tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post747014726406241408..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Big Thirsty on "Walking"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-12667438928079247792015-05-15T22:06:21.590-04:002015-05-15T22:06:21.590-04:00This is a good point. I'd forgotten that at my...This is a good point. I'd forgotten that at my joint, commencement is in the domain of The Office of Student Appeasement and Retention.Ogre Proctor Hephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428431147495287413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-27583112020923092942015-05-15T15:42:16.700-04:002015-05-15T15:42:16.700-04:00At my school, we used to have the "summer gra...At my school, we used to have the "summer graduate" walk in spring but now, all who walk have to be vetted as having met graduation requirements at the time of commencement. Summer grads now walk in Fall commencement (if they want to). Prof Panglosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217936415069624428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-41686279199821883362015-05-15T10:05:37.548-04:002015-05-15T10:05:37.548-04:00At my school, all of this became clearer when I le...At my school, all of this became clearer when I learned that commencement was actually run by Student Life, and they were the ones who determined which students were eligible to walk in the ceremony. The Registrar controls the diplomas; Student Life controls the commencement. <br /><br />We have plenty of students who need to take one more summer class after the May commencement, and as long as Study Abroad Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16817492033673568377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-50136831301619291972015-05-15T01:15:27.858-04:002015-05-15T01:15:27.858-04:00I think the option may have been available in some...I think the option may have been available in some cases in my undergrad days, but I don't know anybody who took it, and I don't think I would have. Non-graduating classmates certainly participated in informal, and maybe even formal, gatherings to mark the end of the 4-year journey we'd begun together, and I would have happily returned to celebrate with my freshman-year roommate, whoContingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-5008234539741988052015-05-15T01:04:25.193-04:002015-05-15T01:04:25.193-04:00Both my undergrad and my grad schools had extended...Both my undergrad and my grad schools had extended gaps between the time that exams finished and the time of graduation, so real diplomas were handed out on the spot (and transcripts were available). <br /><br />But there are, indeed, problems with this approach. I believe everybody in my undergrad class survived the week or so between the time they earned their degrees and the time they Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-34493085763719851092015-05-14T23:04:55.382-04:002015-05-14T23:04:55.382-04:00Our handbook clearly states that participating in ...Our handbook clearly states that participating in the ceremony has no bearing on their degree status. Failing grades recorded after the ceremony result in the student having to retake the course or "walking away" from the degree.<br /><br />If the work is completed, but not well, it may earn a passing grade, but not a good grade. If the student needed a good grade to reach the minimum Ogre Proctor Hephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428431147495287413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-87891097339864627052015-05-14T22:52:55.691-04:002015-05-14T22:52:55.691-04:00"it wouldn't be fair if they couldn't..."it wouldn't be fair if they couldn't celebrate with their friends."<br /><br />I think administration is mostly unswayed by assertions of 'unfairness' in these pleas, but they keep the class together because to not do so would result in fewer students taking part in the festivities, and those who do take part would manifest low group unity. Long term, that translates toOgre Proctor Hephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428431147495287413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-29496332769942450342015-05-14T22:15:56.985-04:002015-05-14T22:15:56.985-04:00I'm writing a capstone paper for a second mast...I'm writing a capstone paper for a second master's this summer. There is a May graduation and a December graduation. August graduates were invited to May. I wouldn't go. It's weird. I'll go in December if they let me, but wth? As my professor put it when I asked her if she thought I was being cynical "No, not at all. It IS weird. So what if you get hit by a bus inWombat of the Copierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14847183793780076028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-85241254689479356482015-05-14T21:42:12.516-04:002015-05-14T21:42:12.516-04:00This is precisely what I am afraid is going to hap...This is precisely what I am afraid is going to happen next. This student's thesis was never better than mediocre: the chances are good that it will now go from mediocre to shitty.Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-76940819773065964872015-05-14T17:31:17.630-04:002015-05-14T17:31:17.630-04:00Does walking create a contractual obligation to aw...Does walking create a contractual obligation to award passing grades and a degree as long as the remaining work is eventually completed, even if it is not very good? Or if the graduation ceremony is held before the final grades are announced, does that imply that there will be no failing grades or if there are, they don't matter because the students graduated regardless? I would love to see Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08103879727877816655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13524909930549569082015-05-14T14:52:47.222-04:002015-05-14T14:52:47.222-04:00Good idea! It has me so mad, I could do it with a ...Good idea! It has me so mad, I could do it with a steady hand.Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8213127355983087332015-05-14T13:10:44.259-04:002015-05-14T13:10:44.259-04:00That took a surprise turn for the sniffle-inducing...That took a surprise turn for the sniffle-inducing. Thanks, Ben.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403289509523215570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-29052102536632467092015-05-14T12:09:46.181-04:002015-05-14T12:09:46.181-04:00The master's program I graduated from last yea...The master's program I graduated from last year requires students to pass a comprehensive exam rather than write a thesis. Several students in my cohort failed one or more parts of the exam but still walked and were hooded during the department ceremony. I was surprised because we were told at the beginning of our program that we could not participate in the ceremony if we did not pass the Professor Old Schoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14558131297163848448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-69112264562154872162015-05-14T11:11:21.069-04:002015-05-14T11:11:21.069-04:00This is oblivious entitlement at a new low. I thin...This is oblivious entitlement at a new low. I think you should staple this student to the ratfink.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02906546940408742913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-53769041878328253422015-05-14T10:27:24.213-04:002015-05-14T10:27:24.213-04:00Our graduation happens before final grades are sub...Our graduation happens before final grades are submitted, so the ceremony is entirely speculative, up to and including academic honors. <br /><br />This is, of course, because universities cannot abide the liability and clean-up costs of having seniors hang around after their coursework is finished without anything better to do but reminisce ... <br /><br />One institution I worked at required Jonathan Dresnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04356112719229675996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-33326297709626851842015-05-14T09:01:22.461-04:002015-05-14T09:01:22.461-04:00I was thinking that 'fraud' is too strong,...I was thinking that 'fraud' is too strong, but 'farce' and 'hoax' don't quite fit either. 'Sham' ranges from pejorative to neutral but is more generous regarding intent, so I think I'll go with 'sham'.<br /><br />There is indeed plenty of sham at these events. The one I'm involved in is for several programs combined, each with unique Ogre Proctor Hephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428431147495287413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-30720610606672156852015-05-14T08:13:24.413-04:002015-05-14T08:13:24.413-04:00We let students walk in spring if they will finish...We let students walk in spring if they will finish in summer. ThT typically means they need to complete just one course or maybe tidy up the thesis. I don't know who makes the decision - student or advisor- if there is a disagreement about this. If the student's program plan extends into the next fall or spring semester, the student cannot walk early.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com