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23rd Annual Convocation Ceremony Marks Start of Academic Year at Western University

by Rodney Tanaka

July 30, 2001

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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.

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