UWM Chancellor Mark Mone officially canceled the in-person graduation ceremony planned for May 17 via a campus-wide email last week.
“We know how profoundly disappointing this is…” Mone said. “These decisions are not made lightly, but with the best interests of our campus community and our students’ families and loved ones in mind…”
Alyssa Kubly, a graduating senior at UWM, created a Change.org petition to try to get UWM to postpone graduation rather than cancel it. The petition gained over 3,000 signatures in three days.
The original goal is to reach 5,000 signatures, but Kubly plans to keep it open until students get a response.
“It feels like such a huge accomplishment was ripped away from me without giving any other feasible option,” Kubly said. “I’m hurt, upset, and extremely disappointed that UWM hasn’t given us a postponed ceremony or any other option besides getting a refund on our cap and gown.”
Kubly and her mother were both set to cross the stage together. “It was so special to my family, my mom and I to have both of us graduate in the same ceremony,” Kubly said.
Right now, Kubly is trying to raise awareness about the cancellation. She hopes that the community will pressure the administration to do something.
Kubly reached out to the Dean of Students Office and the Office of the Chancellor but hasn’t received a response yet.
“The lack of an in-person ceremony does not change your significant accomplishment, and you deserve to celebrate that,” Mone said.
The email also said that officials are considering other options to celebrate. UWM administration will announce those details once they are known.
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Is it possiable to combine Spring ceremony with the December ceremony?