PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
A Member of the Texas A&M University System
April 27, 2016
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Academic Deans, Division/Department Heads, Faculty and Staff
FROM:
Felecia M. Nave, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
RE:
Participation in Commencement May 13 & 14, 2016
Congratulations to our Spring 2016 degree completers! What a wonderful accomplishment to share with
family and friends. Commencement exercises for the degree candidates in the Graduate School are
scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Commencement exercises for undergraduate degree
candidates are scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. All commencement
exercises will be held in the William J. "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health & Physical Education Building (Baby
Dome). All processionals will begin promptly 15 minutes before the start of each ceremony therefore,
candidates are encouraged to arrive one hour early to ensure their place in line.
Commencement exercises for degree candidates in the Graduate School will be held on Friday, May 13,
2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the William J. "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health & Physical Education Building. Candidates are
advised to report at 5:00 p.m. for the 6:00 p.m. Commencement Convocation. The processional will begin
promptly at 5:45 p.m.
Commencement exercises for degree candidates in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences,
Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, School of Architecture, and the Roy G. Perry College of
Engineering will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the William J. "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health
& Physical Education Building. Candidates are advised to report at 8:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m.
Commencement Convocation. The processional will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m.
Commencement exercises for degree candidates in the College of Business, Whitlowe R. Green College
of Education, College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology, and the College of Nursing will be held on
Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in the William J. "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health & Physical Education
Building. Candidates are advised to report at Noon for the 1:00 p.m. Commencement Convocation. The
processional will begin promptly at 12:45 p.m.
Due to ongoing construction of the new Panther Stadium, parking will be a challenge. We ask all
candidates and guests to arrive early. Unfortunately, parking near the Baby Dome will not be possible. A
special drop off area for elderly family members and anyone with special needs will be near the tunnel
entrance of the Baby Dome. Please notify the on-site parking assistants and traffic police for permission
to utilize the “Special Needs” drop off area.
Faculty members are encouraged to participate in both ceremonies, however, faculty are expected to
participate in the ceremonies in which candidates in the faculty member’s school or college will be
awarded degrees. Faculty are to adorn full regalia and march in their school or college’s processional.
Faculty should arrive early to the north side of the Fieldhouse at 5:00 p.m. for the 6:00 p.m.
commencement exercise; 8:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. commencement exercise; and at Noon for the 1:00
p.m. commencement exercise. The processionals will begin promptly at 5:45pm, 8:45 a.m. and 12:45
p.m. respectively. Late arrivals may not be allowed to participate.
Office of Academic Affairs
P.O. Box 519; MS 1023
Prairie View, Texas 77446
Phone (936) 261-2175
Fax (936) 261-2176
Commencement
March 10, 2015
Page 2
The speaker for Saturday, May 14, 2016 will be Mayor Sylvester Turner. Sylvester graduated from the
University of Houston and Harvard Law School before joining the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski. He
later founded the Houston law firm of Barnes & Turner in 1983.
In 1988, Sylvester was elected to the Texas House of Representatives to serve the people of House
District 139 in Northwest Houston. He served until his election as mayor, working on the House
Appropriations Committee for 21 years and serving as Speaker Pro Tem for three terms. He was
appointed to several Budget Conference Committees to help balance the state’s budget and served on
the Legislative Budget Board.
Turner was elected Mayor of Houston on December 12, 2015, to serve a four year term that began
January 4, 2016.
xc:
Dr. George C. Wright
Dr. Lauretta Byars
Dr. Corey S. Bradford
Mr. Fred Washington
Dr. Michael McFrazier
Dr. James A. Wilson, Jr.
Mrs. Carol Campbell
Ms. Deborah Dungey
Dr. Cajetan Akujuobi
Dr. M. Clay Hooper
Mr. Jacolahn Dudley
Office of Academic Affairs
P.O. Box 519; MS 1023
Prairie View, Texas 77446
Phone (936) 261-2175
Fax (936) 261-2176