Tera Roberson
Staff Writer
In an effort to increase faculty, student and staff attendance and participation in general commencement ceremonies, this year's general commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m.
Wendy Adair, assistant vice chancellor of university relations and public affairs, said the idea is to get the entire university involved in the ceremony.
"We have never gotten great attendance by faculty or students at general commencement.
"Our plan is to get more students here because we really haven't gotten involvement from students," Adair said.
In the past, the general commencement ceremonies have been held on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
This year's change in days from Saturday to Friday has some students upset. They claim that they and their families are experiencing difficulties getting off work to attend the ceremony.
Most of the complaints have been similar in that students are upset that the commencement is at 10 a.m. on a Friday, rather than on a Saturday.
Jeri Yáñez, secretary in the office of the dean of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communication, said she has received some calls about the change in the day of the ceremony, but that most are generally about the inconvenience of the ceremony.
"The biggest gripe (from the students) is that some students' families may not be able to attend. Or some wouldn't be able to attend because they can't get off work," Yáñez said.
Drew Axtell, a B.A. candidate in History, said he would have preferred an evening ceremony compared to the morning ceremony. "It's inconvenient for my family to get off at 10 a.m. My sister is pulling strings at work to get off.
"Everyone can get off, but it was inconvenient, they had to rearrange their schedules," Axtell said.
Axtell also said the university should allow special consideration to time and date since most of the student population works during the week.
Adair said that it is the hope of the university that entire families can come together and celebrate the commencement of their loved ones.
"Other universities have done this, and families have been able to make this a very special day. We are hoping that we can have the same here," Adair said.
Margaret Garza, B.A. candidate in English, said she was upset when she found out that the ceremony was during the day on a Friday because her sisters would not be able to attend.
However, five of her six sisters have managed to get off work and will be attending the commencement ceremony. "All of my sisters work, so I didn't think that they would be able to take off. I will still have to take my kids out of school, but I don't think (my kids) will mind."
Michael Parker, B.S. candidate in Health Education, said a couple of his uncles will not be able to attend the graduation, and other relatives have had to shift around their schedules.
"It has been real inconvenient because (my family) has other things to do on Friday, and it is too early," said Parker.
One student, who called inquiring about commencement, told Adair that he was not going to bother ordering invitations because he knew that his family would not be able to attend on a Friday morning.
Linda Ridisi, manager of the University of Houston Bookstore said most of the calls that the store has received concerning graduation items have been about cap and gown orders.
She also added that since the ordering of detailed or embossed invitations is done through an 800-number there was really not a way for the store to track an increase or decrease in sales.
"We have gotten a lot of inquiries about caps and gowns. I really don't have a thermometer where I can look at that and tell."
The store stocks generic invitations, but Ridisi said they usually sell closer to the actual graduation date.
Adair said that as with any change there will be some confusion, but the intent here is to create a well attended ceremony. "It is a change, and anytime we change it is confusing for people. We are hoping that this will allow us the whole day to have and celebrate the commencement by all faculty and students."