Members of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s class of 2014 will celebrate their undergraduate experiences differently than their predecessors, in one joint ceremony held at Camp Randall Stadium, university officials announced Wednesday morning.
According to a press release, a partnership between Chancellor Rebecca Blank and this year’s senior class officers brought about the modifications to the commencement ceremony. In previous years, graduates bid farewell to their undergraduate academics in one of four ceremonies, determined by their respective school of study, held in the Kohl Center over the course of one weekend.
However, at 12 p.m. May 17, roughly 6,000 graduating students and approximately 40,000 friends and families will fill Camp Randall for an all-encompassing ceremony to cut down on the amount of time the event took in the Kohl Center, according to the release.
“Sitting alongside your entire graduating class will be a really powerful experience,” Class President Joe Meeker said in the release. "Regardless of your major, school or college, commencement is an opportunity to think about the time we've shared with all our fellow Badgers."
Blank said she is “excited” about collaborating with students on the project.
“This change will help us celebrate together on a grander scale while still involving the more personal elements that students look forward to throughout their time at UW-Madison,” Blank said in the statement.
Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students Lori Berquam said in the release certain details have yet to be worked out, such as if the university will make changes to the Ph.D., DMA and MFA ceremonies, historically held the Friday evening of commencement weekend. Also, the university has yet to identify a commencement speaker. Last year, "Workaholics" star and 2003 UW-Madison graduate Anders Holm led the celebration.
Berquam said changes to UW-Madison commencement festivities are years in the making, and she is “pleased to see realization of years of planning and consideration.” According to the release, university officials will release more details about the event as they are finalized.
