The 2012 Undergraduate Commencement will be split into two separate ceremonies on the Quad, Vice President for Public Affairs Lynn Bushnell announced Wednesday.

“By making the move to two ceremonies, the University is able to address many ongoing issues such as the length of the ceremony and the comfort of the graduates and their families,” Bushnell said in the announcement.

The Commencement Chair, Junior Class Cabinet, Student Leadership Council, and Student Government Association collaborated for a year before reaching a decision.

“Students made it clear throughout the process that it was important that the exercises remain on the Quadrangle; that each student’s name continue to be called individually as they walked across the stage; and that a keynote speaker remain in place for the ceremonies,” Bushnell said. “And while the clear preference was for a single ceremony, that possibility no longer exists given the length of time it would take to graduate the entire class — more than four hours.”

The first ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. and the second will be at 3 p.m. If weather becomes a factor, both ceremonies will move to the TD Bank Sports Center.