Arkansas State University - Newport

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May 2021

UPDATE: Spring 2021 Commencement

May 7, 2021

Dear ASUN Graduate, 

We wanted to share with you a few updates and final details for the Spring 2021 Commencement Ceremonies! The ceremonies will still be on May 14, 2021. Please note the times for the Applied Science and General Education ceremonies have changed to 2:00 pm; Nursing and Health Professions will still be held at 10:00 am. Please review the information below for additional details.  

Venue
Like previous years, we will conduct the commencement ceremony on the Newport campus. We are proud to announce the ceremonies will now take place indoors in the Center for the Arts.  Graduates (and up to three guests) will be seated in their family unit six feet apart from the next family unit in the Center for the Arts. The ceremony will be live streamed via Facebook Live.

Due to the limited space in the Center for the Arts venue and inability to accommodate an unlimited number of guests, each graduate will be able to request virtual tickets for up to three guests. (Note: The deadline to request tickets is May 7 at 4:30pm. After the deadline, seating in the main auditorium will not be guaranteed.) We understand that often there are many more guests that want to see their graduate walk across the stage in real life but in order to maintain social distancing, those guests who are not included in the ticket request, will be able to watch ceremony via Facebook.

Face Coverings
We will require that everyone wear a face covering entering, during, and exiting the Center for the Arts.

Graduate Check-In

Check-In for graduates will begin approximately one (1) hour before each ceremony. Graduates and their guests will enter the Center for the Arts from the parking lot adjacent to the building (side door). The check-in table will be located in the lobby of the Center for the Arts. Once graduates check-in, they will be escorted by ASUN staff to their pod. Graduates and guests are encouraged to remain seated in their pods before, during, and after the ceremony.

Ceremony Details
Because of the unique format of the commencement ceremony, we will be limiting the ceremonial part of the event. We are starting the ceremony at the proper time (i.e., 10:00 am Nursing and Health Professions and 2:00pm Applied Science and General Education) After a brief welcome and faculty senate speaker, we will begin individually recognizing our graduates. When their names are announced, graduates (with masks on) will cross the commencement stage to receive their diploma cover. After receiving the diploma cover, graduates will exit the stage to have their picture made by the photographer. Pictures will be made in a designated area just outside of the auditorium-still indoors and masks may be removed for the pictures but must be put back on when returning to the auditorium. Once graduates have their picture made, they will return to their seat.  With no student processional, and with fewer speakers, we expect that each ceremony will last no longer than one hour. At the conclusion of each ceremony, graduates and their guests will be dismissed by row by ASUN staff. Please remain seated until your row is dismissed.
 

Transfer Fair

We are proud to announce that ASUN will host a transfer fair in conjunction with the commencement ceremonies! Below is a list of Institutions who will be present at the transfer fair.

  • Arkansas State University
  • College of Health Professions - UAMS
  • Harding University
  • Henderson State University
  • Ouachita Baptist University
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  • University of Arkansas Online
  • UAMS College of Nursing
  • Williams Baptist College

Additionally, the ASUN Recruitment Team will have a tent set up as well to answer all questions about ASUN! We are excited to be able to offer this event to our graduates! As you exit the Center for the Arts, we encourage you to visit with the school representatives at the transfer fair!
 

Congratulations and we look forward to seeing you on May 14th!

Questions? Email graduation@asun.edu