Commencement ceremony moves to civic center

Regent Shelnut (left) and President Bloodworth

Augusta State University is moving its commencement ceremony to the Augusta Richmond County Civic Center. About 700 students will take part in the first ceremony, being held May 14, at 2 p.m. The annual ceremony will combine the graduating classes of May and December 2005. The change, officials say, will benefit graduates and guests.

“We have basically outgrown the Christenberry Fieldhouse,” says Ms. Katherine Sweeney, director of admissions and registrar. “There is not enough seating or parking for guests at the fieldhouse,” she says.

In the past, only graduates and the platform party have parked at the fieldhouse. Faculty who participated in the ceremony as well as graduates’ guests had to be shuttled from Daniel Field. Buses were leased to provide continual shuttle service in the two hours before and after the ceremony, resulting not only in expense for the university, but inconvenience and time to the guests, particularly in inclement weather.

“I believe the graduates and their guests will really appreciate the move,” says Ms. Sweeney. “We were looking at having to possibly limit the number of guests that graduates could invite—something we really didn’t want to do,” she says. “Graduations are a family affair at ASU,” she continues, “and we wanted to make sure that the family and friends who have helped students reach this point be able to share in it.”

The rental of the Civic Center will be offset somewhat because ASU will share set-up costs with the Medical College of Georgia, which is holding its ceremony the day before.

Regent J. Timothy Shelnut, vice chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, will be the featured speaker.

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