Faculty Council Chairwoman Sue Estroff said faculty attendance at Commencement exercises has declined for a number of reasons. "Over the years the event gradually became more like a circus instead of a dignified ceremony," Estroff said. "As student behavior became worse, faculty attendance eroded as well."
Estroff said that despite a dramatic improvement in student behavior at Commencement exercises the last few years, faculty members who stopped going haven't returned to witness the change.
History Professor Richard Pfaff said better behavior at graduation ceremonies is of great importance to ensuring future faculty involvement. "The first steps have been made in making Commencement exercises a dignified event," he said.
Estroff also said heat and uninteresting Commencement speakers have played a role in declining faculty attendance. "It's pretty hot in the sun with black wool robes on," she said. "And some of the Commencement speakers have been of less interest to the faculty."
The cost of regalia prevented many faculty members from attending, Estroff added. "We need to find a way to have regalia available for faculty," she said, noting that most regalia costs $300 to $400.
Waning faculty attendance at traditional events was discussed at Friday's Faculty Council meeting. At that meeting, Chancellor James Moeser stressed the importance of faculty attendance at both University Day events and Commencement exercises.
Convincing faculty to attend University Day might prove to be even more difficult this year, as ceremonies fall on a Saturday with a home football game scheduled for later in the day.
Estroff said Tuesday that the University Day committee considered moving festivities to Friday but ultimately decided to hold the events on Oct. 12, the University's birthday.
Despite the listed reasons for faculty absence, Estroff said faculty attendance is vital at such events. She said faculty members' presence at Commencement validates the graduation process. "With the concurrence of faculty members you graduate, faculty needs to be present to confer that in a ceremonial way."
