Issue Date: 12/10/07
After years of debate, transfer students will walk in '09
Palomar's student gov't latest effort gives transfer students recognition at commencement
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After a long campaign to include transfer students in Palomar's commencement ceremony, Palomar College's Associated Student Government said students will be able to walk as early as spring 2009.
"We did all we had to do on our part," said ASG President Jesse Lyn. "All the hard work has finally paid off."
Lyn said it is currently at the state level.
She said in order to make this possible a transfer degree or certificate will be created to meet all California requirements and guidelines, which means it is going to go through the chancellor's office and put into the next college catalog before it's a go.
"Acknowledgment gives students a sense of pride and accomplishment," student Senator Pulkit Kanotra said.
Kanotra said the ASG's focus is to do things students will appreciate and benefit from and which is indicative of this latest announcement.
Last year during the annual retreat, the ASG took on the task of campaigning to allow transferring students to walk as part of the commencement ceremony.
This initiative was taken after the ASG board members concluded that because transferring students completed requirements equal to those of students obtaining an A.A., they too should be equally recognized.
At one point, the faculty senate offered to allow students to walk in the commencement but only if they did not wear a cap and gown, however Palomar President Robert Deegan said he wouldn't allow them to walk unless they wore a cap and gown.
"It was all or nothing, and that was the main problem that was unresolved." Lyn said.
After the faculty senate refused to revisit the issue by arguing that students weren't receiving a degree or certificate and therefore weren't entitled to walk, the ASG responded with a petition signed by faculty members who supported their efforts. This was to put pressure on the senate to move forward and consider other options.
"They are worthy of recognition," Interim Director of Student Affairs Sherry Titus said.
Titus, who signed the petition as a faculty member before stepping into her new position, said she supported the campaign from the start because any type of student recognition is positive.
This ceremony gives students and their families a chance to celebrate all they have accomplished, Kanotra said.
"It was a dumb policy to start with," Palomar student Alan Colio said. "If students do the work, it should be a right of passage."
Colio said he is majoring in engineering and his requirements to transfer, with the exception of one class, fulfill the requirements for an A.A. in Mathematics.
He said the only difference was a health class which he plans to take.
"The ASG made a good argument and sold me on it." Titus said.
Titus said if everything comes through as expected the transfer students will walk at Palomar's 2009 commencement ceremony.
"We did all we had to do on our part," said ASG President Jesse Lyn. "All the hard work has finally paid off."
Lyn said it is currently at the state level.
She said in order to make this possible a transfer degree or certificate will be created to meet all California requirements and guidelines, which means it is going to go through the chancellor's office and put into the next college catalog before it's a go.
"Acknowledgment gives students a sense of pride and accomplishment," student Senator Pulkit Kanotra said.
Kanotra said the ASG's focus is to do things students will appreciate and benefit from and which is indicative of this latest announcement.
Last year during the annual retreat, the ASG took on the task of campaigning to allow transferring students to walk as part of the commencement ceremony.
This initiative was taken after the ASG board members concluded that because transferring students completed requirements equal to those of students obtaining an A.A., they too should be equally recognized.
At one point, the faculty senate offered to allow students to walk in the commencement but only if they did not wear a cap and gown, however Palomar President Robert Deegan said he wouldn't allow them to walk unless they wore a cap and gown.
"It was all or nothing, and that was the main problem that was unresolved." Lyn said.
After the faculty senate refused to revisit the issue by arguing that students weren't receiving a degree or certificate and therefore weren't entitled to walk, the ASG responded with a petition signed by faculty members who supported their efforts. This was to put pressure on the senate to move forward and consider other options.
"They are worthy of recognition," Interim Director of Student Affairs Sherry Titus said.
Titus, who signed the petition as a faculty member before stepping into her new position, said she supported the campaign from the start because any type of student recognition is positive.
This ceremony gives students and their families a chance to celebrate all they have accomplished, Kanotra said.
"It was a dumb policy to start with," Palomar student Alan Colio said. "If students do the work, it should be a right of passage."
Colio said he is majoring in engineering and his requirements to transfer, with the exception of one class, fulfill the requirements for an A.A. in Mathematics.
He said the only difference was a health class which he plans to take.
"The ASG made a good argument and sold me on it." Titus said.
Titus said if everything comes through as expected the transfer students will walk at Palomar's 2009 commencement ceremony.
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