John O. Harney: An early look at 2022’s college-commencement season in New England
BOSTON
From The New England Journal of Higher Education (NEJHE), a service of The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE.org)
Long before COVID changed everything, NEJHE and NEBHE’s Twitter channel kept a close eye on New England college commencements. “The annual spring descent on New England campuses of distinguished speakers, ranging from Nobel laureates to Pulitzer Prize winners to grassroots miracle-workers, offers a precious reminder of what makes New England higher education higher,” we bragged. “It is a lecture series without equal.”
In the past two pandemic years, we tracked a lot of postponements and virtual commencements on this beat, as well as Olin College of Engineering’s March 2020 “fauxmencement” ceremony right before coronavirus shut down the campus. Some medical schools at the time moved up graduation dates so graduates could join New England’s COVID-fighting health-care workforce. Dr. Anthony Fauci addressed graduates of the College of Holy Cross, his alma mater.
Going virtual meant hard times for some small New England communities where college-commencement days were crucial to local hospitality providers and the economy. Not to be confused with such larger commencement hosts as the Dunkin Donuts Center for Rhode Island College and Providence College and TD Garden for Northeastern University (switched to Fenway Park during COVID).
This year, as we all hope the pandemic is easing, some New England colleges plan to celebrate not only the class of 2022, but also the classes of 2020 and 2021—for the most part, in person.
Many years, we would pay special attention to the first few announcements of the season. When there was a season. Generally it was spring in the old days. But today’s nontraditional student pursing higher ed on a nontraditional academic calendar might just as easily graduate in January … or any other time for the matter.
As with other stubborn aspects of higher ed, the richest institutions often announced the heavy hitters, though sleepers at quieter places add special value too (think Paul Krugman at Bard College at Simon’s Rock or Rue Mapp at Unity College).
Harvard University, for its part, announced that the principal speaker at its 369th commencement, on May 26, would be New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Not a bad pick. Ardern has been lauded for her work on climate change and gender equality and, lately on how she has guided New Zealand through COVID. Harvard noted she will be “the 17th sitting world leader to deliver the address.”
John O. Harney is executive editor of The New England Journal of Higher Education.
Holy Cross lauded for Teach for America role
At Holy Cross, Fenwick Lawn, with Commencement Porch of Fenwick Hall in the foreground and the Chapel beyond.
This is from The New England Council (newenglandcouncil.com
“The College of the Holy Cross, a Council member, was recently ranked as a ‘Top Contributor’ of graduates to Teach for America programs. In 2018, the small private college in Worcester sent 12 students, making it the second biggest contributor among all small schools in the country.
“Under the Teach for America programs, graduates sign on for two years of teaching in under-served schools across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1990, 212 Holy Cross alumni have participated. This year, 3,600 teachers will be sent to 36 different states, with Holy Cross graduates heading to classrooms in Washington, DC, Texas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee and Florida.
“Amy Murphy, director of the Center for Career Development at Holy Cross, said, ‘Holy Cross challenges our students to consider the ways they can best use their gifts, talents and passions in service to others. For many of our graduates, that is in our nation’s most under-resourced communities and schools. What’s more, Holy Cross students embody many of the qualifications and traits that Teach for America seeks in candidates: demonstrated leadership skills, high achievement and a commitment to standing in solidarity with those from marginalized or impoverished backgrounds.”’
“The New England Council commends Holy Cross on continuing to foster civically engaged students with a passion for learning and thanks them for their dedication to educating our future leaders.’’
He only looks tormented
"Tucson' (graphite charcoal and pencil on paper), by Robert Beauchamp (1923-1995), in the show "Robert Beauchamp: Four Decades of Works on Paper,'' at the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Jan. 25-March 28. The show, says the gallery, traces his career from his early days in New York to his death, "highlighting a vast array of inventive drawing techniques, a never ending deep engagement with the figure, along with imaginative combinations of personal symbols and narration.''