Traditional graduation ceremonies at SUNY Brockport consist of students shaking hands with the University's President or Provost. With graduating undergraduate class sizes of just under 2,000 students, it is impossible to expect these two representatives to know and care about each individual that crosses the stage. Throughout their time at Brockport, students instead spend most of their time with faculty members in their department. Graduation is about celebrating your accomplishments over your time in college with the people who care for and support you. Who better to receive your diploma from and take a photo with at graduation than a designated representative from your department? Students would be grouped before the ceremony by department and called up to the stage by department. The representative would join them on stage to provide a more personal celebration of the individuals' accomplishments. Students associated with multiple departments would be able to select which department they would prefer to sit with and both degrees would be announced when they cross. 

Thank you to everyone supporting us. While we put this up specifically for Brockport, this opportunity should be available for students and their families and friends everywhere. If we get change, maybe it will spread.