The University of Portland 2015 Commencement Weekend will take place on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. The registrar’s office anticipates 857 candidates to participate on Sunday’s undergraduate commencement, and 219 graduate and doctoral degree at Saturday’s graduate commencement. Fr. William Hayes, S.J., legendary principal and president of Jesuit High School, will receive the Christus Magister Medal, UP’s highest honor. UP regent Larree Renda will receive an honorary doctorate and deliver the undergraduate commencement address.
Other honorary degree recipients are Yale University professor Anne Fadiman, liturgical music publisher David Haas, Notre Dame vice president and chief investment officer Scott Malpass, and Dr. Walter Urba of the Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center.
The School of Nursing pinning ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m., in the Chiles Center. The University ROTC graduation ceremony will start at 11 a.m., in the Bauccio Commons. The Graduate School commencement will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Tickets are not required for this event. All graduates and faculty are to be present at the Chiles Center no later than 11:45 a.m. The procession forms in the north corridor of the Chiles Center. Enter the building through the north doors, off Portsmouth Street. Academic regalia will be worn; all faculty are expected to attend unless excused by their dean. The Baccalaureate Mass and reception will take place at 5 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Graduates and faculty will assemble at 4:15 p.m. in the north corridors of the Chiles Center. The academic procession will begin promptly at 4:40 p.m. Academic regalia will be worn. Immediately following Mass, faculty, staff, graduates, and families are invited to a reception on the mezzanine level of the Chiles Center. Appetizers and refreshments will be provided.
On Sunday, May 3, a brunch for graduates and families will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Bauccio Commons. Tickets are not needed for this event. Undergraduate commencement exercises will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Tickets are required. All graduates and faculty are to be present at the Chiles Center no later than 12:30 p.m. The academic procession will form in the north corridors of the Chiles Center. Enter the building through the north doors, off Portsmouth Street. Academic regalia will be worn. The commencement exercises will be sign-language interpreted. If you have a disability requiring accommodation in order to fully participate in this activity, please contact university events at 7523 or e-mail events@up.edu.