Looking Back to Graduations of Yesteryear

Graduation programs from throughout the decades.

Top row (from left): The inaugural UTD graduation ceremony in 1972; 1975; and 1984.

Bottom row (from left): 1990, 2000 and 2010.

First UT Dallas President Bryce Jordan hands a diploma to one of the first grads, Susan Seabury Mahlum MS’73.

Dr. Robert Rutford, second president of UT Dallas, speaks during a commencement ceremony in the Alexander Clark Center.

An undated photo of a commencement ceremony in the former Alexander Clark Center.

Graduates line up by name prior to a commencement ceremony.

Once upon a time, commencement ceremonies were held outside, near the Eugene McDermott Library. We’ve outgrown such a space since then.

A bird’s eye view of an outdoor graduation ceremony.