Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy 2008 Commencement
Date & time
Location
The Charge to the Class will be delivered by Cecilia Munoz, senior vice president for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), 'the largest constituency-based Hispanic civil rights and advocacy group in the United States.' During Winter 2007, Cecilia taught a class at the Ford School and delivered a public lecture as the Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence.
Her duties at the NCLR include oversight of all legislative activities pertaining to the policy staff. For the better part of the past three decades she has been at the forefront of most major immigration policy battles in the US. In 2000 she was awarded the prestigious McArthur 'Genius' Fellowship by the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.
Prior to joining NCLR Munoz worked for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago as head of the Legalization Outreach Program for Catholic Charities, operating 12 field offices focused on aiding undocumented immigrants obtain legal US citizenship. She received her Masters degree from UC Berkeley in 1986 and her BA from the University of Michigan in 1984. Her parents immigrated to the US from La Paz, Bolivia and settled in Detroit, Michigan where Cecilia was born in 1962.
More about Cecilia Muñoz:
http://www.nclr.org/section/audience/media/media_guide/cecila_munoz
Eligibility
Ford School students receiving M.P.P., M.P.A., or Ph.D. degrees are eligible to participate. In addition, students enrolled in joint degree programs who wish to participate in graduation with their entering class may do so.
Graduation Event Logistics
Wednesday, April 16th
10am – 11:30am
Rackham Auditorium
If you plan to participate in the Ford School Commencement ceremony please plan to attend rehearsal. The class photo will also be taken during this time. Dress is casual. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations will be providing lunch.
Announcements
Standard graduation announcements may be purchased at Ulrich's or the Michigan Union Bookstore. Personalized announcements take up to two weeks to print.
Diplomas
Diplomas for Winter Term 2008 Masters graduates will be mailed by the end of July to the address you specified on your diploma application. Diplomas for Spring/Summer graduates will be mailed in early November.
Ph.D. graduates attending the Rackham Graduate Exercises will receive their diplomas at the program. Those who do not attend the Rackham Graduate Exercises may pick up their diplomas at the Diploma Department, Office of the Registrar, 1210 LS&A Building, 500 S. State Street during regular business hours the week prior to and the week after commencement. You must call (734) 763-9066 in advance. Diplomas not picked up during that time will be mailed to the address you specified on the diploma card.
Day of Commencement
Please be at the Rackham Auditorium by 5pm. If you are driving to campus please plan to be looking for a parking spot by 4:45pm. The Fletcher Street , Thayer Street and Church Street Parking Structures are the three closest structures.
Family and friends will be able to enter the Auditorium at 5pm.
Academic Attire
Graduates participating in any University of Michigan commencement ceremony must wear academic attire. Students are responsible for purchasing a robe, hat, tassel and academic hood. The color of the hood for public policy is teal. These items are available at the Michigan Union Bookstore or Michigan Book and Supply.
Accommodations
Accommodations in and around Ann Arbor for commencement weekend require reservations well in advance. For a list of hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts in the Ann Arbor vicinity please visit http://annarbor.org/accommodations/index.asp.
Parking
Parking is at a premium around campus and especially during commencement weekend. Please allow ample time to find parking.
Parking, without permits, is available in all university parking structures on commencement weekend. The UM parking structures on Thayer Street , Fletcher Street , Church Street and the Palmer Commons structure are closest to the Rackham Auditorium and provide handicapped parking. For more information on university parking please visit http://pts.umich.edu/
Paid parking is available in a number of public lots around town as well. The public parking structures closest to the Rackham Auditorium are the Maynard Street and the Liberty Square structures. For a map of Ann Arbor public parking structures please visit http://www.a2dda.org/about-the-dda/dda-projects-impacts/transportation/#walking
Questions
For more information or questions regarding Commencement please call the Office of Communications and Outreach at (734) 615-3893.
Important Contact Information:
University Commencement Hotline
www.umich.edu/~gradinfo(734) 647-6037Campus Information Center
www.umich.edu/~info(734) 763-4636Diploma and Transcript Office
www.ro.umich.edu(734) 763-9066