UAM Bookstore Prepares for Commencement
Caleb Burger
Staff Writer
Faculty planning to participate in the University of Arkansas-Monticello graduation ceremonies in May can place orders for rental regalia at the UAM Bookstore.
Due to the fact the supplier, Oak Hall Industries, needs at least six weeks to process the orders, any orders placed after the March 18 deadline may include additional fees for shipping and handling.
This sale gears itself primarily toward faculty. Though faculty can purchase their regalia, some choose to rent. According to Billy Hogue, UAM Bookstore manager, about 25 to 30 percent of faculty rent their regalia. The cost and number of faculty renting remains consistent throughout the past years. The complexity of design and the tailoring determine the price.
Hogue said they do look around for other suppliers but “are comfortable using Oak Hall … somebody we’ve used over the years.”
Hogue said the bookstore does not keep a supply of regalia for faculty due to the fact the colors on the hoods represent different schools and degrees. Since UAM consists of graduates and faculty with a variety of degrees and disciplines, the bookstore could not be certain on what regalia they would need each year.
According to Hogue, the rental regalia sales and orders for students help the UAM Bookstore business. During this time of year, sales in diploma frames and UAM memorabilia spike.
The UAM Bookstore offers student regalia at a later date from a different supplier. Students can keep their regalia, including the gown, cap and tassel, as a keepsake, but the bookstore requires masters graduates participating in commencement to rent or purchase their hoods.
According to Associate Registrar Carol Dolberry, roughly 400 students applied for one or more degrees for May 2011 as of March 15.
For the May 2010 commencement ceremony, of the students who applied for graduation, approximately 600 students were eligible to participate in the ceremony. However, only about 300 of the eligible students actually participated.
Commencement takes place May 13 in the Steelman Field House. Graduates of the Schools of Agriculture, Arts and Humanities, Business, Computer Information Systems and Education will begin their ceremony at 10 a.m. The ceremony for graduates of the Schools of Forestry, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Nursing, Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Division of General Studies will begin at 2 p.m.
Editor's Note: This article was edited March 15, 2011 to correct the error that stated the number of graduation applications decreased. Previously the numbers of eligible participants were mixed with numbers of applications. The correct information has been inserted thanks to clarification from Carol Dolberry.
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