Commencement tonight: UCA graduates increase 22 percent

Over 400 students will graduate from the University of Central Arkansas during Commencement exercises scheduled to take place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Farris Center on the UCA campus.

The 426 degrees that will be conferred include 35 doctorates, 159 master’s degrees, 225 bachelor’s degrees, six associate degrees and one specialist degree.

Those numbers represent a 22 percent increase over the 350 degrees awarded during commencement exercises in August 2006.

“UCA has the second-highest graduation rate among Arkansas public universities, and it’s one of only two public universities in the state with a graduation rate above 50 percent,” said UCA President Lu Hardin. “UCA’s graduation rate continues to improve, along with the number of doctoral and master’s degree programs UCA offers.”