Some '08 grads still wait for diplomas
Delays create problems for some, including potential for lost jobs
Liz Essley
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: News
Black-gowned graduates walk across the commencement stage every year, shake President Larry Arnn's hand and receive a rectangular, leather-bound folder. Inside is a cloth print of Central Hall and below it, a letter from Provost Robert Blackstock. "Dear Graduate," it reads, "Congratulations."
But this is not a diploma.
And that's been a problem for some alumni.
Seth Woolwine '08 expects to receive his diploma in two weeks, about eight months after he turned his tassel. He said the delay prevented him from finding employment. More than one interviewer rejected him after finding out he didn't have his degree.
"It means I'll have to wait a whole year to get a job," he said.
Registrar Douglas McArthur said degrees came especially late this year because the college switched to a new supply vendor. The transition made turnaround time much slower: The college mailed most of 2008's diplomas on Oct. 23.
But the transition doesn't account for the entire time lapse. In past years, diplomas have been mailed as late as September.
"The process of conferring degrees takes a while because you have to wait for grades to come in," McArthur said.
The college then audits the degrees itself, sends the information to the vendor, proofs the diplomas and sends them from desk to desk in Moss Hall for signatures.
In the future, the time spent with the vendor will decrease. The new company promises to be six weeks faster than the previous one. According to Madeline Haslam, aide to the registrar, the class of 2009 can expect its diplomas in late July to early August.
But that won't help Woolwine and others like him, such as Caitlin Coleman '08.
In early January, Coleman, who teaches English as a second language, called to request a transcript and asked about her diploma. She was told she hadn't finished her degree.
"It was just kind of weird because I didn't graduate but I didn't know I didn't graduate," she said.
But this is not a diploma.
And that's been a problem for some alumni.
Seth Woolwine '08 expects to receive his diploma in two weeks, about eight months after he turned his tassel. He said the delay prevented him from finding employment. More than one interviewer rejected him after finding out he didn't have his degree.
"It means I'll have to wait a whole year to get a job," he said.
Registrar Douglas McArthur said degrees came especially late this year because the college switched to a new supply vendor. The transition made turnaround time much slower: The college mailed most of 2008's diplomas on Oct. 23.
But the transition doesn't account for the entire time lapse. In past years, diplomas have been mailed as late as September.
"The process of conferring degrees takes a while because you have to wait for grades to come in," McArthur said.
The college then audits the degrees itself, sends the information to the vendor, proofs the diplomas and sends them from desk to desk in Moss Hall for signatures.
In the future, the time spent with the vendor will decrease. The new company promises to be six weeks faster than the previous one. According to Madeline Haslam, aide to the registrar, the class of 2009 can expect its diplomas in late July to early August.
But that won't help Woolwine and others like him, such as Caitlin Coleman '08.
In early January, Coleman, who teaches English as a second language, called to request a transcript and asked about her diploma. She was told she hadn't finished her degree.
"It was just kind of weird because I didn't graduate but I didn't know I didn't graduate," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
'01
posted 1/23/09 @ 12:03 PM EST
Dude - you have your degree. Just because you don't have the piece of paper doesn't mean you did not complete the requirements to obtain the degree. Way to market yourself and mess up interviews. (Continued…)
P. Bart
posted 1/31/09 @ 11:20 AM EST
The fancy diploma is never the proof of a degree obtained. That is generally lodged with the registrar in one utilitarian form or another, with copies sometimes filed with deans and departments. (Continued…)
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