The Southwest Minnesota State Faculty Association (SmSUFA) is in deliberations over changing the day of graduation to be on a Friday. Commencement has typically been held on a Saturday.

SmSUFA is one member of a university committee whose members make recommendations on the calendar to administration. The faculty is expected to vote on the day change sometime in the next six weeks. The vote of the Faculty Association is not the deciding factor in whether the day will be changed.

“Ultimately the administration makes the final decision once all the consultation is done,” Faculty Association President Jeff Kolnick said.

Should administration choose to change graduation to be on a Friday, this would affect the 2017-18 academic calendar. The 2016 commencement ceremony will continue to be held on Saturday, May 7.

Kolnick said that there has been a debate over when to schedule graduation for a long time. SmSUFA Secretary Tony Amato said this came up for discussion last school year (2014-15) when a member of the graduation committee addressed it. The issue came up again in January when discussing the larger calendar.

At that time, some faculty said that a Friday graduation would interfere with students’ and their families’ work and travel schedules, according to Amato. Other faculty argued that students’ and families’ schedules would better accommodate a Friday ceremony, he said.

Amato also noted that some faculty voiced their concern that a move to a Friday graduation would impact grading and grade submissions. Others said that the end of the semester would be easier with a Friday graduation.

Four of the seven MnSCU four-year universities currently hold graduation on a Friday. They are MSU Moorhead, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, and Winona State. Only SMSU and MSU Mankato are holding graduation on a Saturday this year, while Metro State’s ceremony will be on a Monday.

Professor of Justice Administration BC Franson noted that if the graduation day changed to Friday, a student could have a final on Thursday and have to graduate the next day. This would not allow enough down time to pack, or get family into town. She also said that having Friday off allows for graduation rehearsal.

“I guess I’m a person who doesn’t see a reason to move the graduation. It seems to be working as is,” Franson said.

In discussions, some members of the Faculty Association noted that the administration or Student Senate should poll the student body on their thoughts, and abide by student wishes.

A Spur Twitter poll found that 69 percent of students prefer a Saturday graduation, while 31 percent prefer the change to a Friday. However, this poll cannot be considered statistically significant.

Kolnick says that the Student Association may have a say in the issue, in addition to the faculty.

Student Body President Ashanti Payne said the student government spoke with a few graduating seniors on their opinions of the day change.

“The common feeling was that it’s easier for families to make it on a Saturday,” Payne said. “Work likely doesn’t become an issue, especially for families coming from long distances.”

Payne has shared these thoughts with the calendar committee.

“Our thoughts are that students’ input will be seriously considered,” Payne said.