Student leaders are working with the administration to improve the style of diplomas for seniors graduating in May, which comes a few months after the University announced diplomas would decrease in size.
"The class council and Graduate Leadership Council have been working with the administration to change the look of the diploma, a major policy initiative for this year, and the administration has taken our concerns into consideration," said EJ Stern, senior class president. "Based on our suggestions the administration is reevaluating and redoing the format and style of the diploma."
The administration changed the diploma size last February from 11-by-14 inches to 8 1/2-by-11 inches. The decision angered some students because they were not consulted about the change.
Students graduating in May 2003 were scheduled to receive the smaller diploma but after former Student Confederation President Erin Taylor and other seniors presented e-mails to the administration against the size change, graduates received the larger diploma.
Anthony Macri, council chair, started negotiations early this semester with Gail Hanson, vice president of Campus Life, about the diploma. Macri said the original small diploma looked horrible and he felt graduates deserved more.
Though the administration refused to change the diploma size, students were able to negotiate a change in its design, Macri said.
"I am happy that the administration is now working with student leaders on creating a new University diploma because I believe this issue directly affects every student," Macri said.
"I have consulted with the Graduate Leadership Council, Senior and Junior Class Officers and the Student Confederation," Hanson said. "I have communicated their ideas about the change in appearance of the diplomas to the publication staff. There is a fair amount of consultation going on but size change is not one of them."
AU President Benjamin Ladner wanted the change in diploma size after he noticed the number of accredited universities across the country such as Brown, Northwestern and the University of Georgia were using the smaller size, said David Taylor, Ladner's chief of staff. The change in size had nothing to do with money, according to Taylor.
Student leaders will meet with the publication staff to make suggestions on the final design of the diploma.
The small diplomas with the original design were issued to summer graduates and will be issued to winter graduates, Hanson said. Graduates in May will receive the diplomas that student groups have helped revise.
"Without question, what we are doing to improve the style and look of the diploma will make it look more professional and far better than the other alternative which was the original design of the diploma," Stern said.
