By UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
For the third year in a row, more than 4,000 graduates will cross the stage during Fort Hays State University ‘s spring commencement ceremonies. To accommodate this large volume of graduates and their families, the university will continue holding two ceremonies.
The practice of two ceremonies will continue, but instead of being split between an evening and a morning ceremony, both events – Friday’s and Saturday’s – will begin at 9 a.m. in Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Graduates from two colleges, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, will march on Friday.
Saturday’s ceremony is for graduates from three colleges: the College of Education; the Peter Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics; and the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The schedule leading up the start time is the same both days: Doors to the coliseum and Cunningham Hall will open at 7 a.m.; graduates can pick up name cards, caps, gowns and tassels from 7 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.; line up begins at 8:15 a.m.
This year’s Commencement exercises encompass 4,078 graduates from the summer and fall 2018 and from spring 2019. The totals are 93 associate degrees; 3,115 bachelor’s degrees; 868 master’s and Education Specialist degrees; and two Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.
Graduates and faculty will be seated on the main floor of Gross Coliseum.
Seating arrangements for the disabled are available on the main floor on either side in front of the stage. Drivers will find Gates 2 and 3, at the northwest and southwest corners, most convenient for dropping off passengers with disabilities. There are no reservations for this area. One person, if necessary, will be allowed to accompany an individual in this seating area.
An interpreter for people who are hearing impaired will be near Section C.
Both ceremonies are free and open to families of graduates and to all friends of the university. No tickets are required. All seats in Gross Memorial Coliseum are first-come, first-served and are normally filled one hour before the start of the ceremony.
Traffic in the Gross Coliseum area is extremely heavy for Commencement. Parking lots adjacent to Gross Coliseum typically fill up quickly, but ample parking is available on the main campus. In the event of rain, unpaved lots near Gross Coliseum will be closed, making it necessary to park on the main campus.
For the a full Commencement schedule, go to:
https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/schedule/index
For a schedule of events leading up to Commencement, go to:
https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/Activities/index
Shuttle bus service will be provided both Friday and Saturday between the campus and Gross Coliseum. The shuttle buses will stop in parking lots and wherever drivers see people walking to or from Gross Coliseum.
Persons other than degree candidates attending Commencement are asked to enter through the four coliseum gates and not through Cunningham Hall.
Commencement will also be broadcast live at https://fhsu.edu/commencement/watch-live.
Maps, directions, and general information, including links to accommodations in Hays, are available from www.fhsu.edu/commencement/. The direct link to a rehearsal video is www.fhsu.edu/commencement/rehearsal/.