Countdown to CSUSM Commencement: May 17-18

Nearly 3,000 CSUSM students are approved to participate in the university’s 22nd annual commencement ceremonies later this month, making the Class of 2013 the largest in the school’s history. Four commencement ceremonies will take place on the university campus on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18, 2013. Notably, one in six undergraduates has earned academic honors (with a GPA of 3.5 or higher) and 41 percent are the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree. More than 18,000 total guests are expected to attend the four ceremonies held on Mangrum Track and Field at CSUSM. Each ceremony will last approximately two hours. Twitter users can follow CSUSM Commencement tweets posted by students, faculty and staff by searching for #csusm13.What:CSUSM hosts its 22nd annual commencement on campusWhen:Friday, May 17, 201310:30 a.m. -- College of Business Administration4:30 p.m. -- College of Education, Health and Human Services Saturday, May 18, 20139:30 a.m. -- College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences3:00 p.m. -- College of Science and MathematicsWhere:Mangrum Track and Field, California State University San Marcos333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road, San MarcosWho:Approximately 2,010 candidates are expected to participate in the ceremonies (2,914 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as teacher credential candidates are eligible).Traffic:Traffic congestion and backups can be anticipated in the area and surrounding streets, especially along South Twin Oaks Valley Road, the 78 Freeway, Barham Drive and Craven Road. University Police and the Sheriff’s Department will be directing and controlling traffic flow along South Twin Oaks. Motorists should expect traffic delays; graduates, families and friends are advised to plan accordingly to arrive on time. Broadcast Media: Any mention that can be made regarding expected traffic delays during broadcasts on May 17-18 would be greatly appreciated.Media:Contact: Christine Vaughan, 760-691-0505For easy access to the ceremony site, media are asked to park in Lot Z, which is located at South Twin Oaks Valley Road and Campus Marketplace.All four commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live over the Internet on the day of the event at www.csusm.edu/commencement. About California State University San MarcosCalifornia State University San Marcos combines the ambiance of a mid-sized, personal, modern campus with the unequaled value of the California State University. Since its founding in 1989, the campus has distinguished itself. Students benefit from the latest facilities and equipment, a superb faculty that enjoys teaching, and a rigorous academic program that prepares students for a successful life in and out of the workplace. A recent survey reported that our annual spending in the region was $161 million, generating a total impact of $307 million on the regional economy. Eighty-five percent of CSUSM’s alumni stay in the region. CSU San Marcos is located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the city of San Marcos. It is 15 miles east of the ocean; just 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.