2012 Commencement Information

Last Year's Commencement Week Schedule

Wednesday, May 9

8-9:30 p.m.

The Ingram Commons Open House Receptions

The Dean’s Residence and all ten houses on The Ingram Commons will hold receptions for the Class of 2012 graduates and their guests prior to THE PARTY.

9 p.m. to midnight

THE PARTY at The Commons Center (Tickets Required – $20.)
9:15 p.m. — Opening band: Vanderbilt’s own Soul Incision
10:30 p.m. — Headlining band: Liquid Blue

Thursday, May 10

11 a.m. – Noon

Senior Day at Memorial Gymnasium
Tom Brokaw is our Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal recipient and speaker. His talk will be streamed live from the Vanderbilt homepage and available to watch after the event.

Faculty Seminars at Wilson Hall 103

• 2 p.m. – Christopher P. Loss: Why College? – Education and Citizenship in Modern America
• 3:15 p.m. – Robert J. Webster III: Re-engineering Surgery – The Rise of Robots in the Operating Room

Faculty Seminars at Wilson Hall 126

• 2:00 – Melanie Lowe: “Creating Chaos in Haydn’s The Creation”
• 3:15 p.m. – Sarah E. Igo: Privacy in America – Glimpses of a Modern History

Friday, May 11

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Commencement — Alumni Lawn — begins for all undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, Chancellor Zeppos confers degrees and addresses the members of the graduating Class of 2012.

Graduates – view your Commencement instructions.

Indoor Viewing Areas (see maps)

Sarratt Cinema
Showing: Commencement ceremony
The cinema is located in the Sarratt Student Center adjacent to Alumni Lawn. This is an ideal location for guests of Graduate and Professional students who wish to view the main ceremony prior to their graduate’s ceremony. (Seating capacity: 309)

Old Gym
Showing: Commencement ceremony
The Old Gym is located at the north end of Alumni Lawn adjacent to West End Avenue. (Seating capacity: 100)

Neely Auditorium
Showing: Commencement ceremony
Neely is located on the southeast corner of Alumni Lawn near Rand Hall. (Seating capacity: 298)

Rand Dining Hall
Showing: Senior Day and Commencement ceremony
Rand Dining Hall is located on the south end of Alumni Lawn and is connected to the Sarratt Student Center. Screens are located throughout the hall. Food and beverage options are available for purchase.

10:15 a.m.

Brief intermission of Commencement ceremony to allow the graduate and professional candidates and their guests time to leave the main ceremony to go to their designated areas (listed below)

10:30 a.m.

• Divinity School Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Benton Chapel, reception following
• Graduate School Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Library Lawn, reception following
• Law School Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Curry Field, reception following

10:45 a.m.

• Owen Graduate School of Management Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Magnolia Circle Lawn, Strawberries and Champagne reception following

11 a.m.

• Peabody College Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Wyatt Center Lawn, reception following
• School of Nursing Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Branscomb Quadrangle, reception following

11:15 a.m.

• School of Medicine Diploma Ceremony (more info) — Langford Auditorium, luncheon following

Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Strawberries and Champagne – Bishops Common
Reception for Class of 2012 and their guests.

3 p.m.

• ROTC Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony — Langford Auditorium