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Who is Commencement

really for?

A Student-Centered Approach

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Previous Commencement Structure

  • College ceremonies
    • College of Science
    • College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
    • College of Business & Economics and College of Education & Allied Studies
  • 850 - 1200 students per ceremony
  • University Stadium
    • ADA challenges
    • Ticket limits
    • Cost
    • Limited Parking
  • Length of ceremony

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Previous Commencement Structure

  • Ceremony Outcomes
    • Length of ceremony
    • Students leaving before all graduates crossed the stage
    • Arrival time
    • Excessive heat
      • Heat stroke, fainting
    • Ingress/Egress issues (ADA guests v. non ADA guests)
      • Fighting
    • Parking distance
    • Parent/family complaints

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Commencement 2022

  • New president
    • Pitched the idea to re-engineer commencement
    • Present to extended President’s cabinet
  • Guiding Principles
    • Be more student centered
    • Improve the guest experience
    • Be mindful of staffing
    • Create a stronger alumni/university connection
  • Student Survey
    • What is/are the most important element(s) of commencement that the university should consider in its planning of the ceremonies? [check all that apply]

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Commencement 2022

  • Survey Results (top 4)
    • Being able to cross the stage - 88.5%
    • Length of ceremony (short and sweet) - 77.3%
    • No ticket restrictions - 62.7%
    • Having your fellow graduates stay the whole length of the ceremony - 32.9%
  • Met with the Deans
    • Faculty input

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Commencement 2022

  • Proposed Ideas for Ceremonies
    • Smaller ceremonies that are program, department, etc., specific
      • Examples may include EDD, Psychology, Health Sciences, MBA, etc.
    • Ceremonies to be held around campus
      • Music Lawn, University Theatre, Amphitheatre, and Old Practice Soccer Field
    • Multiple ceremonies throughout the week/day
      • Take advantage of the whole week
      • Smaller ceremony = faster ceremony

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Commencement 2022

  • Proposed outcomes (partial list)
    • Happier Graduates
    • Happier Guests
    • Eliminate tickets
    • Graduates stay the whole ceremony
    • More faculty participation

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New Commencement Structure

  • Identified four ceremony locations

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  • Hosted 19 ceremonies
    • Thursday, May 12 - classes of 2020 and 2021
    • Friday, May 13 - 10am, 2:30pm, 3:00pm & 5:00pm
    • Saturday, May 14 - 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm & 5:00pm
    • Sunday, May 15 - 8:30am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, & 4:30pm

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Amphitheater

Athletic’s Field

Music Lawn

Theater

Grad Capacity

650

408

200

45

Guest Capacity

5632

4416

1324

471

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Results

  • Happier Graduates
    • Ceremonies were under an hour (with the exception of two)
    • Ceremony attendance ranged from 42 - 600
  • Happier Guests
    • Showed up within the half hour mark of the start of the ceremony
    • Parking was closer to the ceremony sites
    • Traffic flow was much easier in and out of campus
  • Happier Campus community (faculty and staff)
    • Shorter ceremonies!
  • 69% participation rate
    • Graduate rate 75%