TEXT OF PRESIDENT McCORMICK'S MARCH 8, 2010 RESPONSE TO THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHARGE A-0906, COMMENCEMENT DATES

I am writing in response to the Report and Recommendations on Charge A-0906 on Commencement Dates, as adopted by the University Senate on January 29, 2010. I thank the members of the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee for their timely attention to this issue.
My administration is pleased with the Senate's authorization to hold the 2011 University Commencement on Sunday, May 15th in Rutgers Stadium, and will proceed with planning the commencement ceremonies to reflect those changes. I understand that this is an interim authorization, made on a trial basis for one year, and that the Senate wishes to undertake further review and evaluation before making a decision about the commencements for 2012 and beyond. By copy of this letter, I am asking the Secretary of the University, Leslie Fehrenbach, to appoint a member of the Senate’s Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee to the 2011 Commencement Planning Committee when that committee is established.

I appreciate the deliberations on this issue, and look forward to the Senate’s final decision on the request early in the 2010-11 academic year.                                                                           

Sincerely yours,
Richard L. McCormick 

c:  Philip Furmanski, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
    Leslie Fehrenbach, Secretary of the University
    Barry Qualls, Vice President for Undergraduate Education