By Fram Virjee
Cal State Fullerton president
Ask educators what their favorite day of the year is, and you will likely get the same enthusiastic answer: Graduation day. The reasons for this response are as obvious as they are true; It is the culmination of our collaborative work and it sends our graduates into the world with the pomp and circumstance they deserve.
Concurrently, ask students what day in the academic calendar they most look forward to, and they, too, will give the same answer, albeit for reasons different from what you might think — at least at Cal State Fullerton, where 57 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients are first-generation university graduates and many of this year’s 12,600 new alumni will set the same trend. Indeed, Alice Cooper anthems aside, there is far more going on at CSUF this time of year than the anticipation of a life without pencils or school being “out forever.”
Because of the particularly impactful nature of Titan commencement, in lieu of a single day to celebrate it, we have an entire commencement “season.”
A few months ago, in preparation for this season, Sandy Quintero, my treasured administrative assistant, asked which of the nearly 20 cultural commencement parties, pre-commencement pinning or commissioning ceremonies, and official commencement day celebrations I wanted to attend. Before I could retort, Sandy reminded me that these events take place every day, sometimes two or three per night, and are often overlapping.
“Plus, your calendar is already nearly full,” she added, handing me the long list of commencement invitations from our student groups, cultural centers, and colleges. “You will need to choose a handful and send regrets to the others.” With that, she smiled brightly, opened our trusty Outlook calendar and said, “Choose up. Which ones do you want to attend?”
As I stared at the dizzying sheet full of dates, I could not help imagining how excited the graduates of these respective celebrations would be the night of the event; how transformative it would be for each of them and their families; how meaningful it would be for their professors and the staff members who supported their journeys. Initially downcast, a smile slowly washed over my face, and I answered Sandy with the same response I give my wife every time she asks if I want apple, pumpkin, or cherry pie at Thanksgiving: “All of them.”
Not surprisingly, I received the same retort: “That’s too much. You’re going to make yourself sick like you did last year.”
I knew she was right; last year, after a similarly overzealous calendar commitment, I wound up rundown after commencement season. I also knew that even if I had been bedridden for a month (which I wasn’t), it would have been worth it. After all, I cannot claim commencement season as my favorite time of year if I do not do everything in my power to attend all the events I have the honor of being invited to.
So after apologizing to Sandy for all the rescheduling and calendar juggling it would cause, that is exactly what I set out to do.
It began with celebrations at our home at which we recognized the 21 graduates of the CSUF Guardian Scholars program that supports current and former foster youth achieving a college degree, and the 16 Class of 2019 President’s Scholars. Then it was on to our 31st annual Chicanx/Latinx and Native American Graduation Celebration, which not only emphasized CSUF’s standing as the No. 4 university in the nation for bachelor’s degrees awarded to underrepresented students, but also celebrated a robust Class of 2019 Hispanic and Native American graduates that will likely move that ranking higher.
Next came our 17th annual Asian Pacific American Desi American Recognition Celebration where we celebrated the fact that Orange County is home to one of the largest Asian American populations in the nation and our campus mirrors that diversity. After that, I raced off to our Lavender Recognition Ceremony at which we recognized our LGBTQ graduates through the theme, “Starting a New Rainbow.”
My wife, Julie, and I then hosted a celebration honoring our BOLD Women’s Scholar graduates, all of whom personify this program’s goal to develop the next generation of diverse women leaders. Then it was on to the 20th annual Pilipinx American Recognition Celebration, the “PGrad party.” This kicked off an incredible weekend that included our ROTC Ceremony where 18 U.S. Army cadets took the oath of office to be commissioned to second lieutenant; our 31st annual Pan-Afrikan Recognition Celebration honoring the “Black Excellence” of the Class of 2019; and our 4th annual Dreamer Recognition Celebration, wherein our standing as the first Cal State University to take a public stance in support of undocumented students was evident in a courageous group of Dreamer graduates.
Next, I had the honor of celebrating the largest graduating class of CSUF’s Project Rebound, a program that supports formerly incarcerated individuals earning a college degree. Then I raced back to campus for the School of Nursing’s annual pinning ceremony to honor the graduates of the College of Health and Human Development’s competitive and nationally ranked programs, including the nursing-anesthesia program, ranked fourth in the nation.
Then, after all that, I attended five of our college commencement ceremonies where I had both the time of my life and the honor of conferring degrees to the largest graduating class in our 62-year history.
In the end, it was nearly 20 events, 18 speeches, dozens of photos, hundreds of hugs, handshakes, and smiles, and almost 13,000 degrees – all in just over two weeks.
Oh, and one rundown president left to answer to the I-told-you-so look of an amazing assistant. “I hope you learned your lesson,” Sandy said with a smile as I hung up my regalia and headed home to crash and burn.
“I did,” I grinned, “And I can’t wait to learn it all over again next year.”
Favorite time of year indeed.
Cal State Fullerton President Fram Virjee formerly served as the executive vice chancellor and general counsel of the California State University, as well as secretary to the CSU Board of Trustees. In March, he became the university’s sixth president, taking the permanent seat after a 14-month interim role. He and his wife, Julie, run Yambi Rwanda, a nonprofit organization in Rwanda that seeks to help overcome poverty and the trauma of genocide through education and opportunity.
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