Media advisory/spring 2010 commencement coverage

5/12/10

TO: NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITORS, REPORTERS
FROM: LIZ BEYLER, (608) 263-1986, lbkraak@wisc.edu
RE: MEDIA ADVISORY/SPRING 2010 COMMENCEMENT COVERAGE

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s spring commencement will be held this coming weekend, with ceremonies on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Here is information to aid members of the media in covering the ceremonies.

• Media parking will be available in Lot 91 behind the School District Administration Building. Parking permits are not required. Media representatives should enter on Bedford Street and tell the parking attendant they are there to cover commencement.
• Floor credentials for reporters and photographers will be available inside the Kohl Center media entrance on Frances Street an hour before each ceremony. The credentials allow access to the floor where the graduates are seated, but not onto the stage.
• A mult box will be available for broadcast recording. It will be located on the electricians’ table to the right of the stage.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will address the graduates at the 10 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, May 15.

James Kass, the inspirational founder of Youth Speaks, will address graduates at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony on Saturday and the 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ceremonies on Sunday, May 16.

Approximately 6,000 students are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies this weekend. Here are the ceremonies and the University Communications employees who will be staffing them:

• Friday, May 14, 5:30 p.m.: Honorary degrees and all doctoral and professional degrees, including doctor of philosophy, doctor of musical arts, doctor of juridical science, juris doctor, doctor of medicine, doctor of physical therapy, doctor of veterinary medicine, doctor of pharmacy, doctor of audiology, master of fine arts, master of laws, master of public health. (Staffed by Chris Barncard)
• Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Education, Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, School of Human Ecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy. (Staffed by Liz Beyler)
• Saturday, May 15, 2:30 p.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the School of Business and College of Engineering. (Staffed by Liz Beyler)
• Sunday, May 16, 10 a.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Letters & Science majors A through H (African languages and literature through history of science). (Staffed by Dennis Chaptman)
• Sunday, May 16, 2:30 p.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Letters & Science majors I through Z (international public affairs through zoology). (Staffed by John Lucas)

The ceremonies will be streamed live for the benefit of friends and relatives who are unable to attend. Windows Media Player and a broadband connection are required in order to view them. The link to the live feed will be on the university’s main Web site at http://www.wisc.edu. The stream will not be available until the beginning of each ceremony.

Transcripts of the major commencement speeches will be posted on the university’s Web site by Monday afternoon, May 17.