RIT Alters Plan for Commencement 2007 to Accommodate Expected Audience

To better accommodate the volume of guests anticipated for Commencement 2007, Rochester Institute of Technology has announced that Academic Convocation, the kickoff event to the university’s annual Commencement activities, has been moved to an outdoor venue on campus.

President Bill Clinton will serve as the speaker for Academic Convocation at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 25. That event was originally scheduled for RIT’s Gordon Field House and Activities Center, but the anticipated audience far exceeds the capacity of that facility. As a result, RIT President Albert Simone has authorized that the ceremony be moved to an outdoor location on campus. Open air seating is expected to accommodate nearly 13,000 people in parking lot “U” on the south side of campus.

Tickets are required for attendance to Academic Convocation and will be checked and collected at designated entry points. Each graduating RIT student will be eligible for an initial distribution of up to three general admission guest tickets. Depending on demand, additional tickets may be available to graduates after the initial distribution period. Tickets are not available to the general public.

Following Academic Convocation, each of RIT’s eight colleges hosts its own commencement ceremony. During the college ceremonies, each graduate is individually recognized and congratulated by his or her dean. Tickets are not required for these ceremonies nor are there any restrictions on the number of guests a graduate may have in attendance.

For more information and updates regarding RIT’s Commencement, visit the Web at www.rit.edu/commencement.