Spring Break
Diplomas delayed, seniors still waiting
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
The 2008 Hillsdale graduates remain without their diplomas after a summer-long wait. Some seniors, like Joy Henry '08 had trouble applying for jobs without them.
"They required having the diploma [to apply]," she said.
The nearly four-month long delay comes as a result of switching vendors, Registrar Douglas McArthur said.
"Frankly, our old vendor was impossibly slow," McArthur said. "The process is just naturally slow because we don't have them printed up beforehand."
The diplomas are now on campus and have been signed by one of two campus officials. President Larry Arnn and Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé sign the diplomas before mailing.
McArthur said his office usually has to wait until after commencement to even begin ordering diplomas, as most professors do not turn in grades until after graduation.
"We have to do a final audit of all the graduates' transcripts," he said. "To do 300 of those takes one to two weeks."
McArthur ordered the diplomas on June 20 from Key Plus, an Indiana-based company smaller than their previous vendor, Jostens.
"We weren't happy with last year's process," he said. "This year we took the opportunity to change, and we will continue to try to do that."
"We're doing everything we can to speed the process up," McArthur said.
Seniors like Henry encountered problems this summer while applying for jobs.
Although she was unable to present her diploma, the registrar's office was happy to help her find something to prove her graduation, she said.
"I talked to Doug and he said they would do what it takes," she said.
McArthur said his office often writes letters for students waiting for diplomas who are applying for jobs.
"We do that frequently," he said. "Very often employers will accept a transcript or a confirmation of graduation."
Becky [Briggs] Richards '08 said her husband Tom '07 didn't receive his diploma until December 2007.
Becky Richards is currently modeling and did not encounter any problems while applying for the job.
"It's just kind of annoying to not have it," she said. "I haven't heard anything."
Nick Kauffman '08 said he forgot about his diploma in the excitement of getting married, moving and beginning a new job.
The diplomas will be mailed as soon as they are signed, McArthur said.
"They required having the diploma [to apply]," she said.
The nearly four-month long delay comes as a result of switching vendors, Registrar Douglas McArthur said.
"Frankly, our old vendor was impossibly slow," McArthur said. "The process is just naturally slow because we don't have them printed up beforehand."
The diplomas are now on campus and have been signed by one of two campus officials. President Larry Arnn and Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé sign the diplomas before mailing.
McArthur said his office usually has to wait until after commencement to even begin ordering diplomas, as most professors do not turn in grades until after graduation.
"We have to do a final audit of all the graduates' transcripts," he said. "To do 300 of those takes one to two weeks."
McArthur ordered the diplomas on June 20 from Key Plus, an Indiana-based company smaller than their previous vendor, Jostens.
"We weren't happy with last year's process," he said. "This year we took the opportunity to change, and we will continue to try to do that."
"We're doing everything we can to speed the process up," McArthur said.
Seniors like Henry encountered problems this summer while applying for jobs.
Although she was unable to present her diploma, the registrar's office was happy to help her find something to prove her graduation, she said.
"I talked to Doug and he said they would do what it takes," she said.
McArthur said his office often writes letters for students waiting for diplomas who are applying for jobs.
"We do that frequently," he said. "Very often employers will accept a transcript or a confirmation of graduation."
Becky [Briggs] Richards '08 said her husband Tom '07 didn't receive his diploma until December 2007.
Becky Richards is currently modeling and did not encounter any problems while applying for the job.
"It's just kind of annoying to not have it," she said. "I haven't heard anything."
Nick Kauffman '08 said he forgot about his diploma in the excitement of getting married, moving and beginning a new job.
The diplomas will be mailed as soon as they are signed, McArthur said.
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