Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy 2012 Commencement

The Charge to the Class will be delivered by Carol Bellamy, Chair of the Global Partnership for Education Board of Directors.

About the speaker
From the speaker's bio: Carol Bellamy presently serves as the Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, whose goal is to help every child get a good education, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable. Prior to this, Ms. Bellamy served as President and CEO of World Learning, a private, non-profit organization promoting international understanding through education and development in over 70 countries. Bellamy previously served 10 years as Executive Director of UNICEF, the children's agency of the United Nations. She was also the first former volunteer to become Director of Peace Corps.

Ms. Bellamy has worked in the private sector at Bear, Stearns & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore. She spent 13 years as an elected public official, including five years in the New York State Senate. In 1978, she became the first woman to be elected to citywide office in New York City when she was elected President of the NYC Council, a position she held until 1985. Bellamy was named one of Forbes magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2004. In 2009, Bellamy was awarded the Légion d'Honneur by the Government of France. Bellamy also chairs the Board of Governors of the International Baccalaureate.


For more on Carol Bellamy, visit: http://www.globalpartnership.org/chair.


Graduation Events

Ford School Commencement Rehearsal (required, for all graduates)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Rackham Graduate School, Rackham Auditorium

Rackham Graduate Exercises
Friday, April 27, 2012
10:00 AM
Hill Auditorium

Ford School Graduation Open House
Friday, April 27, 2012
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Weill Hall

University Commencement
Saturday, April 28, 2012
10:00 AM
Michigan Stadium

Ford School Commencement
Saturday, April 28, 2012
5:00 PM – 6:45 PM
*Doors will open at 4:30 PM. Plenty of seating is available.


Information for Ford School graduates

Eligibility
Ford School students receiving BA, MPP, MPA, or PhD 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.

Graduates Guide to Commencement - http://www.umich.edu/~gradinfo/

Graduation Announcements
Standard announcements may be purchased at three local bookstores:

• Michigan Book & Supply (317 South State Street; 734-665-4990)
• Barnes and Noble @ University of Michigan (530 South State Street; 734-995-8877)
• Ulrich's Bookstore (549 East University Avenue; 734-662-3201)

Diplomas
To receive a diploma, students MUST apply to graduate through Wolverine Access.

Bachelor's and Master's degree recipients: Diplomas are mailed approximately 8-12 weeks after graduation to the address specified by the student when he/she applies to graduate online through Wolverine Access. Students who have a hold (financial or other) on their account will not receive a diploma until the hold has been resolved.

Doctoral degree recipients: Graduates attending the Rackham Graduate Exercises will receive their diplomas at the program. Those not attending University Graduate Exercises may pick up their diploma at the Registrar's Office, Diploma Office, 1210 LSA Building, 500 S. State Street, from Tuesday, April 24-Friday, April 27, and Tuesday, May 1-Friday, May 4, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Diplomas not picked up by May 4 will be mailed beginning May 8.

For more information about diplomas, or to order additional copies of a diploma, please visit www.umich.edu/~regoff and search for 'diploma'.

Academic Attire
Graduates participating in any University of Michigan commencement ceremony must wear academic attire. Masters and PhD students are responsible for purchasing a robe, cap, tassel, and academic hood. Undergraduate students are responsible for purchasing a robe, cap, and tassel. The color of the hood and tassel for public policy is teal/peacock.

Attire is available for purchase at the following locations:

• Michigan Book & Supply (317 South State Street; 734-665-4990)
• Barnes and Noble @ University of Michigan (530 South State Street; 734-995-8877)
• Ulrich's Bookstore (549 East University Avenue; 734-662-3201)
• Michiganensian Yearbook (420 Maynard Street; 734-418-4115 ext. 1247)

Note: Attire for PhD graduates is not available at Michiganensian Yearbook.

Ford School Commencement Rehearsal
Rehearsal is required for any student who plans to participate in the Ford School Commencement ceremony. The class photos will also be taken during this time. Dress is casual.

Day of Commencement
Graduating students: please be at Rackham Auditorium by 4:30 PM on April 28. If you are driving to campus please plan to be looking for a parking spot by 4:00 PM. The Fletcher Street, Thayer Street, Church Street, and Palmer Structures are the four closest parking structures. For locations of parking structures, visit: http://pts.umich.edu/maps/central_south.pdf.


Information for commencement guests

The doors will open at 4:30 PM for the Ford School Commencement Ceremony. Plenty of seating is available.

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/index.php/place_to_stay/.

Parking
Parking is at a premium around campus and especially during commencement weekend. Please allow ample time to find parking.

To attend the Ford School Open House, the Hill Street Parking Structure and the Thompson Street Parking Structure are closest to Weill Hall; both provide handicapped parking. There is also meter parking on State, Oakland, and Monroe streets. To attend the Ford School Commencement the U-M parking structures on Thayer Street, Fletcher Street, Church Street, and the Palmer Commons structure are closest to Rackham Auditorium, and provide handicapped parking. For more information on university parking please visit http://www.pts.umich.edu/.

Paid parking is available in a number of public lots around town as well. The public parking structures closest to 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.



Important U-M contact information

University Commencement Hotline: 734-647-6037
Campus Information Center: 734-764-4636