Although the saying “graduation starts today” coined by Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander is well known on campus, many students wait until after they graduate to participate in commencement or walk before they finish their degree.
Only four campuses offer a winter graduation ceremony: Humboldt State University, Cal State Sacramento, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal State San Bernardino. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies Cecile Lindsay said that to her knowledge, CSULB has always had commencement ceremonies in the spring.
“This is generally the norm around the country, although there are some institutions that have a winter commencement,” Lindsay said. “Our commencement consists of nine ceremonies held across three days and the total cost is about $400,000.”
Lindsay said that cost would be a significant factor in starting a winter commencement ceremony, which is why most institutions have a single commencement ceremony. She said that in her eight-year tenure working at CSULB, a winter ceremony has not been considered.
“To mount a winter commencement would be a similar setup,” Lindsay said. “Most of the costs are fixed and so the cost to add a second set of commencements would be significant.”
Lindsay said that commencement ceremonies are currently funded through a student commencement fee of $45.
The CSUs that participate in a winter commencement ceremony offer two additional times during the year for students to walk.
Mary Kay Hartman, the events coordinator at Humboldt State University, said winter graduation ceremonies are new to the campus and started last winter. Christy Kattab, the program coordinator for alumni relations, said that Humboldt State will have another winter graduation ceremony this year.
According to Tess Simas, the commencement and special events coordinator at CSUS, 2,070 students walked in December and 3,601students walked in May.
Craig Koscho, a CSUS spokesman, said the university’s winter graduation ceremony has become increasingly popular.
“We have had a winter graduation ceremony for some time, and it always takes place in December,” Koscho said.
Jessica Todd, an administrative assistant at Cal Poly SLO, said that the ceremony after the spring semester is larger than the winter commencement ceremony.
“The ceremony in June is larger and takes place in our football field,” Todd said. “The winter ceremony usually takes place in a smaller, indoor facility.”
Sid Robinson, the CSUSB assistant vice president for public affairs, said that winter graduation ceremonies have become increasingly popular, with 800 to 1,000 students electing to walk in December.
“There are many students that want to graduate and attend a ceremony as soon as they’re done rather than wait an extra semester to walk,” Robinson said.
Dazelle Soriano, a freshman computer science major, said that CSULB should offer a winter commencement for those who are anxious to move forward.
“I think we should have a winter graduation ceremony so students don’t have to wait another semester to walk,” Soriano said.
