In one of his final acts as the university's 11th president, Worthen will oversee ceremonies for about 1,800 graduates in the Old Quad and address a crowd of about 15,000 people.

"It has been a pleasure to watch so many outstanding men and women complete their educations at Ball State and go to exciting careers in the professional world and graduate school," he said. "The university has a long history of graduating students who become leaders in many fields. I'm confident the class of 2,000 will continue that outstanding tradition."

Worthen will retire June 30. Blaine Brownell, director of the University of Memphis' Center for International Programs and Services, assumes his role as president July 1.

Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. at the Fine Arts Terrace with the awarding of 18 doctoral degrees and an honorary doctorate. Marsha J. Casey, a 1979 Ball State nursing graduate and president of St. Vincent Hospitals and Health Services, Inc., of Indianapolis, is the first Ball State nursing alumnus to receive an honorary doctorate.

For the first time, the main commencement ceremony will be broadcast live at on the World Wide Web at www.bsu.edu/commencement. University Relations in cooperation with University Computing Services and Video Information System is providing the service.

Following the main ceremony, graduates will attend their individual college programs, including:

• College of Applied Sciences and Technology in the Field Sports Building at 11:30 a.m.
• College of Architecture and Planning in Ball Gymnasium at 2 p.m.
• College of Business in Emens Auditorium at 11:30 a.m.
• College of Communication, Information, and Media in Ball Gymnasium at 11:30 a.m.
• College of Fine Arts in Emens Auditorium at 2 p.m.
• College of Sciences and Humanities in University Arena at 11:30 a.m.
• Teachers College in Irving Gymnasium at 11:30 a.m.

In the event of poor weather conditions, the main ceremony will be canceled. Individual college programs will then begin at 10 a.m. except for the College of Architecture and Planning and College of Fine Arts, which begin at their regularly scheduled times.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager