University of Cincinnati Graduates 2,427 on Dec. 9

The University of Cincinnati is expecting 5,000 people on campus for its All University Commencement Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. The formal procession into the Commencement Ceremony, which includes both graduates and faculty and administrators in full academic regalia, begins at 1:15 p.m.

This marks the second year for the December Commencement Ceremony, a facet of the UC|21 Strategic Plan to celebrate student success and place students at the center of the university. The marching graduates completed their degrees over the summer or this fall. Each and every one will be called to the stage to be personally congratulated by UC President Nancy L. Zimpher and their college deans.

During summer and fall at the University of Cincinnati, 2,427 students completed their requirements toward a total of 2,437 degrees (some students earn more than one degree), including

• 374 associate degrees
• 896 bachelor’s degrees
• 1,001 master’s degrees
• 166 doctoral degrees

Note that the master’s degree candidates are celebrating the most degrees this December. At the December 2005 ceremony, the highest number of degrees were earned by students seeking bachelor’s degrees (859), followed by master’s degree candidates (800).

Click here for a statistical look at the UC graduating class.

UC alumna Pamela E. Bridgewater, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and the longest-serving diplomat in South Africa, will address the graduates at the December Commencement Ceremony. Ambassador Bridgewater will receive an honorary doctorate of laws from the university.

The university will also present honorary doctoral degrees to

• Susan Pfau, a UC alumna who’s an outstanding philanthropist. She will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
• Donald Spencer, who is a tireless advocate for civil rights and graduate of UC. He will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
• Marian Spencer, the wife of Donald Spencer, a UC graduate and civil rights advocate. She will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Henry R. Winkler, president emeritus of the University of Cincinnati, who served as university president from 1977-1984, will receive the University of Cincinnati Award for Excellence, which honors those who have increased the stature of the institution.

The careers of a high-school English teacher, a fifth-grade science teacher and a middle-and high-school music teacher will also be celebrated at the ceremony. That’s after Tristate students nearing graduation were invited to honor a teacher who fueled student dreams of pursuing a higher education. Each of the recipients of the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award will receive a $1,000 scholarship to present to a student of their choosing who’s planning to enter UC in the 2007-2008 academic year. All award winners, along with their nominating student, are invited to a special brunch with UC President Nancy L. Zimpher that will take place at 11 a.m., Dec. 9, in the UC Faculty Club.

Read more about the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award

The National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) 2007 fall preview survey finds the nation’s employers plan to hire 17.4 percent more new college grads in 2006-2007 than in 2005-2006. James Novak, associate director for the UC Career Development Center, says graduates in the highest demand include business majors, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and civil engineering majors, majors in computer services and nursing. He adds that all of those employers are populating the Career Development Center’s career fairs and on-campus recruiting events, and that recruitment is at its heaviest over fall quarter.

The December Commencement Ceremony will be Webcast by UC’s Presentation Technologies and Services Group.

Click here to link to the Commencement Ceremony Webcast

This marks the eighth year that UC Commencement has been carried on the Internet.

Immediately following the ceremony, the UC Alumni Association will host a reception at the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center.

All winter 2007 and spring 2007 UC students who complete their graduation requirements will be invited to march in the traditional Spring All-University Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 9, 2007, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

UC Commencement Web site