News 2016: UMass Dartmouth 2016 Commencement details

University celebrates first graduating class as Doctoral Research University

UMass Dartmouth's 2016 Commencement ceremonies will take place May 13-16. All of the ceremonies, except for the UMass School of Law, will be held in the University's Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater.

The UMass Dartmouth Class of 2016 is made up of 2,086 students, representing 214 Massachusetts communities, 22 states, and 26 countries. The top five communities of UMass Dartmouth's graduating class are New Bedford, Fall River, Dartmouth, Boston, Taunton, and Westport.

The University will celebrate its first graduating class since its ascension to Doctoral Research University earlier this year. University officials expect to award 32 PhDs and 11 DNPs (Doctor of Nursing Practice). The PhDs include a record number in educational leadership and policy studies, as well as degrees in nursing, biomedical engineering and technology, electrical engineering, and marine sciences and technology.

The full schedule is as follows:

Friday, May 13

10 a.m. - Charlton College of Business at the Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater

Commencement address: Interim Chancellor Peyton R. “Randy” Helm

Student speaker: Tayla Vincent (BS Accounting and Management) of East Providence, Rhode Island

2:30 p.m. - Colleges of Engineering, Nursing, and Visual and Performing Arts; School for Marine Science and Technology at the Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater

Commencement address and honorary degree: Roslyn Brock, national chair of the NAACP

Chancellor’s Medal: Dr. Brian Rothschild, founding dean of SMAST

Student speaker: Bethany Phillips (BS Nursing) of Rowley, Massachusetts

Saturday, May 14

10 a.m. - College of Arts and Sciences at the Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater

Commencement address and honorary degree: Dr. Robert Pinsky, three-term U.S. poet laureate

Student speaker: Elizabeth Janson (PhD Educational Leadership and Policy Studies) of Rehoboth, Massachusetts

Monday, May 16

10 a.m. - School of Law at the Main Auditorium on the Main Campus

Commencement address and honorary degree: Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Student speaker: Ryan Arsenault (JD), of Boston, Massachusetts

Reserved parking for media members will be available in lot 13 on the main campus. Media credentials, especially for photographers, must be visible throughout coverage of any of the four ceremonies. Each Commencement ceremony can be watched via live stream.

UMass Dartmouth was elevated to Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education following the release of its final 2015 classification in February. The only Bay State research university located south of Boston distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional economic, social, and cultural development. UMass Dartmouth's mandate to serve its community is realized through countless partnerships, programs, and other outreach efforts to engage the community, and apply its knowledge to help address local issues and empower others to facilitate change for all.