Keeping tradition alive for statewide commencement

One thing Statewide Campuses seem to have in common is the plummeting desire of graduates to participate or walk in the ceremony.  

Commencement coordinators at USU southwestern and Eastern campuses have even expressed concern for the decline of graduate participation in this year’s ceremony. 

This decrease has been attributed to a drop of admissions because of the coronavirus and a lack of enthusiasm for the ceremony. However, it seems to differ depending on the campus. 

The USU Uintah Basin director of events, engagement and inclusion, Latrisha Fall, said her campus graduates get discouraged to walk when they are earning their associate degree or a certification. She said she hopes students will give themselves the credit they deserve. 

“You should celebrate all of your wins,” Fall said. 

Most coordinators expressed this same desire to change the mindset of graduates at all stages of degrees. 

“We offer a lot of certificates of competition and proficiency,” said Erin Rowley, the commencement coordinator of USU Eastern.  “A lot of those students don’t think commencement is a big deal for them. We view it as an accomplishment, and we wish they would too.” 

Other Statewide Campuses graduation coordinators including Moab and Uintah Basin have found success in keeping graduates walking by customizing and creating traditions that mean something to the students living in that area. 

As an example, students living farther south in the Moab and Uintah Basin area have more Native American traditions incorporated in the commencement because of the high percentage of Native American enrollment. 

At USU Moab, the initial moments of graduation include the U.S. national anthem in the native Navajo language.  

Throughout the stands, graduates wear traditional headdresses as families cheer them on, according to commencement coordinator Mickey Ekker. 

Fall also talked about the Red Spirit Singers as one of the big musical numbers presented at the ceremony. This group is mostly composed of Ute Tribe members. 

In Moab, tickets were sold last year to lower the number of people attending. Ekker said it was because of the overwhelming support graduates were getting from family members and friends. 

“We would have people show up at 8 in the morning and go in with blankets and save like 20 seats for their family, now with tickets they can’t do that and it kind of controls it a little,” Ekker said. 

The director of students at the USU Southwest Region, Spencer Kohler, has used quite a few traditions to motivate student participation including driving dozens of coolers full of Aggie Ice Cream down to campus. But he suggests it might be time for a bigger change. 

Kohler explained most Statewide Campuses have parties or barbeques where graduates can bring their guests, making it more of a “party” feel rather than a “ceremony.” He said this is how he hopes to go about graduation on his campus in the future. 

“I think we just adopt a new way of celebrating,” Kohler said. “I think we have walked long enough in our culture.” 

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that the Red Spirit Singers are mostly comprised of members of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe.

Featured photo by: Geoff Liesik