Spring 2024 Convocation

March 11, 2024

Dear School of Engineering Graduate:

On behalf of the faculty and staff of the UNM School of Engineering, I congratulate you on your upcoming graduation. Receiving a degree in engineering or computer science is an especially amazing accomplishment that you and your family should be extremely proud of.

Because graduation is one of those milestone events in students’ lives, walking across a stage to receive a hard-earned degree is an important and emotional ritual. Although it is a time investment, I encourage you to participate in this time-honored tradition, which many graduates and their families cherish for decades to come.

This semester, there are two events to celebrate your commencement, and you are welcome to attend both, along with your family and friends.

The first is The University of New Mexico’s Spring 2024 Commencement Program, which will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 9 a.m. in University Arena (better known to you as “The Pit”) for all Class of 2024 students. UNM President Garnett S. Stokes will preside over the ceremony, which I expect to be well-attended by faculty, staff and students, all of whom will be in academic regalia (i.e., cap and gown). At this event, the president will officially confer your degree upon you. To participate, please fill out the student sign-up form at http://graduation.unm.edu. Other details about UNM Commencement are also available at this site.

The second event is the School of Engineering Spring 2024 Convocation. This will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in University Arena. The Convocation is the School’s own ceremony specifically to honor you, in the presence of your family and friends. The highlight of this event is the recognition of each School of Engineering graduate individually on stage, where you will be congratulated by your department faculty and staff, your dean and the Convocation’s honored guests. Graduate students will be met on the stage by their faculty thesis/dissertation advisor for the traditional “hooding” ceremony.

If you plan to attend the School of Engineering Convocation, please report to University Arena between 1:00 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. in order to receive your data information card and line up for the procession. Doors to the arena will not open for students or guests until 1:00 p.m. Students must enter the arena through the West doors only. All guests must enter only through the northeast doors.

Although cap and gown is the appropriate dress for graduates, “civilian” dress is also acceptable. Caps and gowns can be obtained from the UNM Bookstore. If you wish to send formal announcements to your family and friends, you can purchase them at the bookstore as well. The UNM Bookstore is having a graduation fair on March 20-22. I encourage you to attend to shop for your regalia, announcements, diploma frames, on-site graduation portraits, special offers and more.

Wheelchair access University Arena is available for graduates and guests. If you need special accommodations such as an interpreter for yourself or your guests or wheelchair access for yourself (the graduate), please contact April Davidson at (505) 277-1421 prior to May 1, 2024. Wheelchair access for guests is available on the main level at University Arena at the top of each section of seating on a first-come, first-serve basis.

I strongly encourage you to stay in touch with our School, your former professors and fellow Lobos and to keep us informed on the numerous future achievements in your careers. We will always take extraordinary pride in your accomplishments.

On behalf of the School of Engineering faculty and staff, I congratulate you once more and I hope to see you at both the UNM Spring 2024 Commencement Program and the School of Engineering Spring 2024 Convocation.

Sincerely,
Donna Riley
Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing