Commencement is getting a cyber twist at Kansas State University.
Distance learning graduates who can't attend their upcoming K-State commencement ceremony, as well as their friends, family and well-wishers, can still get a taste of some of the pomp and circumstance at K-State's new virtual commencement Web site: http://www.dce.ksu.edu/commencement
The virtual ceremony was created to serve the growing number of students who are graduating from K-State through a distance education program. Distance learning students now account for more than 10 percent of the students at K-State, said Elizabeth Unger, vice provost of academic services and technology and dean of continuing education.
Unger said the number of graduates from K-State distance learning programs also is rising, approaching 200 graduates a year for the last two years. Nearly 100 students earning degrees this spring are distance learning students.
"It is remarkable how many of these students come to campus for the first time to attend their commencement ceremony," Unger said. "However, most distance education graduates find that the reasons they took distance learning courses -- because of time and distance restraints -- are the same reasons they can't attend commencement. Thus, this virtual ceremony was created, with K-State President Jon Wefald as a major participant, to allow distance learning graduates to celebrate with the rest of the university community."
The ceremony features a commencement address by Wefald with welcoming remarks by Unger. Special "gradulations" are offered by Willie the Wildcat; music is provided by the K-State Marching Band; and site visitors can take a virtual campus tour.
A special feature of the site is a listing of K-State's spring 2003 distance learning graduates. Family, friends and well-wishers can leave messages of congratulations to their graduates at the site. Messages can be posted through June but they will remain online to view for several months.
The site also includes information from the K-State Alumni Association, so students can find out how to remain a part of the K-State family after their graduation.
The ceremony is another way K-State can help make distance learning students experience being part of the K-State community, Unger said. If "attendance" at the virtual ceremony proves it a popular and meaningful experience, it could become a commencement fixture.
"K-State has been diligently working at the challenge of providing both administrative and academic services online to distance learning students," Unger said. "Providing a community to these students also is important to round out their educational experiences.
"For example, through K-State Online, our course management system, distance learning students and faculty can interact and communicate in Web-based classrooms where they can take part in discussion rooms, get lectures live through audio and video streaming and post messages on course message boards," Unger said. "Virtual commencement also is a way to build this sense of community among distance learning students."
K-State's Division of Continuing Education has sent special invitations to distance learning graduates and has encouraged them to invite their families and friends to share in their accomplishment through the virtual commencement Web site.
"K-State is committed to providing high quality distance education degree programs as part of the university's land-grant mission. The steadily growing number of distance learning students also indicates people want and need this form of higher education," Unger said.
Along with the virtual commencement site, K-State's Division of Continuing Education will recognize distance learning students who travel to Manhattan for commencement with an on-campus reception Friday, May 16. Distance graduates from across the country are expected to attend.
RSS