DePaul recently announced that the commencement for the graduating class of 2021 would be held online due to Covid-19. While this makes sense, DePaul is still charging it’s students for a cap and gown for graduation. This has outraged students as schools continue to provide little support during a global pandemic.
DePaul is saving money by not holding a ceremony in person because they no longer need a venue. They also no longer have to host thousands of people, print pamphlets, etc., because everything would be held virtually. One would think that because they’re saving money, they would then assist students and still try to make graduation a memorable event; instead, if a student wants a cap and gown, they still must pay for one.
Students are paying full price tuition for online school as opposed to being in-person. They struggle with burnout from staring at a screen all day, as well as technology issues. It is an extra added level of stress to charge students for cap and gown for an online celebration. There have been multiple instances where students spend money and are provided with limited resources.
Students have recently put together a petition to the school about this issue. This is a clear example where money is put over humanitarian needs. The school is charging students for caps and gowns as a clear way to make money. The fact is that while students struggle, universities continue to make money.