Indiana University of Pennsylvania will hold Commencement ceremonies for 2,335 graduates at ceremonies May 11 and 12 at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Students graduating in May and August are eligible to participate in the ceremonies.
There are three ceremonies for graduates: the graduate ceremony (for students receiving master's and doctoral degrees) on May 11 at 7:30 p.m.; undergraduate degree ceremonies are May 12 at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The 9:00 a.m. ceremony on May 12 will be for students from the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The 2:00 p.m. ceremony on May 12 will be for students from the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, the College of Education and Communications, the College of Fine Arts, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
By the Numbers
There are 2,367 invitations to students to receive degrees at the ceremonies: 1,815 bachelor's degrees, 461 master's degrees, 87 doctoral degrees, and four associate degrees. Of the bachelor's degree applicants, 906 qualify for Latin honors with a grade-point average of 3.25 or above. A total of 43 undergraduates with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages will be recognized at the ceremony.
The total number of graduates by college is: 379 from the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology; 200 from the College of Education and Communications; 54 from the College of Fine Arts; 710 from the College of Health and Human Services; 185 from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; 291 from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and 548 from the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Student Speakers
The student speaker for the graduate ceremony is Ashley Jones, of Duquesne, who will receive her master of fine arts degree at the ceremony. The daughter of Susan Jones, of Duquesne, and Jackie Jones, of Forest Hills, she is a graduate of Wilson Christian Academy and received her undergraduate degree from Central State University. She is the recipient of scholarship awards from the IUP Department of Art, was a member of the Graduate Art Association, participated in the “Quid Pro Quo” lecture series art exhibition, participated in the Graduate Scholars Forum, served on the Contemporary Feminist Art Practices Panel, participated in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education's Women's Consortium Conference, Fine Arts Department Colloquium Series, and the Visual Narrative of Colorism and Identity Among African-American Women lecture.
The student speaker for the undergraduate morning ceremony is Victoria Lynn Jakicic, a mathematics and psychology double major and French minor, from Pittsburgh. She is the daughter of Mary Ann Jakicic and is a 2014 graduate of Bethel Park High School.
She received the Creating Opportunities for Applied Mathematics Scholarship, the Terry Serafini Scholarship for Mathematics, the Ida Z. Arms Mathematics Scholarship, the Rebecca Stoudt Memorial Scholarship, the Renee Liscinsky Memorial Scholarship, and the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications Honorable Mention award. She was a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society and Kappa Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society; was a member and is past president of the Math Club; and was a member of the French Club and the Women in STEM club.
Bethany Balencic, of Indiana, who will receive her degree in early childhood-special education, will be the speaker for the afternoon ceremony. A 2014 graduate of Indiana Area Senior High School, she is the daughter of Jeffrey and Gina Balencic. She is a dean's list and provost scholar student and was a member of the IUP Ambassadors student-alumni association, Kappa Delta Pi education honor society, Pennsylvania State Education Association, and the Council for Exceptional Children. Balencic will also be honored as a 4.0 graduate.
IUP President Michael Driscoll will preside over the commencement ceremonies.
The recipient of the Distinguished University Professor award and the 2018 University Senate Award recipients also will be recognized. Again this year, all students participating in May commencement ceremonies will be recognized by name and congratulated on stage.
Tickets
Tickets are required for those attending each undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 12. Every person, including children over the age of two, must present a ticket, showing the correct event and time, to enter the Kovalchick Complex. It may not be possible to grant access to late arrivals due to venue capacity. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets are not required for those attending the graduate commencement ceremony on May 11, but it may not be possible to grant access to late arrivals due to venue capacity. Seating is also on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parking and Shuttle
With increased traffic on and around campus for commencement, visitors are asked to arrive early for each ceremony to allow for adequate travel time from parking areas to the Kovalchick Complex. Designated parking lots near the Kovalchick Complex and across the IUP campus will be used for commencement parking at no charge. The majority of parking will be available off of Wayne Avenue or Oakland Avenue. Parking attendants will direct drivers to available lots and parking spaces in the area.
Complimentary shuttle bus service will be available from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. on May 11 and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 12 to provide transportation from and to the public parking areas.
The Indigo Shuttle Service Route Shout application is available for downloading for real-time access to the shuttle schedules.
Parking and shuttle maps are available on the Commencement website.
Guests who require handicapped (ADA) accessible parking may park in the lot directly in front of the Kovalchick Complex or directly west of the facility; parking attendants on-site will direct drivers to the available spaces in the area. A disability parking placard is required to park in these areas; drivers are asked to have this placard displayed when arriving on campus.
For the safety of IUP guests and to maintain traffic flow, stopping and drop-off is prohibited along Pratt Drive. Limited accessibility drop-off is permitted in the drive-through circle directly in front of the Kovalchick Complex. Persons who have difficulty walking extended distances are asked to use the Indigo shuttle service available in each primary parking lot.
For questions about commencement parking, call the IUP Parking and Visitors Services office at 724-357-8748.
Recognition Events
Many departments, colleges, and programs are holding recognition events during commencement. A complete list is available on the IUP Commencement website.
Details about live webcasts of the commencement ceremonies are also available on the website.