Spring Commencement Student Speaker Search
The Multicultural Graduate Network (MGN) and the Graduate Student Collaborative (GSC) are accepting applications from Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) candidates that are graduating in May or August 2009 to speak at the Friday Spring Commencement Ceremony. A Review Committee comprised of students from a variety of disciplines will evaluate the overall message and quality of the speech as well as the oratory skills of the applicant.
Eligibility and selection criteria
- Applicants must be Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) or Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) candidates who intend to graduate in May or August 2009.
- Applicants must be able to commit to attending the Spring Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the Kohl Center.
- Applicants must electronically submit the required information listed below to gsc@bascom.wisc.edu by 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
- The Review Committee will be comprised of at least one representative from each academic division and nominated by faculty or staff or by replying to a call for Review Committee members to the general graduate student body.
- The Review Committee will evaluate the overall message and quality of the speech as well as the oratory skills of the applicant.
Timeline
Friday, February 20 Call for applications and Review Committee members opens.
Monday, March 2 Selection of Review Committee.
Wednesday, March 11 Application materials due by 8:00 a.m. Application materials will then be sent electronically to
Review Committee members who will individually choose then rank their top seven applicants.
Friday, March 13 Individual interviews will be scheduled with the top applicants.
March 23 - 27 The top applicants will be interviewed and asked to recite their entire speech.
Monday, March 30 All applicants will be notified of the Review Committee’s decision. The name of the Friday Spring
Commencement Speaker will be submitted to University officials.
Friday, May 15 Spring Commencement Ceremony
Application Materials
The following two documents should be submitted in one email to gsc@bascom.wisc.edu as Microsoft Word or PDF documents by 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
Please follow the below guidelines exactly as stated:
Document 1
This document should be named “9876543210_Information.docx” or “9876543210_Information.pdf” with 9876543210 being your UW student identification number. Microsoft Word documents with the “.doc” or “.docx” extensions are both acceptable.
This document should include the following information in this order:
- UW student ID – ten digits; not eleven
- Name – First and Last as you desire to have listed in the Friday Spring Commencement Ceremony’s program
- Degree type - Ph.D., D.M.A., M.F.A. or Other
- Official department name (not program, degree, focus or specialty) - See http://www.wisc.edu/academics/departments.php for an official list of departments
- Expected graduation semester - Fall, spring or summer
- Expected graduation year
- Phone
Document 2
This document should be named “9876543210_Information.docx” or “9876543210_Information.pdf” with 9876543210 being your UW student identification number. Microsoft Word documents with the “.doc” or “.docx” extensions are both acceptable. If possible, please do not include any personally identifiable information in this document, such as your name.
This document should include the following information in this order:
- UW student ID – ten digits; not eleven
- Your three- to five-minute speech
- A list and explanation of any
relevant public speaking experience or training
The intent of having separate documents is to keep personally identifiable information from the Review Committee so as to have a “blind search process.” Please do not include your name, etc. in this document.
For additional information about the search process and the Review Committee, contact the Graduate Student Collaborative at gsc@bascom.wisc.edu.
For additional information on the Commencement Ceremony, go to www.secfac.wisc.edu/commence.