West campus to host New College convocation

The Fletcher Library Lawn on ASU’s West campus will be the setting for a convocation ceremony honoring students completing their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. The event recognizing 473 New College graduates is set for 9 a.m., May 12.

“We are proud of the achievements of our new graduates and wish them well in their future endeavors,” said Elizabeth Langland, ASU vice provost and dean of New College, the core college on the West campus. “Convocation will be a wonderful opportunity for students to gather with friends and family members, as well as faculty and staff, and be recognized for reaching a significant milestone in their lives.”

New College offers bachelor’s degree programs in a wide range of fields including life sciences, history, psychology, English, applied computing, communication, interdisciplinary arts and performance, statistics and political science. Programs in the college are known for crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries and giving undergraduate students the opportunity to work side by side with professors on cutting-edge research projects. New College students are eligible to participate in ASU’s honors programs offered through Barrett, the Honors College, which maintains an active presence on the West campus.

New College also offers master’s degree programs in communication studies, interdisciplinary studies, psychology, and social justice and human rights.

A new addition to this semester’s convocation festivities is a lunch offered by ASU Catering Services, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Center Building’s La Sala Ballroom. The buffet-style lunch, featuring salad, entrees, fruits and vegetables, and desserts, is free for graduating students. For others, the cost is $15.99 ($8.99 for children under 10).

New College students are encouraged to participate in both commencement at ASU’s Tempe campus and convocation at the West campus. Commencement is the official graduation ceremony during which degrees are conferred. A convocation ceremony recognizes graduates who share a particular affiliation within the university – in this case, those graduating from New College programs. During convocation, students will process across the stage and receive congratulations from Langland and other New College faculty members.

The college offers academic programs within three divisions: Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies; Mathematical and Natural Sciences; and Social and Behavioral Sciences.