11/21/24

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University will recognize approximately 1,014 graduates during its sixth annual fall commencement on Friday (in person) and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, for the virtual ceremonies. 

Graduates who have chosen to participate in person will be honored in two ceremonies on Friday at Gross Memorial Coliseum (GMC). All graduates will be recognized in two virtual ceremonies on Saturday. 

The ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. (central time) on Friday for undergraduate and master’s candidates in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics. 

The 11 a.m. ceremony will be the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Education for undergraduate, master’s, and Ed.S. candidates. 

Saturday’s virtual ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m. (CT) for the Ed.S. and master’s students. The undergraduate virtual ceremony will follow at 4 p.m. (CT).

All ceremonies – in-person and virtual – will be broadcast on the Tiger Media Network (https://www.youtube.com/@TigerMediaNetwork) 

Doors to GMC will open at 7:45 a.m. Graduates and guests will be asked to enter through Gates 2 and 3. The graduates will enter the area that says, “Graduate Entrance Only,” and guests will be asked to enter through the door labeled guest entrance (located at both gates). 

Students are asked to wear their regalia to GMC. Graduates may arrange to pick up their regalia before Dec. 13 at the Victor E. Apparel & Gift Co. in the Memorial Union by emailing victore_co@fhsu.edu.

Graduates and faculty will be seated on the main floor of the Gross Coliseum. Guests will be seated in the balcony. The elevator is accessible by Gate 3. Seating for guests with mobility impairment and patrons in wheelchairs is available on the main floor; a commencement staff member will escort the individual(s) and one guest to the disability seating area on the GMC floor. There are no reservations for this area, and seating is limited. Drivers will find Gates 2 and 3, at the northwest and northeast corners, most convenient for dropping off passengers with disabilities. 

Traffic in the GMC area is anticipated to be high during the transition periods between the commencement ceremonies. Parking lots adjacent to the coliseum typically fill up quickly, but parking is available on the main campus. In the event of inclement weather, unpaved lots near GMC will be closed, making it necessary to park on the main campus.

Graduates, families, and friends are encouraged to share photos and messages on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook using the hashtag #tigergrad. 

Photo backdrops and flower sales will be available between Gates 2 and 3 on the upper level of the Coliseum.

The in-person commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live at  https://www.youtube.com/@TigerMediaNetwork. 

The commencement schedule, maps, directions, links to accommodations in Hays, and general information can be found at www.fhsu.edu/commencement/. 

For additional news and information about Fort Hays State University, go to https://www.fhsu.edu/university-communications/