BOZEMAN — Montana State University expects 1,811 students will receive degrees during MSU’s 128th commencement ceremonies, which are set for 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5.
MSU will confer degrees on candidates for graduation for the 2017-2018 academic year. This spring semester, there are expected to be 1,551 undergraduate students, 242 master’s students and 50 doctoral students receiving degrees, according to Tony Campeau, MSU registrar. There will also be 87 students from Gallatin College MSU who are expected to receive associate’s degrees or certificates. In addition, 162 candidates for undergraduate degrees and 11 candidates for associate’s degrees or certificates in the summer session will be eligible to participate in spring commencement ceremonies.
There will be two ceremonies, both held at MSU’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Students from the College of Arts and Architecture, Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, College of Letters and Science, Gallatin College MSU and students earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the Honors College will graduate at 9 a.m. with the processional beginning at 8:40 a.m. Bill Pullman, a renowned Hollywood actor who started his career at MSU, will receive an honorary doctorate in arts and will deliver the charge to the graduates at the morning ceremony.
Students from the College of Agriculture, College of Education, Health and Human Development, Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering and College of Nursing will graduate at 1:30 p.m. with the processional beginning at 1:10 p.m. Martin Goldsmith, a famed radio personality whose voice has graced Montana’s airwaves for decades, will receive an honorary doctorate in arts and will deliver the charge to the graduates at the afternoon ceremony.
This year’s ceremonies will also include a procession of international students carrying the flags of their native countries. There are expected to be 116 international students representing 31 countries graduating this spring, according to Deborah Chiolero, international student adviser with the Office of International Programs.
New this year, MSU will open its Miller Dining Hall, located between the north and south Hedges residence halls, for breakfast the day of commencement. The hall will be open from 7 a.m. to noon for families coming to one of the ceremonies and will offer various entrees, including omelets, pancakes and coffee.
Both the morning and afternoon ceremonies will be streamed live at montana.edu/commencement. More information about spring commencement, including information about parking on campus, is available at the same website.
