KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Fall commencement ceremonies are set for this Saturday at Western Michigan University, with graduates from 34 countries participating in one of three programs beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Miller Auditorium.
Nearly 1,200 degrees will be handed out including 900 degrees at the bachelor’s level, more than 200 at the master’s level, 55 at the doctoral level, and six specialist degrees.
President Emeritus John M. Dunn will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the 9:00 a.m. ceremony. Dunn served as Western’s eighth president from 2007 to 2017, leading projects such as the establishment of the Seita Scholars Program, founding of the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and expansion of WMU’s national and international reputation in the area of sustainability.
Late Board of Trustees Vice Chair Shani J. Penn will receive a posthumous honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the noon ceremony. Penn, who passed away in August, was a graduate of Western Michigan.
Saturday’s schedule of ceremonies:
9:00 a.m.—College of Education and Human Development and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Noon— College of Health and Human Services, Haworth College of Business and Merze Tate College
3 p.m.— College of Arts and Sciences, College of Aviation and College of Fine Arts
In addition to the conferring of degrees and presentation of graduates, President Edward Montgomery and Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will speak. There will be vignettes on graduate success and a tribute to graduates.
All guests, including family members and children of any age, must have a ticket to enter Miller Auditorium. Seating in the auditorium is limited and all seats are general admission.
Guests without tickets can view the ceremony livestream or watch the ceremony on a large screen in Brown Hall.
More information is available on the WMU Commencement webpage.
