News Summary
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is set to hold its 2025 commencement at Angel Stadium with over 12,000 graduates anticipated. However, new graduation fees totaling $125 and a change in the ceremony format, where individual name reading will not occur, have raised significant concerns among students. Many feel the changes detract from their hard-earned achievements, with an online petition garnering over 16,000 signatures for the traditional format to be reinstated.
Long Beach — California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is set to host its commencement ceremonies from May 18 through May 22, 2025, at Angel Stadium, with an anticipated turnout of over 12,000 graduates and approximately 130,000 family and friends. However, many students are voicing their concerns over new graduation fees and significant changes to the commencement format.
Starting this year, CSULB is implementing an additional graduation application fee of $125, due by October 14, 2024. The fee will increase to $135 if paid after this date. This fee marks a $25 hike from last year’s $100 charge and an increase of $50 from the previous $75 fee. It encompasses costs associated with diploma creation, mailing, degree audit support, and the commencement ceremony logistics. Notably, expenses for cap and gown rentals, which range from $50 to $70, as well as separate fees for sashes and announcements, are not included.
The financial implications of these additional fees are particularly burdensome for some students, especially international students, who face higher out-of-state tuition rates and travel expenses for family attendance. Students have expressed frustration, citing that the fee is unjustifiable, particularly in the context of rising tuition and living costs.
Alongside the increased fees, CSULB has decided not to read graduates’ names individually during the ceremonies for the third consecutive year, a move prompted by what the university considers impracticalities inherent in large-scale events. Instead, graduates’ names will be displayed on a jumbotron, and recognition stages will be set up where students can scan QR codes to trigger announcements regarding their achievements.
This change has sparked discontent among students, many of whom feel they are being denied the traditional graduation experience, especially after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 16,000 signatures have already been collected on an online petition demanding the reinstatement of the traditional name-reading ceremony. Students argue that they deserve personal recognition for their accomplishments after navigating numerous challenges throughout their educational journeys.
A university spokesperson noted that positive feedback has been received regarding previous graduation experiences at Angel Stadium, highlighting the venue’s capacity to accommodate guests and the range of services available during the ceremonies. However, these viewpoints have not quelled the growing unrest among the student body.
In acknowledgment of the rising concerns, some students have taken the initiative to meet with university officials to discuss their issues related to both the recognition practices and the new graduation fees. The university’s decisions on these matters will likely impact the sentiments of the graduating class in 2025, a year that holds additional significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of CSULB.
Established in 1949, CSULB has played a vital role in the educational landscape of Long Beach and beyond, providing a platform for connection and learning for generations of students. As the university approaches its anniversary, the ongoing discussions about fees and commencement changes reflect broader issues of accessibility and recognition within the academic experience.
The upcoming commencement ceremony is meant to celebrate graduates’ achievements and signify the culmination of years of hard work. As the date approaches, students continue to advocate for a graduation ceremony that aligns with their expectations of personal recognition and fair financial practices, hoping that their voices will be heard by university decision-makers.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- LB Current: Students Question Costly Graduation Fees
- LA Times: Students Say Commencement Plans Deflate Joy of Graduation
- Press-Telegram: CSULB Kicks Off Commencement Ceremonies at Angel Stadium
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Graduation
- KTLA: CSULB Grads Upset Over Graduation Ceremony Decision
- Google Search: CSULB Graduation Fees
