Campus prepares for University-wide spring Convocation

On Saturday, June 9, the 3,213 University of Chicago students who are receiving degrees will take part in the spring Convocation, sharing their achievement with a crowd of up to 20,000 people on the Main Quadrangle.

The 511th Convocation will be held as a single, University-wide ceremony for a third year and will include all graduates from the College as well as students receiving graduate degrees from each of the University’s divisions and schools. The procession begins at 9:15 a.m.; guests should be in their seats by 9 a.m.

This year’s graduating classes include 1,145 undergraduates who are receiving degrees from the College, and 2,068 graduate students who have earned advanced degrees.

Stephen Raudenbush

Sociology Professor Stephen Raudenbush will deliver this year’s address, following the tradition of selecting Convocation speakers from the University faculty. Raudenbush, who studies child development within social settings like schools and neighborhoods, is the chair of the Committee on Education and the Lewis-Sebring Distinguished Service Professor in Sociology and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies. He was elected [1] to the National Academy of Sciences this spring.

University president Robert Zimmer will present three honorary degrees [2] during the convocation to people who have made extraordinary contributions to their respective fields: astronomer Geoffrey W. Marcy at the University of California, Berkley; historian Jean Meyer Barth at Centro de Investigación y Docencia Economicas in Mexico City; and biologist R. Bruce Nicklas at Duke University.

President Robert J. Zimmer

The weekend’s events also will include recognition of faculty members and graduate students who have been honored as excellent teachers. The Quantrell Awards, Booth Prizes and Graduate Teaching Awards [3] pay tribute to excellence in teaching at various levels. The Quantrell Awards recognize outstanding teaching of undergraduate College students by faculty members; the Booth Prizes are given to graduate students who contribute to the teaching of undergraduates; and the Faculty Awards for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring go to faculty members for their outstanding teaching of graduate students.

President Zimmer also will present the Benton Medal for Distinguished Public Service [4] to historian and activitst Timuel Black. Anne Bogart, an avant-garde theater director and theorist, will receive the Jesse L. Rosenberger Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative and Performing Arts [4].

Individual divisions and schools will hold separate ceremonies or receptions throughout the weekend, during which degree candidates will receive their diplomas from their deans. Family members, friends, and students can find all information [5] about the graduation ceremonies at the Convocation website.

Visitors to campus are encouraged to use public transportation, since the campus will be crowded and parking options limited. Please allow extra time if you plan to park nearby. The University will provide shuttle service for visitors staying outside of Hyde Park, coming on the Metra, and parking near the Midway. The pick-up locations and schedules are on a shuttle map [6] on the Convocation website.

Those unable to attend the convocation can watch a live webcast beginning at 9:15 a.m. The webcast and social media interactions will also be available on UChicago Live [7]. You do not need a Facebook account to access the webcast. Please check the UChicago homepage [8] in the days following Convocation for updates on photos, video, and other content from the weekend's events. Everyone is invited to congratulate this year’s graduates and share convocation news and photos on Twitter with the hashtag #UChiGrad12 [9].