HAYS — Fort Hays State University will recognize approximately 1,100 graduates during its third annual fall commencement Friday (in person) and Saturday, Dec. 16-17 (virtual) ceremonies. 

Graduates who have chosen to participate in person will be honored in two ceremonies on Friday at Gross Memorial Coliseum (GMC). All graduates will be recognized in two virtual ceremonies Saturday. 

The ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. (central time) on Friday for undergraduate, master’s, and Ed.S. candidates in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics. 

The 11 a.m. ceremony will be the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Education for undergraduate, master’s, and Ed.S. candidates. 

Saturday’s virtual ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. for the Ed.S. and master’s students. The undergraduate virtual ceremony will follow at 11 a.m. 

All ceremonies – in-person and virtual – will be broadcast on the Tiger Media Network (www.youtube.com/@TigerMediaNetwork).  

Recordings of the virtual ceremonies will be archived on the TMN YouTube channel, with the link provided on the commencement website under the “Programs and Videos” tab. 

Doors to GMC will open at 8 a.m. Graduates will check in at Gate 2 or Gate 3. The graduates will enter the area that says, “Graduate Entrance Only,” and guests will be asked to enter the door labeled guest entrance (located at both gates).

Graduates and faculty will be seated on the main floor of Gross Coliseum. Guests will be seated in the balcony. The elevator is accessible by Gate 3. Seating for persons with mobility impairment and patrons in wheelchairs are available on the main floor; a commencement staff member will escort the individual(s) and one guest to the disability seating area on the GMC floor. There are no reservations for this area, and seating is limited. Drivers will find Gates 2 and 3, at the northwest and southwest corners, most convenient for dropping off passengers with disabilities. 

An ASL interpreter for those who are hearing impaired will be visible within the commencement livestream video feed. 

Graduates, families, and friends are encouraged to sign and write a message on the Kudoboard. Share photos and messages on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook by using the hashtag #tigergrad. 

The in-person commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live at www.youtube.com/@TigerMediaNetwork.  

The commencement schedule, maps, directions, links to accommodations in Hays, and general information can be found at www.fhsu.edu/commencement/.