Approximately 2,195 diplomas will be distributed among graduates on both the Medford/Somerville campus and the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine's Grafton, Mass. campus to mark the University's 149th Commencement exercises.
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy alumnus and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis (F '82) will give the University-wide Commencement address.
This is the second year in which the new Commencement ceremony procedure has been employed. This new procedure, approved by the University administration last spring, was drawn up in response to complaints that the original Commencement exercises were too lengthy and unorganized.
The ceremony is now divided into two parts: Phase I, in which all of the University's schools are to participate, and Phase II which encompasses the presentation of diplomas to individual graduates and special activities for the different schools and departments.
Phase I will include the academic procession, the awarding of honorary degrees, Karamanlis' address, recognition of faculty emeriti, conferral of degree candidates by each school and the presentation of degrees by the University's Board of Trustees.
Phase I will take place on the academic quad between Bendetson and Ballou Halls.
Following these events will be Phase II, which will be held at various locations on campus.
In addition to his speech, Karamanlis will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University. Four other distinguished individuals will also receive honorary degrees: alumnus and Oscar-winning actor William Hurt (A '72) will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts, and National Medal of Science winner Ann M. Graybiel will receive an honorary doctor of science degree. Graybiel earned a Master's degree in biology as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at the University.
Receiving honorary doctor of humane letters degrees will be former Dartmouth College president James Freedman, and Mayor of Hiroshima, Japan, Tadatoshi Akiba. Akiba taught mathematics at the University from 1972 to 1986. (For more coverage on today's honorary degree recipients, please see page 13.)
Yesterday, alumnus and Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson (A '70, F '71) addressed graduates at the Fletcher School during their annual Class Day ceremonies.
Following University tradition, the winner of this year's Wendell Phillips Award, senior Eitan Hersh will be the only student to publicly speak during Commencement weekend. Hersh spoke yesterday at the Baccalaureate Ceremony organized by the Chaplain's Office.
Before his speech yesterday, Hersh, who described himself as "slightly nervous and humbled," said that he thinks many students are so busy during the school year that they do not spend enough time reflecting upon their college experience. "I found that to be the case for me, and took this opportunity [to compose a speech] to think about it. What are the goals of Tufts for its graduates?"
Hersh also said that education for citizenship is paramount for Tufts students. "It's a pretty obvious mantra for Tufts and I'm going to focus on what that means and the ways people should strive to be exemplary citizens," he said. "Obviously, I'm thinking a lot about what this means. I can't give words of wisdom to my class - I'm just one student who has the opportunity to speak on behalf of his class."
From the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering, approximately 1,122 diplomas will be awarded today. An estimated 982 of these diplomas will be in Arts and Sciences, with 789 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees, 128 Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees, and 65 Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degrees. In the School of Engineering, 140 B.S. degrees will be awarded.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will award an estimated 210 diplomas. Of these 210 diplomas, 106 are Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees, 25 are Master of Science (M.S.) degrees, 21 Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degrees, 27 Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degrees, six Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) degrees, 16 Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.), and nine Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.
The Graduate School of Engineering will award a total of 86 diplomas, including six Master of Engineering (M.E.) degrees, 57 M.S. degrees, 19 Master of Engineering Management degrees, and four Ph.D. degrees.
The Fletcher School will award an estimated 34 M.A. degrees, 160 Master of Law and Diplomacy (M.A.L.D.) degrees, 11 Ph.D. degrees, and six Master of Arts and Humanitarian Assistance (M.A.H.A.) degrees in conjunction with the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. The Fletcher School award ceremony is to take place on the Fletcher Field.
The Tufts School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences will hold their award ceremonies in the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center. An estimated 183 students will receive degrees from the School of Medicine, including 140 Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees, 15 Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degrees, five Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degrees, 19 M.P.H. degrees, and four Master of Science (M.S.) degrees.
The Sackler School will award a total of 36 degrees.
The School of Dental Medicine award ceremony will take place on the Carmichael Lawn. One hundred sixty-six Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degrees will be presented, as well as 39 post-graduate certificates.
The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy will award a total of 64 degrees during their ceremony at Somerville Theater in Davis Square. These degrees include seven M.S. and M.P.H. combined degrees, one M.S. and M.A.L.D. combined degree with the Fletcher School, six M.S. and combined Dietetic Internship degrees, 33 M.S. degrees, eight M.A. degrees, and nine Ph.D. degrees.
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine will hold its ceremony on its Grafton, Mass. campus this afternoon, and an estimated 78 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees will be presented.
