Although some seniors are sticking around Norman after finals for convocation ceremonies, others will walk before taking their exams.

Several colleges are holding their convocation ceremonies before or during finals week.

December grads in the Gaylord College, the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts and the College of Liberal Studies will participate in ceremonies Friday and Saturday, days before finals are scheduled to begin.

John Hockett, assistant dean of Gaylord College, said the ice storm isn’t the reason the school is holding its graduation on Friday, a week before other ceremonies that are scheduled for Dec. 20. He said convocation is a week early due to scheduling conflicts and student convenience.

“It just seems like the right thing to do,” Hockett said.

Spring ceremonies are normally tailored around the university graduation, but in winter semesters, the colleges are given more flexibility, Hockett said.

Other convocations are scheduled much later than last year, with dates only five or six days before Christmas, he said.

Out-of-state students and students leaving town for the holidays would have to stay in Norman much later, and others want to focus on finals without having to stress about a ceremony, Hockett said.

“I think our heads and hearts are in the right place,” he said.

Gaylord College has experienced a high turnout of confirmations from graduating seniors and their families.

Public relations senior Elyse Richardson said she is ready to graduate and is glad to have convocation early so her family can attend.

“My family is invading Norman on Thursday,” Richardson said. “I can enjoy my last few days without flipping out about finals.”

Richardson said she only has one paper and one final left in her college career, but the earlier convocation date would stress her out if she had more on her plate.

“It would be really hard to have five finals the next week when [my family] is here,” Richardson said.

She said a later convocation date would be more of an annoyance for students with a heavy load during finals week.

Other students have no preference on the matter. Communications senior Nick England said he has no plan to attend his convocation ceremony on Dec. 20.

He said his other experiences are what have made college such a memorable time in his life.

“There are more important things to me than walking across a stage,” he said.

In the liberal studies program, the average student is 38, with a full-time job and a family, said Trent Gabert, associate dean of the program. Many of them would have to rearrange their schedules to walk.

In a survey sent out to the students, the majority thought a date as late as Dec. 20 was too close to Christmas.

Nothing can prevent an ice storm, but the program has never had the intention of canceling the convocation in case of one, Gabert said.

“You just try to do the best you can,” he said.

Graduation Schedule

College of Arts and Sciences Convocation

10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2008

Lloyd Noble Center, 2900 S. Jenkins, Norman, OK.

The College will not issue tickets for Convocation. Candidates are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.

For additional information, contact Kristi Cain at (405) 325-2347 or via e-mail at kcain@ou.edu or check out the College of Arts and Sciences Web site at http://casweb.ou.edu/home/news/events/events_dec_convocation.htm.

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences Convocation

7:00 pm. Saturday, December 13, 2008

Meacham Auditorium, 900 Asp Ave., Norman, OK.

The College will not issue tickets for Convocation.

Candidates are asked to arrive at 6:00 p.m. for the event.

Doctoral candidates are hooded during the Convocation ceremony.

The College will be hosting a reception immediately following the Convocation ceremony in the Beaird Lounge OMU, 900 Asp Ave., Norman, OK.

Reception rickets are not required. Student and 3 guests may come without charge, and any additional guests will be charged $10.

For additional information, contact Mary Anne Hempe at (405) 325-9035 or via e-mail at mahempe@ou.edu

Aviation Undergraduate Programs

Graduation candidates will be recognized during the Michael F. Price College of Business Convocation listed below. For additional information for the Aviation Undergraduate Programs, contact Shelly Ainsworth at (405) 325-6033 or via e-mail at sainsworth@ou.edu

Michael F. Price College of Business Convocation

3 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2008

T. Howard McCasland Field House, 151 W. Brooks Street, Norman, OK.

The College will not issue tickets for Convocation

Candidates are asked to arrive at 2:30 p.m. at Price Hall.

Doctoral candidates are hooded during the Convocation ceremony.

The College will be hosting a reception immediately following the Convocation ceremony in Price Hall. Reception tickets are not required.

For additional information, contact Mary Stephens at(405) 325-0100 or via e-mail at marys@ou.edu

The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Convocation

10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2008

T. Howard McCasland Field House, 151 W. Brooks Street, Norman, OK.

The College will not be issuing tickets for this event.

Candidates are asked to arrive at 9:45 a.m.

Doctoral candidates are hooded during the Convocation ceremony.

Candidates are required to register for Convocation. Bachelor’s students obtain and submit the form with their academic advisor; graduate students obtain and submit the form with their departmental graduate programs assistant/officer.

The College will be hosting a reception immediately following the Convocation ceremony in the Foyer of the T. Howard McCasland Field House. No tickets are required.

For additional information, contact Barbi DeLong at (405) 325-2357 or via e-mail at bdelong@ou.edu or check out the College of Education Web site: http://education.ou.edu/convocation.

College of Engineering Reception and Recognition Ceremony

4:30 - 6:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2008

Beaird Lounge, Second floor, Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave., Norman, OK.

Graduates and their guests are invited to attend. Recognition ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m.

Reception tickets are not required. Candidates for graduation are asked to fill out an information card and return it to Williams Student Services Center, Felgar Hall 112.

Cap and gowns are not required. Business or business casual attire is appropriate.

Photographers will be on hand to take photos of graduation candidates and caps/gowns will be provided for the photos.

For additional information, contact Susy Calonkey at (405) 325-2621 or via e-mail at scalonkey@ou.edu.

Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts Convocation

2 p.m., Saturday, December 13, 2008

Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center, 560 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK.

The College will not be issuing tickets for this event.

Graduates are asked to arrive at 1:30 p.m. for the event.

For additional information, contact Debra Vaughn at (405) 325-0055 or via e-mail at dvaughn@ou.edu

Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication Convocation

4 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2008

Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St., Norman, OK.

The College will not issue tickets for this event.

Doctoral candidates are hooded during the Convocation ceremony.

Candidates are required to register for Convocation, and they can pick up the necessary form in Student Services Office located in Gaylord Hall Suite 2533.

The College will be hosting a reception prior to the Convocation ceremony at Gaylord Hall. Reception tickets are not required.

For additional information, contact Lesa Wilkerson at (405) 325-0918 or via e-mail at lesaw@ou.edu or visit the College Web site: www.ou.edu/gaylord.

School of International and Area Studies Convocation

5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2008

Robert S. Kerr Auditorium, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK.

Candidates are required to register for Convocation and tickets will be required for Convocation. Students may obtain their registration form and tickets from Tracy Holloway, Whitehand Hall, Room 314.

Candidates are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.

There will be a reception immediately following the Convocation ceremony in the OG&E Services Foyer, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Reception tickets are not required.

For additional information, contact Tracy Holloway at (405) 325-1429 or via e-mail at tracyholloway@ou.edu

. College of Liberal Studies Convocation

10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 13, 2008

Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St., Norman, OK.

Tickets will not be required for Convocation.

Candidates are asked to arrive at 10:00 a.m.

Students are required to register for Convocation.

The College mails a Convocation packet including registration information to all graduation candidates and the registration information will also be available on the Convocation Web site: www.ou.edu/cls/convocation.

For additional information, contact Sandy Gannon at 405-325-1246 or sgannon@ou.edu or Frank Rodriguez via email at frankr@ou.edu or visit the College’s Convocation Web site: www.ou.edu/cls/convocation