Plans are underway to hold a new Bachelor’s Degree Conferment Ceremony in May for students in the master of occupational therapy, doctor of occupational therapy, doctor of physical therapy, and doctor of pharmacy programs. Students who entered the University as first-year students in 2008, or who transferred into those programs before earning a bachelor’s degree, will be eligible to earn a bachelor’s degree during the 2011-12 academic year even as they continue their matriculation toward their professional degrees.
This is the first year that the University will be awarding bachelor’s degrees separately from the professional degrees for students in those programs, and the University has been developing plans to honor their achievements.
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We believe that since the degree will be awarded "in course," we would like to have a special ceremony for them. They are getting a Bachelor's degree, and they deserve to be honored,” said Provost Russell J. DiGate.
The ceremony is tentatively scheduled for May 18, 2012, and will be held at the Atheltic/Recreation Center in the Bobby Morgan Arena. The ceremony will be a full cap-and-gown affair, with students being acknowledged individually by the faculty for the earning of their degrees. The number of guests that each graduate can invite will be determined by the number of graduates who petition to participate in the ceremony, and will be determined early in the spring semester. Latin honors and the completion of minors will be acknowledged at the ceremony. The Universoty will not be awarding any honorary degrees, but it will invite a guest speaker, and in addition, will ask each of the three graduating groups to select a graduate to speak to the graduates, faculty and guests.
More details about the Bachelor’s Degree Conferment Ceremony will be coming in the near future. Please direct any questions to Dr. Peter Miller, the University’s Chief Marshal, at p.miller@usciences.edu.