The administration confirmed that the previous restrictive policy is formally rescinded and the traditional hooding process is restored for all graduates. This outcome reflects the impact of our collective documentation and persistent follow up with the Dean. I am now transitioning to ensure the updated policy guidelines are communicated to …
April 25, 2020
Final supporters
Dear Dr. Samuels and Student Affairs Administration,
Re: Academic Hooding Ceremony Policy
This letter shall serve as a formal request for a policy revision of the Academic Hooding Ceremony Policy with an effective date of August 1, 2018. Students representing the School of Graduate Studies and Research, School of Dentistry, and School of Medicine have previously expressed their concern regarding this policy without receiving formal acknowledgement of receipt or correspondence.
For nearly 25 years, Meharry Medical College allowed all families to participate in the hooding ceremony, regardless of their academic status. For years we observed the collective Meharry family celebrate during this monumental occasion. Departure from this ceremonial tradition for current and future graduates is misguided. We interpret the newly implemented hooding procedure, which allows family members who graduated from Meharry Medical College to participate in the hooding ceremony, as an exclusionary policy that unfairly advantages participation for some graduates and disadvantages others.
In accordance with Meharry Medical College’s Process of Policy Development, we, the undersigned, are requesting the Department of Student Affairs to submit a revision to the aforementioned policy to the Office of General Counsel to include participation of family members regardless of their academic achievements or affiliation with Meharry Medical College. We request an expedited policy review and formal announcement addressed to the student body prior to the deadline for submitting a hooding request which is March 27, 2020.
The entire Meharry family is looking forward to your reply and resolution to this ongoing concern. We would like to be notified through direct correspondence to this letter detailing the next steps your department will take to ensure the student’s concerns are addressed in a timely manner. Thank you for your attention and commitment to resolving this urgent matter.
In unity,
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 5, 2020
February 3, 2020
We are approaching 250 signatures and need that threshold to finalize our formal briefing for the administration. Please circulate this link to your cohorts immediately so we maintain momentum before I submit the documentation.
Reached 100 supporters
January 31, 2020
101 Comments
Rhonda Gillyard, extremely proud mother of Taneisha Gillyard, PhD SOGSR class of 2020. She has worked so hard to be the first in the family to achieve such an honorable degree and, as well as the others that worked so hard, to be part of the Meharry Alumni they should be afforded the highest levels of honor during graduation.
Taneisha Gillyard, Ph.D. SOGSR Class of 2020 “We are our ancestors wildest dreams”..Our parents, regardless of whether they were afforded the privilege of pursuing higher education, deserve the dignity of participating in such a proud moment for us and our families.
I would like for my parents to hood me, for the integral role they played in my professional development. My mother, in particular, as she's a physician herself.
As a parent, I believe it is important to not exclude parents from that premise from a once in a lifetime experience to hood their child. For all of the hard work my daughter put into becoming a Doctor, she deserves that moment as much as anyone else.
I am a first generation college student and my parents have worked and sacrificed so much for me to be here and it would be an honor for me if my parents could hood me. I’m imploring you to let them have that opportunity. Thanks so much whomever will read this. God bless you!
I’m Christopher Butler’s mom . I am in support of hooding my son for graduation
Hooding is an honor for the parents, keep it going
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The administration confirmed that the previous restrictive policy is formally rescinded and the traditional hooding process is restored for all graduates. This outcome reflects the impact of our collective documentation and persistent follow up with the Dean. I am now transitioning to ensure the updated policy guidelines are communicated to …
April 25, 2020
Final supporters
Dear Dr. Samuels and Student Affairs Administration,
Re: Academic Hooding Ceremony Policy
This letter shall serve as a formal request for a policy revision of the Academic Hooding Ceremony Policy with an effective date of August 1, 2018. Students representing the School of Graduate Studies and Research, School of Dentistry, and School of Medicine have previously expressed their concern regarding this policy without receiving formal acknowledgement of receipt or correspondence.
For nearly 25 years, Meharry Medical College allowed all families to participate in the hooding ceremony, regardless of their academic status. For years we observed the collective Meharry family celebrate during this monumental occasion. Departure from this ceremonial tradition for current and future graduates is misguided. We interpret the newly implemented hooding procedure, which allows family members who graduated from Meharry Medical College to participate in the hooding ceremony, as an exclusionary policy that unfairly advantages participation for some graduates and disadvantages others.
In accordance with Meharry Medical College’s Process of Policy Development, we, the undersigned, are requesting the Department of Student Affairs to submit a revision to the aforementioned policy to the Office of General Counsel to include participation of family members regardless of their academic achievements or affiliation with Meharry Medical College. We request an expedited policy review and formal announcement addressed to the student body prior to the deadline for submitting a hooding request which is March 27, 2020.
The entire Meharry family is looking forward to your reply and resolution to this ongoing concern. We would like to be notified through direct correspondence to this letter detailing the next steps your department will take to ensure the student’s concerns are addressed in a timely manner. Thank you for your attention and commitment to resolving this urgent matter.
In unity,
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 5, 2020
February 3, 2020
We are approaching 250 signatures and need that threshold to finalize our formal briefing for the administration. Please circulate this link to your cohorts immediately so we maintain momentum before I submit the documentation.
Reached 100 supporters
January 31, 2020
101 Comments
Please do not take this tradition away from the school! Not everyone has a doctor or dentist in their family, but every family should have the right to celebrate their newest addition.
Rhonda Gillyard, extremely proud mother of Taneisha Gillyard, PhD SOGSR class of 2020. She has worked so hard to be the first in the family to achieve such an honorable degree and, as well as the others that worked so hard, to be part of the Meharry Alumni they should be afforded the highest levels of honor during graduation.
Taneisha Gillyard, Ph.D. SOGSR Class of 2020 “We are our ancestors wildest dreams”..Our parents, regardless of whether they were afforded the privilege of pursuing higher education, deserve the dignity of participating in such a proud moment for us and our families.
I would like for my parents to hood me, for the integral role they played in my professional development. My mother, in particular, as she's a physician herself.
As a parent, I believe it is important to not exclude parents from that premise from a once in a lifetime experience to hood their child. For all of the hard work my daughter put into becoming a Doctor, she deserves that moment as much as anyone else.
I am a first generation college student and my parents have worked and sacrificed so much for me to be here and it would be an honor for me if my parents could hood me. I’m imploring you to let them have that opportunity. Thanks so much whomever will read this. God bless you!
I’m Christopher Butler’s mom . I am in support of hooding my son for graduation
Hooding is an honor for the parents, keep it going
Share this petition
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Please do not take this tradition away from the school! Not everyone has a doctor or dentist in their family, but every family should have the right to celebrate their newest addition.