PHOTO CAPTIONS: Nearly 1,000 students will graduate at the end of Ferris State University's
Fall 2019 semester. Of that group, more than 500 will participate in the two commencement
ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 14 in Big Rapids.
Ferris State University is gearing up to host its Fall 2019 Big Rapids campus commencement
ceremonies. The university expects to graduate approximately 925 
students with degrees and certificates – including more than 500 scheduled to participate
during two sessions on Saturday, Dec. 14 in Jim Wink Arena of the Ewigleben Sports
Complex.
This fall’s commencement speaker is Tracy Nichols Busch, an associate professor of History in Humanities in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. Traditionally, the fall commencement ceremony speaker is the most recent recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award. Busch, the 2019 recipient of that award, is also the lead faculty for Ferris’ Museum of Sexist Objects, located in the Starr Building on the Big Rapids campus.
Fall commencement is comprised of two sessions. The morning ceremony begins at 10
a.m., as the Jim Wink Arena doors open at 9 a.m. Session one highlights graduates
of the colleges of Arts, Sciences and Education, Education and Human Services, and
Engineering 
Technology. The afternoon session starts at 1:30 p.m., with the doors open at 12:30
p.m. Session two’s honorees are the graduates of the colleges of Business and Health
Professions.
Graduating Ferris Statewide and Online students who participate in the Big Rapids ceremony will walk with their affiliated college.
Kendall College of Art and Design, the Michigan College of Optometry, College of Pharmacy and Doctorate in Community College Leadership annually honor graduates during spring ceremonies in May.
Graduates planning to participate in the Fall 2019 commencement receive seven tickets. The tickets are required for admission, with exceptions made for children 2 years old and younger. No extra tickets are distributed by the Commencement Office or the college commencement coordinators. Lost tickets will not be replaced.
For people who are interested in but unable to attend commencement, the ceremonies are streamed live. Watch the online stream by clicking the link. That live stream will be available courtesy of Ferris Cable 22.
Click special accommodations for more information for attendees with special needs.
Click ticket information to learn more about requirements to attend ceremonies in Big Rapids.
Click commencement for general information about the ceremonies.