Every semester Arizona State University revs up the excitement to send off the future of the workforce, but this spring, there’s so much more electricity in the air, according to Melissa Werner, executive director of the Office of University Ceremonies.
“Commencement is really going to be alive during the week of ceremonies. The big 2022 installation has been out in front of Old Main since mid-April, and every day we see students in their caps and gowns, taking photos and getting ready to celebrate their achievements,” Werner said.
Nearly 18,400 ASU students will graduate this spring — a 3% increase from spring 2021 — including nearly 6,000 ASU Online students.
Of the overall student total, more than 12,700 are undergraduate and more than 5,000 are graduate students. About 9,552 of the new spring graduates are Arizona residents, a 2% increase. In addition, there’s an 8% increase in ASU Online degrees compared with spring 2021.
MORE: A look at some of ASU's top spring 2022 grads
Fun facts for this year
The oldest ASU Online graduate is 74 years old and is earning a master’s degree in sustainable tourism. The youngest online graduate is 18 and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
The oldest on-campus graduate is 74, earning a MTESOL (Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language), and the youngest on-campus graduate is 18, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.
The biggest group of graduates comes from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, followed by the W. P. Carey School of Business. The colleges with the largest growth in graduates include the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
A look at the ceremonies
“In addition to university Undergraduate Commencement, the W. P. Carey School, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering will be celebrating their graduates in Sun Devil Stadium. We have expanded the stage setup to allow for a more personal experience for graduates and added new 20- by 40-feet-wide screens to offer better views of graduates as they walk the stage,” Werner said.
This year’s graduation ceremonies run May 7–13. Graduate commencement is at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 9, at Desert Financial Arena, followed by undergraduate commencement at 7:30 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium.
Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth V. McGregor will be the speakers for undergraduate and graduate commencement, respectively. They will receive honorary degrees at those ceremonies as well.
Moeur Award recipients and aerospace engineering students Isabel Anchondo and Catarino Valle pose for graduation pictures on April 16 in front of the large 2022 sign at Old Main on the Tempe campus. The two started dating right after they graduated from a Peoria high school and are continuing on at ASU for their master
Convocation by academic unit
(All times Mountain Standard.)
2 p.m. Monday, May 9
Desert Financial Arena
2 p.m. Tuesday, May 10
ASU Gammage, Tempe campus
2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe campus
College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
9 a.m. Thursday, May 12
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe campus
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Various times (check link above), Wednesday, May 11
Student Pavilion, Tempe camus
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
9 a.m. Wednesday, May 11
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe campus
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe campus
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
9 a.m. Tuesday, May 10
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe campus
New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
2 p.m. Thursday, May 12
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe campus
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15
Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe campus
Thunderbird School of Global Management
4 p.m. Tuesday, May 10
Phoenix Symphony Hall
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10
Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions
2 p.m. Tuesday, May 10
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe campus
W. P. Carey School of Business
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe campus
More resources
• The latest information, including special-interest convocations and FAQ, at the ASU graduation page.
• Backgrounds, social media filters and more on the virtual graduation toolkit page.
• Instructional videos on how to dress for graduation.
Top photo: Ashley Dubuisson poses for graduation pictures on April 16 in front of Old Main in Tempe. She is earning a Master of Science in psychology this May. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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