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By Tisha Cannizzo

The way WSU confers degrees is undergoing some changes by adding a fall semester commencement and going to only individual college ceremonies in the spring.

The first-ever fall commencement for WSU will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, in Levitt Arena.

Approximately 700 students will be eligible to participate. WSU alumna Marni Vliet, president of the Kansas Health Foundation, will deliver the commencement address.

In the spring, degrees for graduate students will be conferred at 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, in Levitt Arena. Each of the six undergraduate colleges will have individual ceremonies Saturday, May 13. The schedule for undergraduate ceremonies is:

• 8:30 a.m. - liberal arts and sciences in Levitt Arena and engineering in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex;

• 11 a.m. - business in Levitt Arena and education in the complex;

• 2 p.m. - health professions in the complex and fine arts in Miller Concert Hall.

Faculty who wish to participate in the fall commencement should RSVP to the Office of University Communications, ext. 3045, by Dec. 3.

The processional will meet in the Minutemen Room of Levitt Arena at 2:15 p.m. A reception will be held prior to the Dec. 19 ceremony from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Rhatigan Student Center ballroom.

The decision to change the spring event was based on an interest to provide a better experience for students and their guests.

The length of the program last May caused many guests to leave as soon as their student walked across the stage.

Also, by having smaller ceremonies, colleges can personalize the event and keep it to a more desirable length.