AMS External Policy Manual - Alma Mater Society of UBC

Policy Number:1996-07 Passed:Title:Graduation CeremoniesSeptember 25, 1996Expired:September 25, 1999Summary:Supports the principle that individual faculties be consulted with respect to their preferred graduationceremonies and that this consultation must include the appropriate student societies and associations.Whereas there has recently been a great deal of discussion concerning the location of the UBC graduationceremonies;Whereas much of the opinion expressed by Council thus far has been in opposition to the proposedchange in venue from the War Memorial Gym to the Chan Centre;Whereas the change in venue will provide a more intimate venue , and will result in fewer of the smallerfaculties being grouped together, an experience which dilutes the meaning of the graduation ceremoniesfor those graduates;Whereas other larger faculties have equally legitimate concerns that the move to the Chan Centre willresult in there faculties being split into a larger number of groups than before, which would dilute themeaning of the graduation ceremonies for those graduates and that the number of guests in the ChanCentre would be limited to four per graduate; andWhereas AMS Council has a duty to see that the interests of all its constituencies, both large and small, berepresented and upheld to the greatest degree possible;Be it resolved that AMS Council support the principle that individual faculties be consulted as to theirpreferred choice for their graduation ceremonies, and that this consultation must include discussion withthe appropriate student societies and associations;Be it further resolved that should the demand exist, ceremonies be held at both the War Memorial Gymand the Chan Centre; andBe it further resolved that a faculty-by-faculty survey should suffice in terms of sampling student opinion,but should a campus-wide referendum, poll conducted of all students regardless of the year they are in, orother such method be required, that the results be collected and tabulated according to faculty.AMS Policy Manual Page | 48