The University Commencement is traditionally a time for both looking back and looking ahead. The 242nd Commencement ceremony itself, along with the graduation exercises in Penn's 12 graduate and four undergraduate schools, honors the achievements of Penn's latest graduating class as well as the contributions Penn alums and others have made to society. Meanwhile, the various alumni/faculty exchanges that are the intellectual core of Alumni Weekend offer participants a chance to hear the latest thinking on matters of current interest and musings on the future direction of the University, the city and the world.

Along with these events are numerous recreational and social activities, plus the annual Ivy Day ceremony, which features a humorous speech and the formal unveiling of this year's Ivy Stone. A complete schedule of graduation ceremonies appears below. Selected Alumni Weekend activities are marked with * in the day-to-day listings; a complete schedule of all alumni and reunion activities is available on the Penn Omnibus Web site or from the Alumni Relations Office, 898-7811.

Sunday, May 17

• WHARTON UNDERGRAD & EVENING: 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Franklin Field, 33rd and Spruce streets. Students should assemble in the Franklin Field north parking lot at 8 a.m. Reception follows in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, 3620 Locust Walk.
• LAW: 10:30 a.m. at the Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets. Reception from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. at the Law School, entrance at 3401 Sansom St.
• MEDICINE: Keynote speakers: Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director, National Center for Human Genome Research, and Stanley B. Prusiner, M.D. (C'64, M'68), winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Medicine. 1 p.m. at the Philadelphia Marriott, 1201 Market St. Reception follows.
• NURSING: Keynote speaker: Claire M. Fagin, Ph.D., F.A.A.N., R.N., dean emeritus, School of Nursing. 1 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium, University Museum, 33rd and Spruce streets. Reception Monday, May 18, immediately following Commencement in the Nursing Education Building lobby, 420 Guardian Drive.
• WHARTON GRADUATE: Keynote speaker: Robert B. Goergen, chairman, Blyth Industries Inc. 1 to 3:30 p.m. in Franklin Field (rain location: the Palestra). Reception from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Lehman Brothers Quadrangle/Vance Hall, 37th and Spruce streets.
• BACCALAUREATE SERVICE: Andrea Mitchell (CW'67), chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News, is the keynote speaker at this year's interfaith service for the graduating senior class. 3 p.m. at the Palestra, 33rd Street below Walnut. Baccalaureate Concert at 2:30 p.m. precedes service.
• ENGINEERING DOCTORAL: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium, University Museum. Reception follows.
• WHARTON DOCTORAL: Ceremony and reception from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Upper Egypt Gallery and Chinese Rotunda, University Museum.
• COLLEGE: 7 to 9 p.m. in Franklin Field. Students should assemble in the Franklin Field north parking lot at 6 p.m.

  Monday, May 18

• 242nd COMMENCEMENT: Former president Jimmy Carter is this year's Commencement speaker. Procession begins at 8:45 a.m. in Superblock (39th and Locust Walk); Commencement program begins at 10:15 a.m. at Franklin Field, 33rd and Spruce streets; stands open at 9 a.m.
• CGS: Ceremony and reception for College of General Studies immediately following Commencement in Class of 1952 Plaza, across 36th St. from Logan Hall.
• ENGINEERING UNDERGRAD/MASTER'S: Immediately following Commencement at the Palestra. Reception follows on the west lawn of the Towne Building, 220 S. 33rd St.
• FELS CENTER OF GOVERNMENT: Immediately following Commencement in the Fels Center Garden, 3814 Walnut St. Reception follows.
• GRADUATE ARTS AND SCIENCES: 1 p.m. in Superblock, 39th Street and Locust Walk. Reception immediately follows in Class of 1920 Commons, 3800 Locust Walk.
• SOCIAL WORK: Keynote speaker: Sara Melendez, Ed.D., president, Independent Sector. 1 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium, University Museum. Reception follows in the Chinese Rotunda.
• FINE ARTS: Keynote speaker: Princeton University Professor of Architecture Robert Gutman. 1:15 p.m. in Furness Plaza, 220 S. 34th St. (rain location: B-1 Meyerson Hall). Picnic lunch immediately following Commencement precedes ceremony in Meyerson Hall Galleries.
• ANNENBERG: Keynote speaker: William D. Novelli, M.A. (ASC'64), president, National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids. 2 p.m. in Room 110, Annenberg School, 3620 Walnut St. Reception immediately follows in Annenberg School Forum.
• EDUCATION: Keynote speaker: Lisa D. Delpit, Ed.D., Benjamin E. Mays Chair of Urban Educational Excellence at Georgia State University. 2:30 p.m. at First District Plaza, 3801 Market St. Picnic lunch and reception precedes ceremony from noon to 2 p.m. in the GSE Plaza, 3700 Walnut St.
• VETERINARY MEDICINE: Keynote speaker: Mary Beth Leininger, D.V.M., immediate past president, American Veterinary Association. 2:30 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Reception follows.
• DENTAL MEDICINE: Keynote speaker: Wallace V. Mann Jr., D.M.D., professor of periodontology at the University of Louisville. 4 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium, University Museum. Reception follows in the Chinese Rotunda.