In 32 days, the class of 2014 will be celebrating the completion of their four years at Saint Anselm. However, some members of the senior class will not be permitted to walk with their class because they fell just short of the school’s requirements.

Saint Anselm’s Graduation Policy requires students to have “sufficient accomplishment in scholarship” allowing for no exceptions according to the school’s handbook.

Stonehill College in Easton, MA has taken a more student friendly approach to their graduation ceremonies. According to the school’s website, students are advised to contact the Office of Academic Service and Advising if they determine that they will not meet the graduation requirements. Students are generally allowed to participate in the ceremony if they fall 1-2 classes short.

Saint Anselm’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Brother Isaac Murphy, O.S.B., disagreed with Stonehill’s policy.

“The idea of a blank diploma does not appeal to me. The way that our commencement exercises work here is that no student gets a blank diploma,” he said.

“Different schools are going to have a variety of different policies. Our tradition here is that when you get the degree you have earned that degree,” he continued.

Dr. Stephen DiSalvo asserted that it is the responsibility of the students to make sure they are “cleared” for graduation.

“I think a big part of this is on the students who in some cases didn’t take enough responsibility in my eyes,” DiSalvo said.

DiSalvo also claimed that Saint Anselm College provides numerous resources to help students that are short required courses.

“When I was in college there was only one way to complete these classes. You had to go a full semester, take an overload and get the course done. Now we have summer classes, we even allow for students to take interim and online courses. There are ways that are pretty easy that allow us to help students to make up courses and fulfill the requirement.

Both Dr. DiSalvo and Bro. Isaac agreed that the policy is unlikely to change in the near future.

“I can’t speak to the distant future, but this is the policy now and it has been the policy in the past and we intend to continue the policy this year and next,” concluded Bro. Isaac.