DENTON (UNT), Texas -- More than 4,200 students are expected to receive degrees from the University of North Texas during the spring 2016 commencement ceremonies, which includes UNT's University-wide Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 13 (Friday) at Apogee Stadium, located at 1251 S. Bonnie Brae.

Steven Davidson, former U.S. Army sergeant and UNT alumnus, will deliver the keynote address at the University-wide Commencement Ceremony, where all 3,411 undergraduate students, 740 masters students and 119 doctoral students will be recognized together. The mass commencement ceremony is open to the entire Class of 2016.

A pre-commencement celebration, Jazz on the Hill, will be held at 7 a.m. May 13 on the grounds outside of Apogee Stadium. Live music from UNT jazz musicians and complimentary morning refreshments will be featured at the event. UNT's nine colleges and its one school will hold recognition ceremonies on Friday and Saturday that feature more traditional commencement elements in more intimate settings. Graduates are encouraged to attend both their college or school's College Recognition Ceremony and the University-wide Commencement.

The undergraduate College Recognition Ceremonies are scheduled across two days, May 13 –14, and will be held in two different venues, the UNT Coliseum, located at 600 Ave. D, and the Murchison Performing Arts Center, located at 2100 N. I-35E. At these events, bachelor's degree candidates will be called by name, have their photo taken and walk the stage to shake hands with their college's or school's administrators.

Bachelor's ceremonies held on May 13 (Friday) in the UNT Coliseum include:

• College of Visual Arts and Design; College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism; and the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism at 2 p.m.
• College of Business at 4:30 p.m.

Bachelor's ceremonies held on May 13 (Friday) in the Murchison Performing Arts Center include:

• College of Information at 2 p.m.
• College of Music at 4:30 p.m.

Bachelor's ceremonies held on May 14 (Saturday) in the UNT Coliseum include:

• College of Arts and Sciences first ceremony at 8 a.m. This includes Anthropology; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Communication Studies; Dance and Theatre; Economics; English; Geography and the Environment; History; Integrative Studies; and Social Sciences.
• College of Arts and Sciences second ceremony at 11 a.m. This includes International Studies; Mathematics; Media Arts; Philosophy and Religion; Physics; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; Spanish; Technical Communication; and World Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
• College of Public Affairs and Community Service at 2 p.m.
• College of Education at 5 p.m.
• College of Engineering at 8 p.m.

The Doctoral and Master's Convocation will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 13 (Friday) in the UNT Coliseum. Participants have their name called, walk the stage, shake hands with university administrators and have their photo taken. In addition to the traditional commencement elements, doctoral and MFA candidates will be hooded by their faculty mentors during this ceremony.

There is no limit to the number of guests that graduation candidates can invite to any of the ceremonies; however, guests are expected to remain for the duration of the ceremonies. If graduation ceremonies reach seating capacity, guests will be directed to nearby venues to watch live broadcasts of the ceremonies on television screens. Due to fire codes and safety issues, there will be no standing room for guests.

About UNT's University-wide Commencement

The University of North Texas' University-wide Commencement honors all students who graduate in the current academic year. The event, which will be full of grandeur, will feature a processional, speaker and degree conferral.