Virginia Commonwealth University has made the decision to forgo a university wide commencement address to the graduating class of May 2019 after 46 years of tradition at the Richmond Coliseum. VCU has cited that due to unavailability and variables such as “cost, size, and access,” there will be no commencement. The December 2018 Commencement will still go on as planned, yet there is nothing for May of 2019.

 
Michael Rao, President of VCU is the second highest paid employee in the state of Virginia earning approximately $875,000 a year (Total Compensation), more than 1500% the average median salary of a VCU employee. In previous years he has earned upwards of $900,00 in total compensation. VCU earns over 947 million dollars in tuition reimbursement each year (31,242 students with an average tuition cost of $30,334 cost per tuition year) and yet cannot find a suitable place to host this commencement.

Please take a moment to consider signing this petition. If not for the thousands of us that have worked countless hours to earn our degree, sign it for the first generation college student, or the parent going back to school to earn more for their kids, or the thousands of other stories VCU prides itself to “make it real.” VCU students deserve a school wide commencement.