UCSD CAMPUS NOTICE University of California, San Diego |
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SAN DIEGO: OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR March 11, 1998 ALL AT UCSD SUBJECT: Unified Campus Commencement Members of the UCSD Community: After consideration of the Task Force on Commencement's report, the referendum of our students, and consultation with members of the campus community, I am instituting a unified campus commencement for this year and next. In keeping with UCSD's tradition, we will also have individual college graduations during this two-year trial period. After the 1999 graduation, we will reconsider this issue and determine a permanent campus policy on graduation ceremonies. UCSD has a valued tradition of student affiliation with the undergraduate colleges. This tradition is essential to the students' college experience and is a core component of UCSD's identity as a university. For this reason, it is important to continue that tradition, especially at the highlight of a student's career - graduation. The undergraduate college and graduate ceremonies will continue during this interim period; our goal will be to have the central convocation complement the colleges' ceremonies. My decision to repeat the format we used last year is primarily due to the students' referendum in favor of this approach; the event's ability to reflect UCSD's stature; the sense of community and ceremony it engendered; and the visibility it fostered for the campus. This trial period will give us the comparative information required for an informed decision regarding what format to use in the future. I appreciate the flexibility this decision will require from the colleges, and the organizational teamwork that will be required of our staff. With such support, we can insure that graduation will continue to be a memorable experience for all members of the UCSD community. Robert C. Dynes Chancellor |