• Time/Location
• Driving Directions for Guests
• Prior to Ceremony
• During the Ceremony
• After the Ceremony
• Proper Attire
• Photographs
• Video
• Diplomas
• Transcripts
• Alumni Association
• Future Commencement Ceremonies

Time/Location

Fall 2009 Commencement will be held in the Stubblefield Center on Thursday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m.

You and your family are encouraged to take part in this important event.

• There is no ceremony rehearsal.

• The ceremony is a non-ticketed event.

• Shuttle buses will be be running from several parking lots around campus for your friends' and family's convenience.

Driving Directions for Guests

From I-40, West of Fort Smith

From Interstate I-40, take exit #325 (Roland, OK). Travel (East) on US-64E, approximately 5.1 miles. You will cross the Arkansas River bridge into Fort Smith, Arkansas. Continue straight on Garrison Ave., heading toward the church. Follow Garrison as it veers to the right of the church and merges with Rogers Ave. Follow Rogers Ave. approximately 3 miles to the intersection of Rogers and Waldron Ave. You will have just passed Central Mall on your left. Turn left onto Waldron. Travel to the stop light at the intersection of Kinkead and Grand Avenue. The Stubblefield Center will be on your right.

From I-40, East of Fort Smith

Take I-40 to the Van Buren / Fort Smith exit, Exit 7. Do not take the first I-540 Exit to Fayetteville. The correct exit is immediately past the trucking weigh station. Travel South/West across the Arkansas River bridge. Take the Exit 6/Grand Avenue exit. Turn right on Grand Avenue. At the first stop light, turn left. The Stubblefield Center is at the second stop light on the left.

From Hwy 71, South of Fort Smith

Travel North on Hwy 71 to I-540 (in Fort Smith). Go right (north) on I-540. Remain on I-540 until Exit 6. Take the Exit 6/Grand Avenue exit. Turn left on Grand Avenue. At the first stop light, turn left. The Stubblefield Center is at the second stop light on the left.

Prior to Ceremony

• Please arrive no later than 6:15. Graduates will enter Stubblefield on the west side (the side facing Waldron Rd). To get to the entrance door, walk down the sidewalk from the main entrance and look for the sign marked “Graduate Entrance”. Once inside, each college will be represented by a faculty marshal holding a sign with the college name. The graduate's reader card will indicate the college with which each graduate will line up.

• Do not forget to bring the reader card (dean of college reads on stage) that is available the week before commencement at the Records Office.

• Valuables, such as purses or cameras, should be left with family members or guests. Keys can be pinned to inside of your robe.

• Cell phones should be turned off.

During the Ceremony

• The Colleges will process in alphabetical order: Applied Science and Technology, Business, Education, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Languages and Communication, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The graduates will process through an honor guard of faculty.

• Diploma covers will be empty.

• Graduates are expected to remain for the entire ceremony. The ceremony should last approximately 2 hours.

After the Ceremony

• An Alumni tent with a gift for graduates will be outside the Stubblefield Center.

Proper Attire

Suggested attire for women

• dark dress or pants
• dark low heel or flat shoes

Suggested attire for men

• dark trousers, white shirts, tie is optional
• dark shoes and socks

Tassels are placed to the right side of the mortar board, and are switched to the left side after degrees are conferred.

Photographs

A photographer will take a photo of each graduate as they receive their diploma. After the ceremony, photography information will be available on LionsLink.

Video

The commencement ceremony will be video taped and aired on Cox Cable, channel 24.

Diplomas

Diplomas are printed approximately 30 days after the semester ends. After printing, students will receive a letter indicating when their diploma may be picked up or mailed.

Transcripts

To check when a degree has been posted on a transcript, students may access LionsLink and select:

• 'Academics' tab
• 'Student Service & Financial Aid' tab
• 'Student Records'
• 'Academic Transcript'

Click the following link for information on requesting transcripts: Transcripts

Alumni Association

The UA Fort Smith Alumni Association provides many services to UA Fort Smith alumni including networking opportunities, contact with potential employers, and reunion events. For more information, phone 1-800-532-9094 or (479) 788-7920 or e-mail at alumni@uafortsmith.edu.

Future Commencement Ceremonies

Two commencement ceremonies are held per year. One is held at the conclusion of the spring semester for spring and summer I graduates and one at the conclusion of the fall semester for summer II and fall graduates.