TIP/Spring 2011 commencement coverage

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s spring commencement will be held in ceremonies beginning Friday, May 13 and continuing through Sunday, May 15. Prominent alumni John and Tashia Morgridge will deliver the charge to the graduates at the four undergraduate ceremonies on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15. Approximately 6,000 students are expected to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

Here is information for media representatives covering the weekend’s ceremonies:

Media parking will be available in Lot 91 behind the School District Administration Building. Parking permits are not required. Enter the lot from the Bedford Street side.
Floor credentials for reporters and photographers will be available inside the Kohl Center’s media entrance on Frances Street an hour before each ceremony. The credentials allow access to the floor where the graduates are seated, but not onto the stage.
A mult box will be available for broadcast recording. It will be located on the electricians’ table to the right of the stage.

The weekend’s five ceremonies are listed below, along with the names of University Communications employees who will be staffing them, in parentheses:

Friday, May 13, 5:30 p.m.

Honorary degrees and all doctoral and professional degrees, including Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Juridical Science, Juris Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Audiology, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Laws, Master of Laws-Legal Institutions, Master of Public Health. (Chris Barncard)

Robert W. Kastenmeier, Wisconsin’s Second District Congressman from 1959-91, will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree, and Ruth M. and Kenneth R. Wright, national and international leaders in environmental innovation, service and stewardship, will receive a joint honorary doctor of science degree. More information about honorary degree recipients can be found at http://www.news.wisc.edu/19324.

Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m.

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Education, Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, School of Human Ecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Nursing, and School of Pharmacy. (Liz Beyler)

Saturday, May 14, 2:30 p.m.

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the School of Business and the College of Engineering. (Liz Beyler)

Sunday, May 15, 10 a.m.

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Letters and Science, in majors A through H (African Languages and Literature through History of Science, Medicine and Technology). (Stacy Forster)

Sunday, May 15, 2:30 p.m.

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Letters and Science in majors I through Z (International Public Affairs through Zoology). (Dennis Chaptman)

Candidates in the College of Letters and Science with more than one major attend the ceremony for their major that comes first alphabetically. For example, an Economics/Political Science double major attends the 10 a.m. ceremony.

The ceremonies will be streamed live for the benefit of friends and relatives who are unable to attend. Windows Media Player and a broadband connection are required in order to view them. The link to the streaming will be on the university’s main Web site at http://www.wisc.edu. The stream will not be available until the beginning of each ceremony.

Transcripts of the major commencement speeches will be posted on the university’s Web site by Tuesday afternoon, May 17.