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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>TO:
University Faculty and Professional Library Staff<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>FROM: Joyce A.
Scott, Provost<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>RE:
December 2005 Commencement<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Several Colleagues have asked why we want to move December
Commencement to the Field House. This note is to share some of the
issues that prompted this decision. The Deans Council and I began
discussing a consolidated ceremony this past summer when we learned that there
would be fewer than 30 students involved in one of the undergraduate ceremonies
and relatively small numbers in the other two. We suggested a
single undergradute ceremony at that time. President McFarland was
concerned that we not inconvenience students and their families, so we went
forward with four ceremonies.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>My concern in all of this has been to generate a sense of
community among students and faculty--let's celebrate something important
together! We are so dispersed as an academic community--by instructional
sites, by modes of delivery, by schedules, and by types of students, for
example--that we are losing our sense of common purpose and
identity. Shortly, our marketing agency will conduct focus groups on
campus to help us resolve some of the "image" and
"identity" questions that affect so much our
recruiting. In the meantime, for December here's
the plan:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Undergraduate ceremony--10:00 AM in the Field
House, 320 students more or less seated on chairs on the arena floor,
organized by College with faculty marshalls for each.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Faculty will be seated on chairs in front of
students or behind them--question to go to the Deans Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hearing impaired will be seated in a special
section, right near the interpreter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Students will line up on one side prior
to the march, faculty on the other.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Graduate ceremony will be at 2:30 because we have
23 doctoral graduates, who will probably need a full two hours for lunch
and presentations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>We hope to offer the Reception for graduates and
families at the Founder's Lounge, much more suitable than under
a tent, in December.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Other information that may be of interest, what we hoped to achieve:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Manage the attendance without distributing
tickets, which is a perpetual source of discontent for participants and
their families.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Increase the number of seats available to family
and friends of the graduates.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Bring together all members of the December 2006
graduating class for one final celebration. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Bring together all members of the university
community for this important ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Increase the sense of collegiality among faculty
and students.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Provide live music in the form of a student brass
ensemble.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ensure that all graduates have the opportunity to
hear Jeana Yeager and witness President McFarland award
her the honorary doctorate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Whatever your
reservations, I hope you will join in this December Commencement with good
will and a positive attitude. Your cooperation will be very important in
making the event a memorable one for our students and their families. I
look forward to joining you for this occasion. Should you have questions,
please contact me. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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