First Look at the 2013 Graduation

Rebecca Martelotti

Staff Writer

On Friday, May 10, 2013, the commencement ceremony will recognize approximately 2,300 students who completed their degrees 2012, January 2013 and those who have submitted their degree applications for May 2013.

Before the spring semester began, President Steinberg sent an email to students, faculty and staff stating, “Many expressed a sense of loss, fearing that the LIU Post identity would be swallowed up in the larger [University-wide gradu­ation] event.” Therefore, the com­mencement ceremony was moved back to the LIU Post campus.

The Great Lawn ceremony has become a shared experi­ence among LIU Post University alumni and current students. “I am glad that graduation is tak­ing place on campus and not at the Barclays Center,” said Keith Jordan, a graduate student in the Digital Game Design and Devel­opment program, who will be awarded a Master of Arts degree. “I have been looking forward to graduating under the tent since the day I started here.”

The ceremony, according to the Conference Services page on the LIU website, includes a formal procession, a commence­ment speaker and presentation of honorary degrees, recognition of the Valedictorian and Salutato­rian, recognition of distinguished alumni and, most importantly, the conferral of 2,281 degrees total. The guest speakers, Vale­dictorian, Salutatorian and Distinguished Alumni Awards are announced between late March and early April.

Recognition of individual graduates will occur at separate college and school receptions after the main reception. During these smaller ceremonies, each graduate will be recognized by name as he or she crosses the stage.

As graduation approaches, seniors are both anxious and enthusiastic. “On one hand, I am excited my hard work paid off, but I am nervous to be out in the real world and begin looking for jobs,” said senior Broadcasting major and Journalism minor Matthew Applewhite. “I hear so many hor­ror stories about young graduates being unemployed,” he added.

“Even though finishing classes is stressful, I am trying to just enjoy my last few weeks of being a college student,” said se­nior Broadcasting major, Robert Hairston. “I can’t wait until May, when I can hold my diploma in front of my family.”

There are 1,260 are graduate students and 955 are undergrads graduating this May. LIU Post makes up the majority of students graduating with 1,996 and 934 of those are undergrads.

According to LIU Post Reg­istrar’s Beth Carson, LIU River­head has a total of 59 students receiving degrees. Out of those students, 49 are graduate stu­dents and 10 are undergraduate students. LIU Brentwood has 160 total students, 149 graduate and 11 undergraduate.

“The total amount of gradu­ates will increase slightly, as we are still receiving some applica­tions,” said Carson.

Business Administration, Criminal Justice and Psychol­ogy have the highest number of undergraduate majors graduat­ing in the May ceremony. The graduate degrees with the most students include the Master of Business Administration in Busi­ness, Master of Science in Medi­cal Biology and M.S. in Library Science and Information.

This year’s graduation cer­emony will be organized by the Conference Services Office, the Office of the Provost, the Office of the President as well as a Com­mencement Committee com­posed of faculty and staff.

“I am coordinating the Commencement ceremony this year, but the reality is that there is a large group of staff and administrators that take part in the planning of the event,” said Carson. Despite the recent changes, the ceremony day and process will be the same as pre­vious years.

From March 26 to April 27, graduating students will be able to pick up their graduation tickets from the campus book­store. However, students must first purchase their cap and gown in order to receive tickets. Seat­ing under the tent is limited and therefore graduating students are only allowed four guests. Graduating students are advised to check the LIU Post website for updates regarding the ceremony.

LIU Post expects 10,000 people to attend the ceremony, including the graduates, family, visitors and LIU Post faculty and staff. The ceremony will also in­clude graduates from Long Island University’s campuses in River­head and Brentwood.

“Graduation is a time of great celebration for the university, our graduates and their families,” said Provost Paul Forestell. “It allows all of us to gather together to salute the academic accomplish­ments of our students.”