Here’s what happened at the Student Government Association’s formal senate meeting on Oct. 18, 2023.
Special Guests
The senate was joined by Provost Marianne Ward Peredoza, Ph.D., to share information about the upcoming Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremonies. Shared details include the following:
– Baccalaureate Mass for Fall Commencement will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 15 in the chapel to start the day of festivities
– The Fall 2023 Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in the Recreation and Athletics Center;
– The Legacy Walk will take place immediately following the ceremony;
– GradFest will take place Nov. 2 in Mabee Ballrooms A and B from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
– Baccalaureate Mass for Spring Commencement will take place the day before graduation on May 10 at 10 a.m. in the chapel
– The Spring 2024 Ceremony will take place on May 11, 2024 in the Recreation and Athletics Center, with the Legacy Walk immediately following the ceremony;
– Gradfest dates have not been announced yet, but information will be sent out to graduates during the spring 2024 semester.
The provost then opened the floor to take questions from senators and gallery members. Key results from this discussion include:
– The decision to host commencement on campus and in the RAC is not a result of financial constraints;
– Hosting commencement ceremonies on campus is done with the intention of celebrating graduates’ time at St. Edward’s where it all happened. Feedback from past off campus ceremonies stated that the event did not feel true to graduates’ experience on the hilltop;
– Accessibility measures that will be taken include available elevators in the RAC, available floor seating and accessibility reserved floor seating;
– There will be ushers to help keep order during the ceremony;
– There will be a stage and a center aisle on the floor of the RAC;
– The number of tickets students will be allowed will be determined and shared once the full number of graduates is confirmed.
The graduation committee is scheduled to meet on Oct. 19 to discuss the details of the upcoming ceremonies and to integrate feedback from this discussion.
New Business
Financials
– A funding request from Chess Club for an SEU Chess Tournament on Oct. 21 (approved).
– A funding request from the Graduate Business Student Association to cohost a guest speaker panel with the Hilltop Student Veterans Association in Jones Auditorium (approved).
– A funding request from the Public Relations Student Society of America for a spooky social event (amended and approved).
The meeting concluded at 7:40 p.m. with a final roll call.
