Keep Duncan School of Law Graduation in Knoxville, TN
The Issue
I am deeply concerned about the proposed relocation of the Duncan School of Law graduation ceremony from its traditional location in Knoxville, Tennessee. This issue is personal to me because, like many current students and alumni, Knoxville holds a special place in our hearts as the city where our legal journeys started. For many of us, Knoxville is more than just a dot on the map; it is a community that has supported us throughout our educational experience. Holding graduation in Knoxville allows the culmination of that experience to take place in the same community that helped shape our legal education and professional development.
Graduation is one of the most important milestones in a law student’s academic and professional life. For many students, it represents years of sacrifice by not only the graduate, but also their spouses, children, parents, friends, and other supporters. Knoxville is where many students live, work, and establish their families during law school, and it is where many intend to begin or continue their legal careers. Knoxville offers logistical advantages that facilitate participation for students, families, and faculty. With its central location and transportation amenities, Knoxville ensures that graduates and their loved ones can easily attend this significant milestone. Moving the ceremony elsewhere imposes unnecessary travel burdens and costs on attendees, detracting from what should be a joyous occasion.
We respectfully ask the University’s Board of Trustees and administration to reconsider the decision to relocate the Duncan School of Law graduation ceremony to Harrogate beginning in 2028. Preserving graduation in Knoxville recognizes the unique character of the law school, honors the community that supports its students, and allows graduates to celebrate one of the most meaningful achievements of their lives in the place where their legal careers began.
Sign this petition to keep the Duncan School of Law graduation in Knoxville, TN, and preserve the special connection we've built with this wonderful city.
497
The Issue
I am deeply concerned about the proposed relocation of the Duncan School of Law graduation ceremony from its traditional location in Knoxville, Tennessee. This issue is personal to me because, like many current students and alumni, Knoxville holds a special place in our hearts as the city where our legal journeys started. For many of us, Knoxville is more than just a dot on the map; it is a community that has supported us throughout our educational experience. Holding graduation in Knoxville allows the culmination of that experience to take place in the same community that helped shape our legal education and professional development.
Graduation is one of the most important milestones in a law student’s academic and professional life. For many students, it represents years of sacrifice by not only the graduate, but also their spouses, children, parents, friends, and other supporters. Knoxville is where many students live, work, and establish their families during law school, and it is where many intend to begin or continue their legal careers. Knoxville offers logistical advantages that facilitate participation for students, families, and faculty. With its central location and transportation amenities, Knoxville ensures that graduates and their loved ones can easily attend this significant milestone. Moving the ceremony elsewhere imposes unnecessary travel burdens and costs on attendees, detracting from what should be a joyous occasion.
We respectfully ask the University’s Board of Trustees and administration to reconsider the decision to relocate the Duncan School of Law graduation ceremony to Harrogate beginning in 2028. Preserving graduation in Knoxville recognizes the unique character of the law school, honors the community that supports its students, and allows graduates to celebrate one of the most meaningful achievements of their lives in the place where their legal careers began.
Sign this petition to keep the Duncan School of Law graduation in Knoxville, TN, and preserve the special connection we've built with this wonderful city.
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Petition created on September 11, 2026