University of Cincinnati Celebrates 191st Commencement on June 12

The University of Cincinnati celebrates its 191st Commencement with two ceremonies on Saturday, June 12, and the Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony on Friday, June 11. UC’s Office of Institutional Research reports the number of UC students applying for graduation is reaching its highest in more than two decades, reflecting UC’s growth in enrollment as well as its success in student retention.

UC will hold two commencement ceremonies for winter and spring 2010 graduates.

UC Morning Commencement Ceremony
Processional begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 12
Doors open at 8 a.m.
Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center
College of Allied Health Sciences; College of Business; College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP); College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH); College of Nursing; College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)

UC Afternoon Commencement Ceremony
Processional begins at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 12
Doors open at 1 p.m.
Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center
Clermont College; College of Engineering and Applied Science; McMicken College of Arts and Sciences; Raymond Walters College; School of Social Work

Counting graduates and guests, more than 9,000 people are expected at Shoemaker Center for each ceremony.

The Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony will begin with its processional at 10 a.m., Friday, June 11, in Fifth Third Arena. Heading the processional will be a group of about 45 alumni representing the University of Cincinnati graduating class of 1970 – a special 40th anniversary Commencement for those graduates who could not attend their ceremony after many college campuses, including UC, closed earlier in the spring of 1970 due to the national unrest surrounding the Vietnam War. The event is organized by the UC Alumni Association.

The 1970 alumni are also invited to join UC President Gregory H. Williams at a reception in their honor at 12:30 p.m., Friday, June 11, in Room 400 of Tangeman University Center (TUC). The Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony will be followed by a noon reception for the 2010 graduates at the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center. The hooding ceremony is expected to draw more than 4,700 people, counting graduates and guests.

Tickets are not required for the events. Parking is free in all West Campus garages on June 11 and on June 12.

UC’s Office of Institutional Research reports 4,660 students applied for graduation, exceeding the 20-year high of UC’s 2008 spring graduating class, which was 4,555. The record spring graduating class follows UC’s highest overall fall enrollment (39,667) recorded since 1980, as well as significant progress on keeping students through graduation, with retention rates at 84.6 percent – a reflection of the admissions standards first implemented in 2006 to grow UC’s retention and graduation rates in line with the university’s strategic plan.

Students applying for graduation – 4,660

Total number of degrees (some students earn more than one degree) – 4,728, including

* 498 associate degrees
* 2,585 baccalaureate degrees
* 1,111 master degrees
* 534 doctoral or professional degrees

Click here for a statistical look at the Class of 2010

Jordan Lee Brewer of San Antonio, Texas, who is earning a bachelor of business administration from the Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS Program in the UC College of Business, will deliver the university oration for the Saturday morning All-University Commencement Ceremony.

The university oration for the afternoon ceremony will be delivered by Carver Douglas Ealy Jr. of Louisville, Ky., who is graduating with his bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

Four UC graduates will be recognized for their achievement of the UC Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence in recognition of their exemplary academics, leadership, character and service. They are Anndréa Moore, of Pickerington, Ohio; Paul Kruchoski, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Alexzandra Spatholt, of Columbiana, Ohio; and Li Tan, who was born in Chengdu, China, and is a graduate of Cincinnati’s Sycamore High School.

Click here for feature stories on individual graduates

Nationally, the job outlook appears brighter for the 2010 graduates compared with those last year. A national survey by the

National Association of Colleges and Employers

found 24.4 percent of 2010 graduates who had applied for jobs had one waiting for them after graduation, compared with 19.7 percent last year, but there are also higher numbers of grads accepting the jobs they’re offered.

Nathaniel R. Jones, a retired judge for the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and current Senior Counsel and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the firm Blank Rome LLP will address graduates at the June 12 Commencement Ceremonies.

The university will present honorary doctoral degrees to

Raymond J. Brokamp, a longtime educator and administrator for Cincinnati Public Schools, as well as a distinguished military veteran and community leader. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the 9 a.m. ceremony.

Candace Kendle, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Kendle International Inc. She will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

Deborah Poe Polaski, praised as one of the premiere dramatic sopranos of her generation, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts during the 9 a.m. ceremony.

Claire Brunswick Phillips, a Cincinnati entrepreneur, business leader and female aviation pioneer, will receive the Award for Excellence during the 2 p.m. ceremony.

After each ceremony, the UC Alumni Association will host a reception at the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center for graduates and guests.

All ceremonies will be webcast by UC’s Presentation Technologies and Services Group. This marks the 12th year that UC’s Commencement can be viewed via the internet.

Webcasting information for all ceremonies

Webcasts will begin 30 minutes before the events.

Click here to view more Commencement information for graduates and guests.