Florida Gulf Coast University expects to graduate some 1,100 students during spring commencement exercises 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1 at Alico Arena – FGCU Main Campus.

The morning ceremony confers the College of Education, College of Health Professions and College of Professional Studies. Doors open for guests at 10 a.m.

The afternoon ceremony confers the College of Arts and Sciences, Lutgert College of Business and School of Engineering. Doors open for guests at 2:30 p.m.

Commencement tickets for May 1 are labeled for either a.m. ceremony or p.m. ceremony as appropriate. Guests will not be permitted to use the p.m. tickets for the a.m. ceremony and vice versa. Guests will be directed to the Eagles’ Landing overflow room in the housing commons area.

Tickets will be required of all guests. Participating graduates have been allocated tickets to provide to their guests. Members of the media will gain entry by presenting proper credentials.

Larry Hart, FGCU Board of Trustees vice chairman, delivers the morning commencement address. Hart was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees and later appointed by the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives to the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation. He is a member of the FGCU Foundation. Currently, he serves as the assistant tax collector of Lee County.

Robbie Roepstorff, FGCU Board of Trustees, delivers the afternoon commencement address. Roepstorff was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2010. She serves as president, director and co-founder of Edison National Bank and Bank of The Islands. In addition, she is a leader of many professional and community organizations that benefit the citizens of Southwest Florida.

Florida Gulf Coast University awards the title of Dean Emeritus to founding dean of the Lutgert College of Business and professor of management Richard Pegnetter in recognition of his exemplary support of business education at the university.

FGCU President Wilson G. Bradshaw confers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the University’s five academic colleges: Arts and Sciences, Education, Health Professions, Lutgert College of Business and Professional Studies. FGCU has conferred more than 10,000 degrees since fall 1997. The commencement ceremony lasts approximately two and one half hours.

Commencement ceremonies are held twice a year, in May and December. The May commencement is for graduating candidates who have completed or who plan to complete all degree requirements in the spring term. The December ceremony is for graduating candidates who have completed or who plan to complete all degree requirements in the summer or fall semesters.

The commencement ceremony will be viewable via webcast at the following link: www.fgcu.edu beginning at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.