The University announced that future commencement ceremonies will take place on Mondays after deeming last spring’s Monday ceremonies a success.
“With 2010, we started new traditions,” University Director of Media Relations Julie Brown said. “We had 38,000 visitors and three times as many graduates participating in the main ceremony.”
University Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes said in a University press release that new and revitalized traditions benefited from being moved to Monday instead of taking place on the weekend following spring finals.
“We were pleased with the celebratory atmosphere at the 2010 commencement and plan to continue to expand the activities,” Holmes said. “We are excited to move the date to Monday in the future.”
The decision comes from the University’s leadership team, which includes Holmes, University President Richard Lariviere, Provost Jim Bean and other vice presidents within the University, Brown said.
Brown also acknowledged that the University is aware that changing spring commencement to Mondays in the future will cause some headaches for relatives of graduates, but said that communication at the beginning of the academic year is crucial for students and families to make the necessary arrangements.
ASUO President Amelie Rousseau disagreed with the permanent change the University’s leadership team has made.
“I think students and their families should’ve been consulted before the move became permanent,” she said. “There are lots of (campus) organizations that could’ve gotten feedback from students.”
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