23rd Annual Convocation Ceremony Marks Start of Academic Year at Western University
More than 400 students will start a new academic year at Pomona’s Western
University of Health Sciences when the graduate institution of medical
sciences opens its 2001-2002 academic year with a Convocation ceremony at
8 a.m., Saturday, August 11, at Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium, Chaffey
High School, 1245 N. Euclid Avenue.
In order to accommodate an expected record-breaking attendance of 1,200
new students and their family members, this Convocation will be held in
the 1,500-seat Spring Auditorium – the first time Western University has
held the ceremony off campus.
Students entering the University’s pharmacy, osteopathic physician, physician assistant and graduate nursing programs will
join President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, and deans from the University’s five
colleges in officially opening the new school year.
In addition, Nancy Terrebonne, president of Western University’s Parent
Support Group, will speak, as will Warren Lawless, LHD (Hon.), chairman of
the institutions’ board of trustees, and George Charney, DO, FAOCA,
FAODME, executive vice president of academic affairs/chief academic
officer.
The University’s annual White Coat Ceremonies – during which the incoming
health professions students don their white lab coats for the first time –
will take place at 11 a.m. First-year students in Western University’s
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) will remain at
Chaffey High School for their ceremony, while the students entering the
University’s colleges of pharmacy and allied health professions will
return to the Pomona campus for their ceremonies.
College of Allied Health Professions students will don their white coats
in the Health Professions Center’s Prem Reddy Hall, while students
beginning their studies at the College of Pharmacy will have their
ceremony in the Health Sciences Center’s Amphitheater.
All students, their family members and Western University’s faculty, staff
and administration will then meet in the University’s Founders Park for a
Parents’ Day Barbecue.
First-of-the-year activities continue at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday,
August 13 and 14, with the annual Ice Cream Socials at the Upland home of
University President and Mrs. Philip Pumerantz. Begun with the charter
class of 36 COMP students in 1978, the Ice Cream Socials continue to bring
new students the opportunity to mingle informally with University
employees, meeting faculty members and eating ice cream served by
University executives, staff and faculty.
For more information, contact the University’s Department of Special
Events at (909) 469-5365.