- The Real Deal
Every single graduate receives their actual diploma (if they have completed their degree requirements) as they walk across stage. For logistical reasons, most universities issue fake diplomas on the day of graduation.
- Like a Pro
The stages in Hinkle are built in less than 24 hours. Professional stage hands and sound engineers from Clowes Memorial Hall do the set up and tear down for commencement each year.
- So You Think You Can Walk?
Michelle Jarvis, Associate Provost and a dance faculty member, helped to choreograph the processional on to Hinkle’s main floor.
- Crowded House
Hinkle Fieldhouse’s floor can seat up to 1,200 graduates, 80 musicians, and up to 65 VIP for the ceremony.
- Take a Seat
All the chairs set up on the main basketball floor and in the Efroymson Family Gym are zip tied together for safety, and each will contain a bottle of water and a program for the graduates and guests.
- “I Majored in Love. No, really.”
There is a member of the class of 2018 who majored in Love as part of the individualized major program.
- Kellies E. Murphy
This year’s graduating class has 963 participants, two of whom are named Kelly E. Murphy.
- All In the Family
There are more than 17 Butler faculty and staff members who have family members graduating (spouses, children, and in some cases multiple children).
- The Year of the Symphony Orchestra
Every other year, the Butler Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and the Wind Ensemble take turns performing at each Spring Commencement. This year will be BSO’s turn under the direction of Richard Auldon Clark.
- Butler Sing
Every year, the School of Music’s Chorale performs at all three Academic ceremonies: Convocation during Welcome Week, Winter Commencement, and Spring Commencement.
- Jaguars Helping Out
The IUPUI ROTC will serve as the color guard at this year’s ceremony.
- One in Three
Of the students receiving their graduate degrees at this year’s ceremony, 34% already hold a bachelor’s degree from Butler.
- How Do You Pronounce That?
More than 40 staff and student volunteers will help to make commencement a success this year. Two of the volunteers–Professors Scott Bridge and Ann Bilodeau–will serve as Announcers of Names by reading each graduate’s name as they walk across stage. Bridge and Bilodeau prepare by practicing for days from an excel spreadsheet with phonetic pronunciations. If they are uncertain, they have been known to contact the graduate to confirm how they’d like to be announced.
- Harry Potter-esque
The flags that are part of the Commencement processional are called Gonfalons and are modeled after heraldic banners used by city states and guilds in medieval Italy (and by the houses in the Harry Potter series).
- Go Dawgs! No Really, You Gotta Go!
Butler Baseball plays at 2:00 PM on Commencement day. Senior players will graduate first, then go suit up for their game.
