Athens, Ga. – New University of Georgia students will have a couple of days to get settled in this fall before they are officially welcomed to campus at the annual Opening Convocation Sunday, Aug. 22, at 4 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.
This year’s convocation, which marks the beginning of academic activities for the 2004-2005 school year, will be held three days after the start of fall semester classes Aug. 19. Previously the event, which began in 1999 as a way to welcome new students and faculty to the university, has been held prior to the start of classes.
“We’ve found that in the past a lot of new students have been so busy moving into living quarters and finding their way around campus and getting ready for classes that they’ve overlooked the convocation,” said Arnett Mace, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This is an important and meaningful tradition, and we hope that holding it after classes have begun will encourage all new students to attend.”
The convocation will be highlighted by the Pillars of the Arch ceremony. Pillars of the Arch is a set of value statements, approved by the University Council in 2001, that define ethical responsibilities and expectations of UGA students and faculty. Several student leaders will conduct the ceremony, which includes having new students read the creed aloud and attach a pin shaped like the UGA Arch to their clothing.
UGA President Michael F. Adams will preside at the convocation and speak briefly about opportunities that await new students and faculty in the new year.
A video will be shown with greetings from Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison; Adam Sparks, president of the Student Government Association; Frankie Jones, president of the Graduate Student Association; Anthony Pace, president of the Residence Hall Association; Margaret Robinson, chair of the University Council Executive Committee; Bob Ratajczak, president of the Staff Council; and Dink NeSmith, president of the UGA Alumni Association.
The convocation will begin with a formal academic procession featuring faculty members wearing colorful academic regalia. Faculty members will sit in the lower level coliseum seats encircling students who will be seated on the coliseum floor. The event will end with the Derby Band, an ensemble of the Georgia Redcoat Band, playing UGA fight songs and leading the crowd to a reception outside the coliseum.