Emory's 2013 Commencement procession.

This day is like no other on the Emory campus. It is a time when over 14,000 graduates, their families and friends converge first on the Quadrangle and then to other campus locations for diploma ceremonies and celebrations. The sea of chairs alone is staggering and to watch it all unfold, beginning at 4:30 a.m., even before birds are singing, is a privilege. As one crosses the Quad, there are already co-workers setting up broadcasting and sound gear and families, holding seats in those dark and early hours.

OIT was very much a part of this annual event, especially Classroom Technology Services who played a key role with the live broadcasting and streaming of multiple ceremonies. Brenda Rockswold (Academic Technology Services) served as lead engineer and architect of the digital/streaming broadcast and coordinated technical support for multiple ceremonies. Michael Fowler, Greg Hall, and Ryan Roberts (all of Academic Technology Services) focused their efforts on the various broadcast locations for the different ceremonies ensuring solid fiber connectivity, and audio and video clarity from each ceremony site.

Commencement is an impressive sight!

Jim Kruse and Jason Brewer (both of Academic Technology Services) assisted with the capture and streaming of the University ceremony as well as the Emory College of Arts and Sciences graduation on the Quad. Bruce Dille (Academic Technology Services) provided technical support for overflow viewing in White Hall for those who preferred an indoor setting. Additional events and broadcast locations included McDonough Field, Goizueta Business School, the School of Nursing, the Schwartz Center, the School of Public Health, and the School of Medicine. Of special note: 5 broadcasts were delivered in Hi Def this year!

Our Architects were also hard at work, provisioning a broader network of wireless connectivity with new Access Point placements and configuration to optimize bandwidth, signal strength, and usage. A sincere thank you to Chad Street and Norman Butler (Infrastructure) for a wireless mesh network that expanded our coverage on the Quad!

Sandra Smith (Enterprise Applications) and Dawn Francis-Chewning (Academic Technology Services) acted as ushers for Area 1, which is a critical support team for special guests, faculty seating, and for the processional/recessional of the School of Medicine, Goizueta Business School and the Candler School of Theology graduates.

The weather was perfect, the new screens on either side of the stage worked incredibly well to project the ceremonies up close for our guests. The enthusiasm was felt by all. Said President Wagner, “it was an extraordinary Commencement, one that I would be happy to repeat year after year!”

Here’s a link to see the 2013 Commencement ‘time lapse’ for set-up to finish!