UNLV will hold a mid-year commencement for the first time in December to accommodate the increasing number of students who wish to participate in graduation exercises.

The single ceremony, in which all of the academic colleges will participate, will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 19 in the Earl Wilson Baseball Stadium.

"For several years the University Commencement Committee has informally discussed the idea of initiating a mid-year commencement in order to accommodate the growing number of students who complete their degree programs in August or December," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "In recent months requests from students to establish such a ceremony have increased, and so we are moving ahead this year with our plans to do so."

Some 1,700 students who complete their degrees in August or December this year are eligible to participate in the ceremony; officials estimate that 600-700 graduates will walk across the stage in December.

Harter said the December commencement should be considerably shorter than those in May, and it will also streamline the two upcoming spring ceremonies by accommodating a number of graduates at the mid-year ceremony.

Because the December event is scheduled to be held outdoors, participants and their families are asked to dress appropriately for the temperature that day. In case of inclement weather, a backup location will be announced.

A competition for a student speaker for the December commencement will be held, as it was in May.

The ceremony is open to the public. No tickets are required. A reception for participants and their families is also being planned, although its location has not yet been determined.

A commencement hotline, which can be reached by dialing 895-3229, will be set up next week to offer updated information on the ceremony. Callers may leave messages on the hotline with any questions they might have, and student government volunteers will return their calls.