University Of North Alabama To Implement Commencement Tickets
Sep. 26, 2018
Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033
By Bryan Rachal
University Communications
FLORENCE, Ala.- UNA continues to graduate students at a record pace-which is exciting! However, due to recent renovations to Flowers Hall on the University of North Alabama campus, administrators will be implementing the use of graduation tickets for the first time in school history.
As in years past, the University will hold two ceremonies for December commencement, but now they're providing graduates with six tickets each. This move comes as a result of renovations to Flowers Hall, which will leave the arena with a thousand fewer seats than in previous years.
"UNA has the best interest of students at heart, and we carefully considered all available options," said Ron Patterson, UNA's chief enrollment officer. "We now have fewer seats and more graduates, so we're doing our best to accommodate graduates and families, while still considering public safety and abiding by fire codes," he said.
In a response to the limited seating, the University is providing other options as well. Patterson said UNA will livestream both commencement ceremonies in Norton Auditorium for additional guests that would like to watch it live.
Tickets are not required for Norton, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Officials said Norton Auditorium offers adequate seating to support additional family members and guests. Shuttles will be provided for interested participants.
Patterson said they hope extended family members and guests will consider this opportunity and join in on the celebratoryevent.
UNA is also encouraging graduates who will not need the six tickets to offer the extras to other graduates who might want more.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programsthrough the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business,Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. UNA Athletics, a renownedcollegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I's ASUN and Big South Conferences.The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin.