Numbers like these are just a small glimpse into the many hours of work Facilities Planning & Management employees put into making Commencement events possible. Across this year’s four events, over 12,000 students graduated with more than 54,000 people in attendance. Beyond the impressive numbers, FP&M employees worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran seamlessly. For instance, when high winds threatened the Camp Randall ceremony, quick-thinking staff rapidly cleared flags off the stage, all while expertly dodging cameras to avoid any “cameos” and keep the focus entirely on the graduates.
Grounds staff also assisted with setting up yearly photo-op figures, like placing the concrete base for Graduation Bucky to return to Bascom Hill post-Commencement and the yearly numbers on the base of Bascom. Additionally, Grounds came in early morning pre-Commencement to sweep parking lots.
Of course, pulling off such a massive operation requires serious fuel. The Campus Services team made sure to build in some well-deserved appreciation in the form of sweet treats. Staff powered up with 60 doughnuts on setup day and another 36 cookies during the post-Commencement feedback session.
FP&M units work hard each year to put together the foundations of such large events. Their work creates an environment of excitement and celebration that graduates and attendees remember forever.
Read below for a closer look into these metrics!
Grounds
- 4 floral displays set for ceremonies, 3 at Kohl Center, 1 at Camp Randall
- 6 palms
- 55 mums
- 50 geraniums
- 75+ ferns of varying sizes grown in the Grounds department greenhouses
- 10 grounds staff help for stage set ups
- 135 hours of Grounds staff work associated with the ceremonies themselves
- 2 Grounds staff assisted with taking the Bascom Commencement numbers up and down
- ~1500 tulips planted at the roundabout for photos
- ~3000 tulips planted in the W at the Humanities building for photos
Campus Services
- 4 events set up and torn down
- 2 Commencement event venues
- ~12,154 students graduated throughout the combined ceremonies
- ~54,658 attended throughout combined ceremonies
- 43,900 programs distributed
- 9,879 ceremonial pom poms distributed
- 18 Campus Services staff used for Commencement event activities
- 444.25 Campus Services labor hours for all events combined
- 261 hours of overtime worked by Campus Services employees
- 18 hours worked Friday and Saturday combined by Campus Services
- 94 signs and sign holders placed
- 17 flags steamed, twice
- 25 flag bearers trained
- 86 tables and 462 chairs delivered, set up and torn down for departmental Commencement events
- 17 days Lincoln ladder in service