August Grads Should Be Able to Walk in May

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I am glad somebody started this petition. This issue needs to be addressed.

Deeply saddened by the prospect that my classmates won't be able to walk with me at graduation because their theses won't be finished for a month or so.

I'm a 2014 grad but this was a concern for me and I'm sure many others. It basically excludes August grads because realistically, what new, entry-level employee has the vacation time or the funds to take time off to go back to Atlanta for a Monday graduation ceremony? Good job to those who initiated this petition!

I think it is abhorrent to not let August graduates walk with their cohorts in May. The option is available to the undergraduates - why not Rollins???!!

we want our friends to walk :)

I graduated in May 2014, but I was always incredibly bothered by this "rule". It does not affect me in any way if everyone walks in May-regardless of thesis submission. Rollins strives to be an inclusive community, and this provision is far removed from inclusivity. I strongly believe ALL of the cohort-thesis completed or not-should walk in May. If we cannot even model community within the walls of our school, how can we expect graduates to model it in the field?

I support this petition to graduate with my cohort mates who will finish in August!

I support this petition and would like to see my fellow classmates graduate with me.

they should walk!!

We have spent the past two years learning, growing and experiencing the Rollins education with our peers. They should not be banned from walking alongside us during graduation when we have shared such a transformational journey together. This important right of passage is truly a uniting experience: August grads must not be denied the right to walk alongside May grads and May grads must not be denied their companions from joining them!

While walking itself is not important to me, being with my classmates is. I also recognize the importance of this to many others and their families and am happy to support them.

Not being able to walk during the graduation ceremony is unreasonable, especially given the sense of community and a cohort RSPH tries to stress throughout our time here. Students have to sometimes delay graduation for reasons they couldn't anticipate months in advance and I'm sure they'd all be graduating on time if they could! While it's fair to distinguish those who finished their requirements and those who WILL, it makes more sense to hold off on diploma delivery for summer graduates than deny them the chance to graduate with their class given all their hard work over the last two years.

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Walking during graduation is simply a ceremony, and I don't believe that students graduating in August should be denied the opportunity to do that with their peers and friends. Students have different reasons for delaying their date of graduation. If there does need to be some form of distinction between those who are officially graduating, then RSPH should just put a hold on the delivery of diplomas to those graduating in August. Walking, however, should be completely independent of that. Expecting August-grads to come back a year later to be able to walk in the ceremony is unreasonable.

I wholeheartedly agree!

This is a ridiculous policy.

RSPH is an institution that is suppose to promote scholarship. I would like to know how this policy does not undermine the purpose of this academic institution. Making summer grad students pay for a summer term while taking away their opportunity to walk with their cohort only gives a poor impression of RSPH to students and associated friends and family. It's not good business for RSPH.

I don't understand this August policy at all. It doesn't make sense logistically for international students or really, any summer grad students. I also think it drastically breaks our sense of community at Rollins.

As a student graduating in August, I would like to have a chance to walk and have a graduation ceremony