p.m., the commencement ceremony for bachelor’s degree candidates will begin in the Expo Center.
Members of the RSU faculty and staff will participate in both commencement ceremonies.
The university expects to confer degrees to more than 400 students, including more than 185 bachelor’s degree candidates, from its three campuses and RSU Online.
The number of RSU students graduating with bachelor’s degrees this year increased by nearly 50 percent compared with last year’s total. This event marks the fifth year RSU has graduated bachelor degree candidates since being accredited as a four-year university in August 2000.
For more information on RSU’s commencement activities, call (918) 343-7579.