Spring 2006 commencement will be held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center since both Stopher Gym and the Thibodaux Civic Center will be undergoing renovations. Diplomas will be issued to all graduates at one ceremony on May 20 at 4 p.m. Carroll Falcon, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said. However, Nicholls does not anticipate limiting the number of guests that graduates can invite.

“The fire marshal has approved for 5,000 to occupy the civic center,” Falcon said. “In the Thibodaux Civic Center, the most we’ve ever had at one ceremony was 2,500, and typically one ceremony is larger than the other depending on how the colleges fall.”

Falcon said that at last semester’s ceremonies, which were held in Stopher Gym, there were quite a few empty seats at the afternoon session and that more were in attendance than what is expected for this semester. Stopher Gym has a capacity of 2,500; the Thibodaux Civic Center holds about 3,700.

“We feel quite certain that it’ll be big enough that we’ll have no need to restrict or reserve seating,” he said.

Falcon said 4 p.m. was chosen as the commencement time because Vandebilt Catholic High School has the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center reserved until 12:30 p.m. Crews must then clean up and prepare for Nicholls’ commencement.

Stopher Gym could not be used because the contractor to repair the flooring could not guarantee that the job would be complete by May 20. The Thibodaux Civic Center also could not guarantee that its repairs would be done by then.

“Thibodaux High and E.D. White will also be strapped for where to hold their graduations because they were hoping to use our gym,” Falcon said. “We just don’t have much choice.”

Falcon said since the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center is larger than the Thibodaux Civic Center, the cost will be greater for Nicholls. However, he said having just one ceremony will make it more convenient, and there were not many other choices.

Locations of future commencements have not been determined.

“We haven’t planned beyond this semester,” Falcon said. “We will still consider coming back to campus or still having it at the Thibodaux Civic Center. We may consider the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center again in the future.”

The University Bookstore has been contacted so that the correct information will be printed on ordered invitations.