By Victoria Cruz
Contributor
Class of ‘15 graduates who received a fall commencement.
Prior to 2016, fall and summer graduates walked the stage in a fall commencement.
Students must now wait until the spring for the annual ceremony. This is a change that many current students remain unaware of.
“The last fall commencement was held in December 2016, which predates my time in the Registrar’s Office. It has been an annual ceremony since then,” Alicia Carroll of the Registrar’s Office said.
While degrees are still conferred at the end of fall, winter, spring and summer terms, students who do graduate in the off-season do not have a formal ceremony to celebrate the achievement until the following spring.
Diplomas are simply issued electronically at the conclusion of the term one to two weeks upon completion and physical degrees are mailed shortly after.
For many, the knowledge that the university used to do fall commencements came as a surprise.
“I was unaware that the university did fall graduation ceremonies,” Rylee Massoni a current graduate student said. “This change, however, will not affect me or my graduation plans personally. I do not feel students were adequately informed; I never recall hearing about it.”
Many students who finish in the fall or summer do not have the opportunity to experience a traditional celebration.
This is also due to addtional factors, including the majority of these students moving away or starting jobs soon after graduation.
This delay causes many logistical issues for students who wish to participate in the celebration months later in the spring.
This decision leaves certain students with an inability to celebrate their achievements proudly As a result, students end up taking a quiet exit.
A graduation ceremony serves as a milestone to celebrate years of hard work. Budget constraints, low attendance and various logistical challenges are likely to have played a role in this decision.
But an official statement regarding the ongoing matter has not been made public.
“I feel bad for students graduating in the fall if they must wait until spring to receive their degree,” Massoni said
Fall commencement is not likely to be reinstated anytime soon. While the university does provide necessary transcripts and diplomas to graduates for students finishing in any term, commencement remains a once a year event.
With graduation being a pivotal moment in the academic journey, the question remains: should the university revisit the idea of bringing back a fall commencement ceremony?
For students who work just as hard, meet every requirement and finish strong in December, the lack of recognition in real time feels like a lost tradition—one that may be worth reclaiming.
For any student who is approaching graduation, it is important to plan accordingly and know that while degrees are conferred year-round, commencement only happens once a year.
