UA poll reveals student interest in a December commencement
Brian Lofton
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: News
Three decades ago, three graduation ceremonies were available for UA graduates to attend -- spring, summer and fall. Since the termination of the summer and fall ceremonies, the UA has hosted a single large ceremony in May. However, students have recently shared their desire to once again practice a post-fall semester graduation in December.
"There wasn't enough student interest, so it was canceled," said Bob McMath, UA chancellor of academic affairs. Not enough students were attending the December and summer graduations when they were last offered in the '70s, he said.
However, the Associated Student Government recently offered a survey that showed student interest is in favor of a December commencement. The response rate of the poll was 4,000 students, and 43 percent of the surveyors voted that a December graduation was most important regarding campus traditions. Other possible answers for this question were expanding the class gift (12.2 percent), expanding Rollin' with the Razorbacks (22.8 percent) and improving football pep rallies (21.7 percent).
The ASG responded to the results with unfortunate news, but also with a sense of hope.
"The ASG recognizes the importance of a December commencement ceremony to the students," according to the UA Student Poll press release. "While the ASG has been informed that it is highly unlikely that the university will add December commencement ceremonies, the ASG will continue to maintain an open dialogue with the administration about the issue."
The UA will not have a December commencement this year primarily because of funding.
A December graduation would cost the university about $50,000, McMath said.
"We lost $4.5 million of state money before this year," he said.
If, in the future, the UA does practice post-fall commencements, students may wonder how the ceremony would be funded.
"I want the students to know if we do have a December commencement, it may have to be paid for by the students," ASG President Carter Ford said.
"There wasn't enough student interest, so it was canceled," said Bob McMath, UA chancellor of academic affairs. Not enough students were attending the December and summer graduations when they were last offered in the '70s, he said.
However, the Associated Student Government recently offered a survey that showed student interest is in favor of a December commencement. The response rate of the poll was 4,000 students, and 43 percent of the surveyors voted that a December graduation was most important regarding campus traditions. Other possible answers for this question were expanding the class gift (12.2 percent), expanding Rollin' with the Razorbacks (22.8 percent) and improving football pep rallies (21.7 percent).
The ASG responded to the results with unfortunate news, but also with a sense of hope.
"The ASG recognizes the importance of a December commencement ceremony to the students," according to the UA Student Poll press release. "While the ASG has been informed that it is highly unlikely that the university will add December commencement ceremonies, the ASG will continue to maintain an open dialogue with the administration about the issue."
The UA will not have a December commencement this year primarily because of funding.
A December graduation would cost the university about $50,000, McMath said.
"We lost $4.5 million of state money before this year," he said.
If, in the future, the UA does practice post-fall commencements, students may wonder how the ceremony would be funded.
"I want the students to know if we do have a December commencement, it may have to be paid for by the students," ASG President Carter Ford said.
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