The University began executing arrangements for 22,000 students, guests, faculty and administrators Monday, preparing for Sunday's Commencement ceremony on the White House Ellipse. Approximately 300 students have been hired to work the week's festivities, which will see some changes from previous years.
The School of Business will have two celebrations this year, as opposed to the one it normally has for both graduate and undergraduate students. Also, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development will move its ceremony from Lisner Auditorium to the Smith Center.
"We discuss what went well and what didn't go well, but the main issue we work out during the Commencement planning process is the schedule of events for the weekend," said Jim Hess, director of University Events. "We work with the schools and their deans, and some years a school is forced to give in and compromise, and the next year it gets its preference."
Immediately following Commencement, the University begins planning for next year's ceremonies.
A Commencement planning committee begins by reserving the Ellipse with the National Park Service every fall. The committee also reserves the MCI Center as an emergency location and begins contracting vendors to supply chairs, tables, a stage, tents and microphone rentals, Hess said.
"At the start of spring semester we make sure everyone on the planning committee is on the same page, and then we hit the ground running with regular meetings and communication," Hess added.
He said this year's setup includes 22,000 to 23,000 chairs, hundreds of tables, five to 10 tents, a sound system and about 20 microphones. Water and bathroom trailers will also be available for guests on the Ellipse.
Several organizations, including the Marvin Center, Student and Academic Support Services and the Department of Athletics and Recreation, are responsible for hiring about 300 students to work over the next week as Commencement staff.
The School of Business will have two celebrations this year, as opposed to the one it normally has for both graduate and undergraduate students. Also, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development will move its ceremony from Lisner Auditorium to the Smith Center.
"We discuss what went well and what didn't go well, but the main issue we work out during the Commencement planning process is the schedule of events for the weekend," said Jim Hess, director of University Events. "We work with the schools and their deans, and some years a school is forced to give in and compromise, and the next year it gets its preference."
Immediately following Commencement, the University begins planning for next year's ceremonies.
A Commencement planning committee begins by reserving the Ellipse with the National Park Service every fall. The committee also reserves the MCI Center as an emergency location and begins contracting vendors to supply chairs, tables, a stage, tents and microphone rentals, Hess said.
"At the start of spring semester we make sure everyone on the planning committee is on the same page, and then we hit the ground running with regular meetings and communication," Hess added.
He said this year's setup includes 22,000 to 23,000 chairs, hundreds of tables, five to 10 tents, a sound system and about 20 microphones. Water and bathroom trailers will also be available for guests on the Ellipse.
Several organizations, including the Marvin Center, Student and Academic Support Services and the Department of Athletics and Recreation, are responsible for hiring about 300 students to work over the next week as Commencement staff.
