October 27, 2016
To: All College Students
From: John “Jay” Ellison, Dean of Students in the College
Subject: Update on 530th College Convocation
Date: October 27, 2016
The College is pleased to share with you exciting changes to the College Convocation taking place this spring.
First, on Friday, June 9, the College will sponsor Class Day. The highlights of the day’s activities will be an invited guest who speaks to graduating students and their families in the main quadrangle, and the Senior Class Reception, hosted by Dean of the College John W. Boyer, at the Museum of Science and Industry. While the Baccalaureate Ceremony has outgrown Rockefeller Chapel, traditional elements of the event will be integrated throughout the Class Day celebration.
Second, the College diploma ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 10, in the afternoon. Previously, it has been a single ceremony held in the main quadrangle, but will now reunite graduating students with their House Communities at eight, concurrent ceremonies. The ceremonies will be organized by Residence Hall and presided over by the Resident Masters at locations across campus. These ceremonies will be more intimate than those of the past, enhancing the day’s celebratory nature for graduates, their families and their friends.
It is important to note that as in the past, Convocation on Saturday, June 10, will still begin with a morning ceremony where the College’s graduating class will gather in the main quadrangle with the graduating students of all the schools and divisions, University faculty, deans and staff as well as their families. At this ceremony, Dean Boyer will present the graduating class, and President Robert J. Zimmer will verbally confer the degrees. Also unchanged is Senior Week, which will run from Sunday, June 4, through Thursday, June 8.
For an FAQ about the College diploma ceremony, Class Day and Senior Week, please visit the Seniors web site: http://seniors.uchicago.edu/faq