Students upset with UWI Open Campus over graduating changes

by Eldonte Samuel

Students of the University of the West Indies Global Campus, St Vincent are displeased with the administration over proposed changes to the graduating procedures for 2024. A main area of disaffection is the deadline given for payment of fees association with graduation which will be done virtually.

With graduation tentatively set for Saturday, November 9, 2024, the students have been given until Friday, September 20, 2024 to pay the required fees, which must be done before graduation portraits are taken.

This information was apparently given to them on September 10, 2024.

The graduation fee is US$90 (EC$243), and will cover one professional image for the virtual ceremony, a graduation canister, and the use of the Academic Regalia.

Each country is responsible for organising a time for ‘photo day’. The photos are due by October 18, 2024. However, in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) , the graduates were given just abut a week to pay their fees.

Students who choose not to graduate are permitted only to use the regalia after graduation. Paying for the certificate is optional, and students will receive it at a time that is currently unknown. Additionally, the only persons who will be catered for after graduation are those who finished their studies during the summer.

The situation has left many students questioning the reason for UWI Global Campus St Vincent’s request for graduation fees over one month in advance, taking into account the decision of the Campus to have a virtual graduation ceremony.

The decision to host a virtual ceremony came after weeks of back and forth with the Campus administration and the Student Guild. In a memo dated July 9, 2024, it was revealed that the cost of hosting an in-person ceremony was prohibitive, posing difficulties for the majority of Global Campus students to cover travel, accommodation, and associated expenses.

It stated that the 2023 graduation saw a total of 581 graduates taking part, compared to 275 present at the last physical graduation.

In a follow-up statement dated July 31, 2024, there was an update regarding having an in-person ceremony; the decision was put on hold until further consultation with the Student Guild executive and a Subcommittee. They met on July 18 and July 29, 2024.

A survey was done, and of the 514 students, 73.5 per cent were in favour of hosting a virtual ceremony. However, only 37.2 per cent expressed interest in going to the Grenada campus for the ceremony.

The statement then highlighted the cost that comes with an in-person graduation ceremony. In 2018, the budget exceeded US$100,000, while the budget for this year is around US$80,000.

The statement said that the idea of fundraising and regional government assistance was explored, but due to ongoing Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts, any support was unlikely. Furthermore, as only 191 students were interested in attending the in-person ceremony, the organisers predicted an increased minimum fee of US$500 per student to be able to cover the estimated US$100,000 overall cost.

Due to these circumstances, the Graduation Planning Committee and Regional Guild of Students recommended hosting a virtual graduation ceremony, and efforts will be made to explore better options for future in-person ceremonies.

The Campus promised a virtual graduation that they hope will meet the expectations of graduates. Students in SVG were said to be periodically loudly protesting their disapproval with the changes this year when they visit the SVG Campus site.

The SVG Global Campus administration preferred not to comment when contacted by SEARCHLIGHT.