May 17, 2011 — The University of Virginia's 182nd Final Exercises will be held May 22. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on the Lawn and will last about 2 1/2 hours. The commencement speaker will be Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, and this will be the first Finals under the leadership of President Teresa A. Sullivan.

Media representatives who plan to cover Final Exercises should note the following:

•    Each member of the media must be credentialed, including all members of TV crews. To obtain credentials, e-mail Penney Catlett of Public Affairs by May 19.

•    Credentials may be picked up at the U.Va. Public Affairs Office, 400 Ray C. Hunt Drive in the Fontaine Research Park (see map) until 5 p.m. Friday or at Rotunda on Sunday morning.

•    While on Grounds, you must display your credentials.

•    Satellite trucks and vans will not be permitted on Central Grounds. Parking for cars will be available at several locations, including Scott Stadium and University Hall. Shuttle buses will take you to the Lawn. (More info here.)

•    TV cameras may film on the north side of the Rotunda (the public side) where graduates congregate. There will also be a camera platform in the media area on the south end of the Lawn in front of the stage. By the time the academic procession starts at 10 a.m., all TV cameras must be in the media area. Still photographers will not be allowed to walk with graduates during the procession.

•    The media area on the Lawn will accommodate only a few TV cameras. Requests will be handled on a space-available basis.

•    Highlights of Final Exercises, including scenes of the procession, speakers and cutaways of audience, will be satellite uplinked from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at these coordinates: Galaxy 17 Transponder 19C Slot A  9MHz; 91 degrees west; uplink frequency 6291.5000 V; downlink frequency 4066.5000 H. 9MHz Parameters: FEC 5/6, bit rate 10.167974, symbol 6.620.

Further information is available from the University's Finals website.