UTEP to Celebrate 129th Commencement Dec. 15

Details

Published on Friday, 07 December 2012 20:55

A record number of graduates and candidates, including an institutional best 51 doctoral graduates, are eligible to participate in the three winter Commencement ceremonies that will be conducted Dec. 15 at The University of Texas at El Paso’s Don Haskins Center.

The 2,350 students, which includes 438 summer graduates, marks an all-time high for a winter Commencement – the 129th Commencement at UTEP, said Richard Bartlett, the University’s graduation coordinator.

Thousands of proud family members and friends are expected to join them to celebrate their academic achievement at 9 a.m. for the College of Liberal Arts, 2 p.m. for the colleges of Education and Business Administration, and 7 p.m. for the School of Nursing and the colleges of Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences.

COMMENCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

It’s a Record

The 2,350 students are a new record for a winter commencement. The former record was last year’s 2,014. It continues a 3 to 5 percent increase in the number of graduates in winter and spring Commencements that the University has experienced each of the past five years, Bartlett said.

Doctoral Degrees

The 51 doctoral degrees are an unprecedented 50 percent increase from the 34 awarded last winter and put the University on track to award 100 doctoral degrees per year by 2014, said Benjamin C. Flores, Ph.D., dean of UTEP’s Graduate School.

“With this impressive record, UTEP moves closer to its goal of becoming the state’s next Tier One institution with a student demographic that is truly representative of the nation’s population in the 21^st century,” he said.

Computational Science

Among those doctoral graduates will be Anibal Sosa and Paula Andrea Gonzalez Parra, who will be the first to walk the stage as recipients of Ph.D. degrees in computational science conferred by UTEP. Kiran Kumar Katta was the first to earn the degree in August and is now working in California.

Computational Science is an interdisciplinary program where computers play a fundamental role in solving complex issues. The collaborative interdisciplinary program produces graduates skilled in techniques such as mathematical modeling, algorithmic design, computer simulation and scientific visualization.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The University will graduate its first cohort from the two-year Doctor of Physical Therapy program, which is part of the College of Health Sciences. The 21 graduates will enhance the region’s ability to provide rehabilitative services, said Kathleen A. Curtis, Ph.D., the college’s dean.

“UTEP is proud to contribute to our regional health care workforce with these outstanding graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program,” Curtis said. “As our community ages and experiences higher levels of chronic disease and disability, these services will be invaluable to ensure our population’s well-being, as well as contributing to our community’s economic growth and prosperity.”

Two years ago, the University awarded 14 DPT degrees through a unique doctoral bridge program as the college phased out its Master of Physical Therapy program.

International Students

The University will have 223 international students as graduates or candidates (58 awarded in summer, 165 pending for fall) eligible for the winter 2012 commencement. They are from the following 21 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China (People’s Republic), Colombia, Ghana, India, Kenya, South Korea, Libya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

Commencement Day and Coverage:

UTEP will stream the ceremonies live. To view, visit http://utepn.ws/utepgrads2012.

Media that want to live stream the ceremonies should contact Veronique Masterson, UTEP public information officer, by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10.

Media parking is available in lot R-1 (Brumbelow Building lot at the corner of Glory Road and Randolph Drive). Media should check-in with University Communications staff at the Don Haskins Center through the south tunnel.

Graduates will be available for media interviews 30 minutes before each ceremony in Memorial Gym (across from the Don Haskins Center) or following the ceremonies outside the Don Haskins Center. Interviews will not be allowed in the Don Haskins Center tunnel.

Attendees with disabilities may find it easier to enter the Haskins Center through its north and east entrances. Parking for people with disabilities will be available in the lots north of the building.

Families are asked to not bring items such as banners, balloons, noisemakers and strollers to the center.

For more suggestions and tips, please visit the University Commencement website at www.utep.edu/commencement.