Herb. F. Reinhard Jr. also will be presented with an honorary doctorate and president-emeritus status.

Eight hundred undergraduate diplomas, 110 master's degrees and 42 doctorate of physical therapy diplomas will be presented at the ceremony. In the event of rain, commencement will be in Morrow Field House. Tickets are required.

An Army ROTC commission ceremony, inducting eight graduates into the U.S. Army as second lieutenants, will be 9 a.m. outside North Hall.

The SRU Alumni Association will host a pre-commencement reception at 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. in Russell Wright Alumni House.

Reinhard, who joined the university in 1979, served as president of what was Slippery Rock State College. He was instrumental in the formulation of Act 188, the state enabling legislation that formed the State System of Higher Education resulting in the creation of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and the other 13 state-owned universities across the commonwealth.

Reinhard instituted plans for naming Strain Behavioral Science, McKay Education, Swope Music and Spotts World Culture buildings; Boozel Dining, Dodds and Founders halls; McLachlan Student Heather Center and Bailey Library.

Reinhard also was president of Morehead State University and Frostburg State College. His career also took him to Auburn University, Florida State University, Indiana University, Western Carolina University, Florida A&M University.

Reinhard and his wife, Nancy, have four children.