WSU 2000 Commencement in Pullman Will Feature Three Ceremonies

PULLMAN, Wash. — The growing number of Washington State University graduates and
the popularity of WSU seniors and graduate students attending graduation ceremonies in
Pullman has caused a change in the WSU 2000 Commencement schedule.
The university will hold three separate ceremonies in Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, all
on May 6.
For most of its 109-year history, WSU held one main ceremony. Starting in 1986, WSU added
individual college recognition ceremonies following the main campus-wide event.
During the past two years, there have been two ceremonies due to remodeling work of
facilities used for college ceremonies. According to Dave Guzman, interim registrar, “that
increased the number of students graduating in Beasley, which, in turn, increased the audience
participation and demanded more room than what is available in our current facilities.”
For 2000, the 8 a.m. ceremony will be for the College of Liberal Arts. At 11:30 a.m., College of
Business and Economics and College of Education graduates will participate. The 3 p.m.
ceremony will include the colleges of Agriculture and Home Economics, Engineering and
Architecture, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine, said Guzman.
WSU President Samuel Smith, regents and university administrators will join college leaders,
graduates and their families at each ceremony.
“The commencement ceremonies have each gone beyond three hours in length the last two
years. That was too long,” said Guzman. “Having three ceremonies will cut each ceremony to
about two hours.”
During 1999, a total of about 4,200 students received WSU undergraduate, graduate and
professional degrees, and about 2,500 students participated in the May commencement
exercises. Guzman expects about 3,000 students to participate in the year 2000 commencement
exercise because of its “turn of the century” designation.
The number of degrees WSU grants annually has grown from 3,445 in 1985 to 4,628 in 1998.
Tm151-99

Next Story

Colombian women’s rights pioneer got her start in Pullman

Paulina Gómez Vega’s experience at Washington State College in the early 1920s set her on a path that made her an education leader and an influential voice for women’s rights back home.

Recent News

Provost finalists visiting the week of April 1

Finalists in the process of interviewing for the position of provost and executive vice president will present to the public during their visits to WSU next week.

McCoy named interim WSU athletic director

A widely recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics, McCoy will serve while a national search is conducted for the next athletic director.

WSU to review administrative structure

President Kirk Schulz used his annual State of the University Address to highlight both achievements and challenges while also announcing a planned review of WSU’s administrative structure and academic programs.