School spokesman Russ McKinney says Sorensen will speak Friday to graduates in business, journalism, nursing, pharmacy and public health. The school's Columbia campus will award more than 3,400 degrees over the weekend.

Sorensen announced plans to retire last December, citing the university's need for a president who could see a long-term fundraising campus through from start to finish. Since taking office in 2002, Sorensen has bolstered the school's push to develop a research campus.

Sorensen is scheduled to retire July 31, but school officials say he will remain in the position until the university finds his replacement.