THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 3, 1995 TAG: 9510030249
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CARIN PRESCOTT, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Virginia Wesleyan College may add a graduation ceremony in December for seniors who finish their requirements early and don't want to wait for their diplomas.
The proposal, which has been spearheaded by seniors, is expected to be endorsed by faculty on Friday.
But administrators have not yet decided whether to support it.
About 40 students who either completed their graduation requirements over the summer or expect to do so this semester would be eligible to graduate in December. Many don't want to wait until May for their ceremony or diploma.
``I've worked so hard to finish a semester early,'' senior Jen Holliman said. ``To graduate when I actually finish means more to me than waiting four months.''
Others fear they will have trouble getting jobs without a diploma. Or they just don't think they'll be able to return to campus in May for graduation.
``I want to graduate now, not in May,'' Brad Mazur said. ``I'm from New York, and I don't know if I want to come back to graduate.''
President William T. ``Billy'' Greer Jr. said the administration has not yet decided whether to hold a December graduation.
``We are looking carefully at this request; we try very hard to be sensitive to our students,'' he said.
The idea was endorsed by the faculty's Educational Programs Committee in September. History professor Dan Graf said he thinks the full faculty will approve it.
The proposal would also have to be approved by the college's Board of Trustees, Greer said.
Some, but not all, local colleges have graduation ceremonies in December. At Old Dominion University, the same number of students graduate in the winter as do in the summer, said Margaret Curry-Williams, associate dean of students.
``It's a full ceremony,'' she said. ``The two are exactly the same.''
But Norfolk State University doesn't have a winter graduation. ``We've always had just one,'' in May, said Jesse C. Lewis, vice president for academic affairs. ``It's accepted by faculty and students.'' by CNB