December commencements mean no wait to graduate

Starting this year, UIC will host two commencement ceremonies in December to honor students who graduate after summer or fall semesters. Photo: UIC Photo Services

UIC students who graduate after summer or fall semester won’t have to wait until May to celebrate. Starting this year, UIC will host two commencement ceremonies in December to honor graduating seniors.

In the past, UIC hosted one week of commencement events in May to honor all graduates, said Barbara Henley, vice chancellor for student affairs.

Chancellor Michael Amiridis decided to change the tradition to include December ceremonies for summer and fall graduates.

“We hope this new tradition will allow more graduates to share in the excitement of commencement and give every student an opportunity to walk across the stage and mark this milestone in their lives,” Amiridis said. “Our students work hard to earn their degrees and it’s important that we recognize their achievements and allow them and their families to take pride in their accomplishments before they begin their journey to success.”

Two ceremonies are planned for Dec. 11 at the UIC Pavilion. A Graduate College commencement will begin at 2 p.m. An undergraduate commence follows at 7:30 p.m. for the colleges of Applied Health Sciences; Architecture, Design, and the Arts; Business Administration; Liberal Arts and Sciences; Urban Planning and Public Affairs; Education; and Engineering.

Nursing will participate in December commencement beginning in 2016.

About 1,200 undergraduates and 850 graduate students are expected to participate in December commencement, Henley said. “It’s an excellent idea because it’s an enhancement of the student experience,” she said. “August and December graduates won’t have to wait until May to participate – oftentimes many of these students are already employed and it requires them to possibly miss work just to participate in their ceremony.”

Students who are eligible to participate will be notified through campus email and the UIC commencement website.

“The whole point is to enhance the student experience, from beginning to end,” Henley said.