Morning showers could mean relocation of TSU Spring Commencement on May 5 to indoors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s Undergraduate Spring Commencement Ceremony will be moved to the Howard C. Gentry Complex if it rains Saturday, TSU officials say.

Currently, the May 5 commencement is scheduled for Hale Stadium. But the National Weather Service is predicting rain showers on Saturday. If commencement is moved, the ceremony will start at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. Gentry has a seating capacity of 8,000; guest overflow will be moved to Kean Hall. Hale, Gentry and Kean Hall will be set up for graduation. However, the weather will determine which venue is used. Families are asked to arrive approximately 45 minutes to an hour prior to the start of the ceremony at the selected location. Once capacity is reached, guests will be directed to Kean Hall. Shuttles will be available to assist with relocating.

Nearly 1,000 undergraduate students are expected to walk across the stage and should arrive at 7:30 a.m.

General Parking will remain the same and be available in parking lots throughout the campus. Shuttle services will be provided to transport guests from parking lots to the Gentry Complex. The following areas are for general parking:

Lot J – Engineering parking lot
Lot K – Power Plant parking lot
Lot L – Tiger Bell and 37th
Lot P – Queen Washington parking lot

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 8,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 25 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.