On Tuesday, February 4, we met with the Director of Student Life & Well-Being and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs; they are responsible for graduation logistics. At that meeting, they praised the professionalism of the packet we prepared for them, and congratulated us on the enormous number of you who signed this petition! However, we also learned that they are not the decision makers responsible for WMed's graduation hooding policy. That power lies unilaterally in the hands of Interim Dean Robert Sawyer. 

We have reached out to the Chief of Staff and Office Manager for the Dean's Office, and are in the process of scheduling a meeting. When we get that date and time ironed out, we'll update you again.

We're looking forward to speaking with the Dean about our shared concern: that WMed publicly professes a commitment to health equity, while behind closed doors, upholding this inequitable policy that contradicts its own mission, values, vision and strategic plan.

Until then, thank you for your support. Please keep circulating the petition for your classmates to sign. A broad coalition of you have already signed, but the more institutional support we can demonstrate, the better!