CLEMSON More than 3,200 students are expected to receive degrees when Clemson University hosts its spring graduation ceremonies Friday at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Three ceremonies will be held that day: the first at 9:30 a.m. for the colleges of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, and Engineering and Science; the second at 2:30 p.m. for the colleges of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, and Health, Education and Human Development; and the last at 6:30 p.m. for the College of Business and Behavioral Science.

The academic ceremonies are the first ones that James P. Clements will preside over. Clements, who took office on Dec. 31, 2013, will also be installed as the 15th president of Clemson University throughout the day, giving a special and unique twist to the ceremonies, as university presidential inaugurations typically are standalone events.

Clements will deliver his inaugural address in three short segments at each of the graduation ceremonies Friday.

During the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, Clements will receive the Clemson University presidential chain, seal and robe.

At 2:30 p.m., Clements will receive a framed copy of the will of university founder Thomas Green Clemson.

In the 6:30 p.m. ceremony, he will be given the states Act of Acceptance.

Clements was named Clemson president this past November. He joined the Clemson family following four and a half years as president of West Virginia University. Previously, he was provost and vice president for academic affairs at Marylands Towson University, as well as Robert W. Deutsch Distinguished Professor and vice president for economic and community outreach.

Clements is a nationally recognized voice in higher education who currently serves as chairman-elect of the board of directors of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. He co-chairs APLUs Energy Forum; chairs the American Council on Educations Commission on Leadership and is a member of the Business Higher Education Forum that includes Fortune 500 CEOs and higher education executives. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Commerce Innovation Advisory Board.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science and Master of Science and Ph.D. in operations analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and a Master of Science in computer science from Johns Hopkins University. He has published or presented more than 75 papers on computer science, higher education, information technology, project management or strategic planning. He has been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than $15 million in grant funding.

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More than 3,200 Clemson students to receive degrees Friday