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,