Graduation format survey currently under review by committee

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

This year’s graduating seniors are currently waiting on plans from the Western Oregon University Commencement Committee.

On Jan. 7, the committee sent out a survey to students, inviting them to voice opinions on how this year’s graduation ceremony should be structured. Within the survey, students were given three graduation format options: graduation parade, graduation week or a graduation drive-thru. The option of a normal graduation ceremony was not offered, as the committee already decided against the idea. 

According to the survey results listed on wou.edu/graduation, of the 447 participants, 257 students listed graduation week as their first choice in their preferred mode of graduation. A drive-thru ceremony, with 227 votes, was the second preferred option and the graduation parade had 231 votes as the third option.

“I know that some people may not agree with me,” said senior molecular biology major Paige Gillespie, “but I think given the pandemic they had reasonable options that still benefit those that are graduating.”

Gillespie noted her disappointment that her family will not be able to see her graduate in person.

“I was only going to participate for my family, as I am the first person in my family to graduate from college,” said Gillespie. “But the sense of accomplishment is still there … I think I chose the one with the parade of sorts because I thought it would be the coolest.”

At this time, the committee is still deliberating the preferred method for the 2021 graduation ceremony, and plans to announce the graduation format on March 29.

The story will be updated as more information is released.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu