Update 5.19.2025

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I am a proud alumni of California State University, East Bay (PASC '16; EdD '21), and currently serve as the community-based governing board member for the Center for Disability Justice Research: Health Equity, Education, and Creativity

We are calling on California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) to honor its commitment to inclusion and equity by allowing the first graduating class of the Think by the Bay program, an Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) program,  to fully participate in the university’s official commencement ceremonies.

These students have worked hard, grown academically and socially, and earned the right to be publicly recognized alongside their peers. Their exclusion from commencement contradicts the values CSUEB promotes.

This petition is addressed to the CSUEB Administrative Team, including:

Dr. Cathy Sandeen, President
Dr. Kim Greer, Interim Provost
Mr. Derek Aitken, Chief of Staff
Ms. Evelyn Buchanan, Vice President, University Advancement 
Dr. Brenda Amenson-Hill, Interim Vice President, Student Affairs
Dr. Kathleen Wong(Lau), University Diversity Officer
Ms. Ashley Smith, Executive Assistant to the President
Mr. Nandish Trivedi, Project Manager

We respectfully urge CSUEB’s leadership to take action in support of inclusion, dignity, and the recognition that every graduate’s achievement matters.

This week, CSUEB's Think by the Bay program will celebrate a historic milestone: its first-ever graduating class. These students, all of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities, have worked incredibly hard over the past two years, participating in campus life, growing academically and socially, and preparing for future employment and independence.

But despite their accomplishments, these students are currently not being included in the university's commencement ceremonies.

This is not just disappointing; it’s wrong. It goes against the current mission and vision of the university and is at odds with the majority of colleges and universities across the United States, who celebrate their IPSE graduates.

Commencement is a rite of passage. It's a public acknowledgment of achievement, belonging, and pride. Denying Think by the Bay graduates this moment sends a painful message that they are not full members of the CSUEB community.

We urge CSUEB to live its mission of inclusive excellence and allow these deserving students to walk across the stage, just like their peers.

The California Center for Inclusive College (CCIC), recommends that IPSE students be fully recognized and included in commencement events. Inclusion is not a gesture,  it is a commitment to dignity, equity, and visibility for all students.

By signing this petition, you’re supporting:

• Equitable recognition for Think by the Bay graduates
• Inclusive practices at CSUEB
• A future where all students, regardless of ability, are celebrated for their accomplishments

Let’s make sure every graduate gets the moment they’ve earned.

Please sign and share widely.