By University Communications
Fort Hays State University will recognize approximately 1482 graduates during its spring commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, May 12-13.
Graduates who have chosen to participate in person will be honored in two ceremonies Friday and two ceremonies Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum (GMC). All graduates will be recognized in two virtual ceremonies Saturday afternoon.
The ceremonies will begin Friday for undergraduate, master’s, and Ed.S. candidates in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at 8:30 a.m. Central time, followed by the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences at 11 a.m. Central time.
Saturday’s ceremonies will begin for undergraduate, master’s, and Ed.S. candidates in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics at 8:30 a.m., followed by the College of Education at 11 a.m.
Saturday’s virtual ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m. for the Ed.S. and master’s students. The undergraduate virtual ceremony will follow at 4 p.m.
All ceremonies – in-person and virtual – will be broadcast on the Tiger Media Network YouTube channel and the TMN Facebook page. Individuals are not required to sign up for a Facebook account to view the ceremonies.
Recordings of the virtual ceremonies will be archived on the FHSU YouTube channel, with the link provided on the commencement website on the “Programs and Videos” tab.
Doors to GMC and the adjoining Cunningham Hall will open at 7:45 a.m. daily. Graduates will check in at Gate 2 or Gate 3. The graduates will enter the area that says, “Graduate Entrance Only,” and guests will be asked to enter the door labeled guest door entrance (located at both gates).
Students are asked to wear their regalia to GMC. Graduates may arrange to pick up their regalia before May 11 at Victor E. Apparel & Gift Co. in the Memorial Union by emailing victore_co@fhsu.edu. Regalia will also be available before Friday and Saturday’s ceremonies at the Robbins Center (directly north of the GMC parking lot) from 7 to 11 a.m.
Graduates and faculty will be seated on the main floor of GMC. Guests will be seated on the balcony. The elevator is accessible by Gate 3. Seating for persons with mobility impairment and patrons in wheelchairs is available on the main floor; a commencement staff member will escort the individual(s) and one guest to the seating area on the GMC floor. There are no reservations for this area, and seating is limited. Drivers will find Gates 2 and 3, at the northwest and northeast corners, most convenient for dropping off passengers with disabilities.
An ASL interpreter will be shown on screen, visible from any seating area.
Traffic in the GMC area is anticipated to be high during the transition periods between each commencement ceremony. Parking lots adjacent to the coliseum typically fill up quickly, but parking is available on the main campus. In inclement weather, unpaved lots near GMC will be closed, making it necessary to park on the main campus.
Here are a few suggestions from the University Police to help ease the congestion:
- Guests arriving for the second ceremony are encouraged to arrive no earlier than 9:45 a.m. Arriving too early will result in guests being forced to park farther away or face departing traffic from the first ceremony. Delaying arrival will also allow time for departing guests from the first ceremony to clear the area in preparation for the second ceremony.
- Graduates driving themselves are encouraged to arrive early and park on the main part of campus and walk or take the shuttles to GMC. This will better ensure they avoid traffic congestion, get a parking spot, and arrive on time for their ceremony. Shuttles will be available both days before and after both ceremonies, with the drop-off station at Gate 3.
- Faculty and staff attending are also encouraged to park on the main part of campus and walk or take the shuttles to the ceremonies.
- All guests are encouraged to carpool when possible. Fewer cars will ease traffic congestion.
- VIP parking is available on the west side of GMC, with handicapped parking on the east side.
Graduates, families, and friends are encouraged to sign and write a message on the Kudoboard. Share photos and messages on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook using the hashtag #tigergrad.
The in-person commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIXUNR_XQP7TX183o_vxCw and the Tiger Media Network Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tigermedianet/.
The commencement schedule, maps, directions, links to accommodations in Hays, and general information can be found at www.fhsu.edu/commencement/.