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INSIDE IOWA STATE
May 3, 2002
Further changes likely for graduation day
by Anne Krapfl
Changes to Iowa State's undergraduate commencement that began at the
December 2001 ceremony could continue to evolve over the next few semesters.
In December, for the first time in years, students' names were read as they
walked across the Hilton stage and shook hands with President Gregory
Geoffroy. That change was well received by both students and college deans
and will continue this month and into the future.
Geoffroy said he hopes to return some of the former honor and special flavor
to the all-university event by recognizing graduating students individually
and improving the ceremony in other ways, such as adding a master of
ceremonies, using a larger musical ensemble and rerouting the academic
procession of stage dignitaries.
In recent years, fewer and fewer students (as few as 30 percent) attended
the university commencement, opting instead to attend their college ceremony
or reception, where they received individual recognition. At least one
college, Liberal Arts and Sciences, cancelled its college commencement
ceremony this spring to encourage students to attend the all-university
commencement.
Geoffroy said one proposal, if student numbers warrant it by then, is to
hold two commencement ceremonies in spring 2003, with students from several
colleges honored at each. By chance, when the undergraduate colleges are
divided alphabetically, the student numbers are nearly even, with
Agriculture, Business, Design and Education in one group, and Engineering,
Family and Consumer Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences in the second
group.
In the last few years, Iowa State has awarded an average of 2,575 bachelor's
degrees spring semester. For various reasons, not all graduates can or do
attend their commencement ceremony.
Alumna Abraham to be honored graduation weekend
Commencement schedule
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Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111
Published by: University Relations,
online@iastate.edu
Copyright © 1995-2001, Iowa State University. All rights reserved.
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