PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
A Member of the Texas A&M University System
November 2, 2015
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, December 12, 2015
Congratulations to our Fall 2015 degree completers! What a wonderful accomplishment they can share
with their family and friends. Commencement exercises for the degree candidates in the Graduate School
will be Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the William J. "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health
& Physical Education Building. Candidates for the 9:00 a.m. Commencement Convocation are advised to
report at 8:00 a.m. as the processional will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m. Candidates for the 1:00 p.m.
Commencement Convocation are advised to report at 12:00 Noon as the processional will begin promptly
at 12:45 p.m.
Commencement exercises for the degree candidates in the Graduate School, School of Architecture,
College of Business, and Roy G. Perry College of Engineering will be held on Saturday, December 12,
2015 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 the degree candidates in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences,
Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, College of Juvenile
Justice and Psychology, and the College of Nursing will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 1:00
p.m. in the William J. "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health & Physical Education Building. Candidates are advised to
report at 12:00 Noon for the 1:00 p.m. Commencement Convocation. The processional will begin
promptly at 12:45 p.m.
It is asked that you arrive early as parking this Fall will be a challenge due to the construction of the new
PVAMU football stadium. Unfortunately, parking near the “Baby Dome” will not be possible. For elderly
family members and anyone with special needs, please notify the parking assistants and traffic police.
They will provide support by allowing cars to drop off family members near the tunnel entrance of the
“Baby Dome.” Therefore, it is very important to arrive early.
Faculty members are encouraged to participate in both ceremonies, but they 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 the processional, which will form on the north side of the
Fieldhouse at 8:00 a.m. on for the 9:00 a.m. commencement exercise and at 12:00 Noon for the 1:00
p.m. commencement exercise. The processionals will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Late
arrivals may not be allowed to participate!!
The speaker for both exercises will be Major General (Ret) Julius Parker. General Parker is a proud
alumni of Prairie View A&M University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Chemistry from
Prairie View A&M University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University
and is a graduate of the Harvard University Senior Executive Program.
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
General Parker graduated in 1955 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. His military
career is storied and upon his retirement he was the highest ranking African American Military Intelligence
Office in the history of the U.S. Army. After retiring from the military, General Parker was appointed the
Associate Vice President for Business Affairs and Vice President for Administrative Services at the
University of Arizona in Tucson. He held this position for 20 years.
Both General Parker and his wife, Dorothy June Henry Parker, are currently busy with their careers at
J.P. Industries Inc., a company they founded themselves.
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
Office of Academic Affairs
P.O. Box 519; MS 1023
Prairie View, Texas 77446
Phone (936) 261-2175
Fax (936) 261-2176