Illinois Math and Science Academy

DigitalCommons@IMSA
1990-2000 Documents 1990-2000

2-14-1994

Convocation Committee Proposal

Bernie Hollister
Illinois Math and Science Academy

LuAnn Smith
Illinois Math and Science Academy

Ron Vavrinek
Illinois Math and Science Academy

Brian Quinby
Illinois Math and Science Academy

Anjali Adukia
Illinois Math and Science Academy

See next page for additional authors

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/docs_1990_2000

Recommended Citation
Hollister, Bernie; Smith, LuAnn; Vavrinek, Ron; Quinby, Brian; Adukia, Anjali; Fox, Ryan; McWilliams, Patrick; Running, Mark;
Moyer, Ed; Logan, Jocelyn; Mody, Deepti; and McLaren, Eric, "Convocation Committee Proposal" (1994). 1990-2000 Documents. 13.
https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/docs_1990_2000/13

This Memo is brought to you for free and open access by the 1990-2000 at DigitalCommons@IMSA. It has been accepted for inclusion in 1990-2000
Documents by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@IMSA. For more information, please contact jean@imsa.edu.
Authors
Bernie Hollister, LuAnn Smith, Ron Vavrinek, Brian Quinby, Anjali Adukia, Ryan Fox, Patrick McWilliams,
Mark Running, Ed Moyer, Jocelyn Logan, Deepti Mody, and Eric McLaren

This memo is available at DigitalCommons@IMSA: https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/docs_1990_2000/13

To: Stephanie Marshall

From: Bernie Hollister Patrick McWilliams

LuAnn Smith Mark Running
Ron Vavrinek Ed Moyer
Brian Quinby Jocelyn Logan
Anjali Adukia Deepti Mody
R y a n Fox Eric M c L a r e n

Re: Convocation Committee Proposal

Date: February 14, 1994

Purpose Statement
T h e p u r p o s e s t a t e m e n t w a s d e s i g n e d to d r i v e the nature a n d f o r m a t
of t h e C o n v o c a t i o n c e r e m o n y . T h e s t a t e m e n t c a n a l s o s e r v e to
i n f o r m a n d t e a c h t h e c o m m u n i t y a b o u t t h e m e a n i n g a n d p u r p o s e of
the Convocation ceremony. W e anticipate that the purpose
s t a t e m e n t will be s e n t to p a r e n t s , s t u d e n t s a n d staff prior to t h e
Convocation.

The Convocation ceremony, an IMSA tradition, marks the beginning of

the school year and serves to welcome students and staff to a
community of scholars. This ceremony is both an announcement and
affirmation of the Academy's identity and purpose. The ceremony
also provides the members of the Academy the opportunity to
establish and renew relationships with one another. This tradition
expresses the spirit of a dynamic, learning community by
establishing a formal celebration which sets the tone for the
upcoming year.

H o w can w e restore value and meaning to our Convocation?

W e b e l i e v e t h a t v a l u e a n d m e a n i n g c a n b e r e s t o r e d t o C o n v o c a t i o n by
addressing the following issues.
* T h e s p e a k e r m u s t b e i n s p i r a t i o n a l a n d r e l e v a n t t o t h e life
a n d w o r k of t h e institution.
* T h e p u r p o s e of C o n v o c a t i o n a n d t h e e x p e c t a t i o n s of s t u d e n t s
a n d staff m u s t b e c o m m u n i c a t e d t o t h e c o m m u n i t y .
* T h e focus must be on content a n d not be b u r d e n e d by process
and logistics.
* T h e t i m i n g of t h e c o n v o c a t i o n m u s t m e e t t h e n e e d s of
s t u d e n t s a n d staff.
What specific activities will meet our objectives for
Convocation?
W e w o u l d like to begin t h e p r o g r a m w i t h a talk by t h e E x e c u t i v e
Director, followed with introductory r e m a r k s by the Student Council
President. The keynote speaker should address issues relevant to
t h e life a n d w o r k of t h e i n s t i t u t i o n . The committee strongly
b e l i e v e s t h a t a n a l u m n i o f I M S A w o u l d b e b e s t s u i t e d to d e l i v e r a
powerful, relevant speech. In a d d i t i o n , w e w o u l d l i k e t o s o l i c i t
A l u m n i to provide the musical selections for the c e r e m o n y .

T h e c e r e m o n y will be f o l l o w e d with a reception. W e see the

reception as a dignified d e c o m p r e s s i o n to the C o n v o c a t i o n c e r e m o n y .
T h e G r a d u a t i o n r e c e p t i o n is t h e m o d e l w e w o u l d like t o f o l l o w f o r
the Convocation reception.

T h e c e r e m o n y a n d reception will be held at IMSA. W e believe that

having c o n v o c a t i o n at the A c a d e m y will r e m o v e a logistical barrier
f r o m t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of t h e c e r e m o n y ; t r a n s p o r t i n g 6 5 0 s t u d e n t s b y
b u s to a formal event w a s counter-productive. Further, while our
c o n n e c t i o n t o F e r m i l a b is r e l e v a n t , t h a t c o n n e c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n
c l e a r to our a u d i e n c e . T h e g y m will n e e d to be t r a n s f o r m e d to
r e f l e c t t h e f o r m a l n a t u r e of t h e c e r e m o n y , a s it w a s f o r t h e M a y a
Angelou lecture. T h e r e c e p t i o n w i l l b e h e l d in t h e o l d c a f e t e r i a .

W e a r e r e c o m m e n d i n g t h a t C o n v o c a t i o n c o n t i n u e to b e h e l d o n t h e
M o n d a y of t h e o p e n i n g w e e k of s c h o o l ; a l t h o u g h w e b e l i e v e t h a t t h e
c e r e m o n y s h o u l d b e g i n a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 : 0 0 in t h e a f t e r n o o n a n d b e
f o l l o w e d immediately by the reception.

W e have e s t a b l i s h e d the following p a r a m e t e r s for formality for the

Convocation. A l l A c a d e m y staff a r e e x p e c t e d t o a t t e n d . This
r e i n f o r c e s o u r b e l i e f t h a t e a c h m e m b e r o f t h e c o m m u n i t y is a p a r t of
t h e c o m m u n i t y of s c h o l a r s a n d t h a t "all a d u l t s s h a r e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
f o r t h e w e l l b e i n g of a l l c h i l d r e n " . Each m e m b e r of t h e c o m m u n i t y
w i l l r e c e i v e a c o p y of t h e p u r p o s e s t a t e m e n t a n d e x p e c t a t i o n s f o r
behavior. F i n a l l y , g i v e n t h e f o r m a l n a t u r e of t h e e v e n t , a l l s t u d e n t s
a n d staff are to be d r e s s e d s e m i - f o r m a l l y ; suit a n d tie, or blazer
w i t h s l a c k s for m e n ; d a y t i m e d r e s s , or skirt a n d b l o u s e for w o m e n
(Post, 1986).

T h e c o m m i t t e e w a s u n a b l e to r e a c h c o n s e n s u s c o n c e r n i n g the
i m p o r t a n c e of c a p s a n d g o w n s a t C o n v o c a t i o n . T h e m a j o r i t y of t h e
g r o u p felt that c a p s a n d g o w n s w e r e not n e c e s s a r y . Several
c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s felt strongly that the formal regalia
c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e p u r p o s e of C o n v o c a t i o n . T h e c o n c e r n s identified
w e r e t h a t : t h e r o b e s c r e a t e d a " p e c k i n g o r d e r " a m o n g t h e a d u l t s in
t h e c o m m u n i t y , t h e robes s e p a r a t e d t h e n o n - d e g r e e d staff f r o m the
d e g r e e d staff, a n d the robes s e p a r a t e d the adults f r o m t h e students.
C o n v e r s e l y , the r o b e s s e n d a m e s s a g e a b o u t t h e formality of the
event. T h e s t u d e n t s f e l t t h a t t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of t h e p r o c e s s i o n
w o u l d b e d i m i n i s h e d w i t h o u t t h e r o b e s , b u t n o t t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of
the ceremony.

T h e c o m m i t t e e felt that t h e staff s h o u l d sit with t h e s t u d e n t s , m u c h

a s t h e y d i d at t h e M a y a A n g e l o u lecture. T h e c o m m i t t e e also felt
t h a t t h e S e n i o r s s h o u l d b e a l l o w e d to s i t a s a c l a s s . T h e s e a t i n g
w o u l d a l s o b e d r i v e n b y t h e d e c i s i o n o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e staff
wore caps and gowns.

What other activities will compliment the Convocation

ceremony?
T h e S t u d e n t C o u n c i l M i x e r is a n i m p o r t a n t p i e c e t o t h e o p e n i n g of t h e
school year. It s e r v e s a s a n i n f o r m a l e v e n t t o f o l l o w - u p t h e
f o r m a l i t y of t h e C o n v o c a t i o n c e r e m o n y . It a l l o w s s t a f f t o i n t e r a c t
w i t h s t u d e n t s in a d i f f e r e n t s e t t i n g a n d c o n t i n u e to m a k e
connections with students. E v e n t h o u g h t h i s e v e n t is t i t l e d " S t u d e n t
Council Mixer" w e believe that the institution should fund the event.
T h i s e v e n t is o p t i o n a l f o r s t u d e n t s a n d s t a f f .

W e f e e l t h a t w e a d e q u a t e l y e x p l o r e d all t h e i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d to u s
and are satisfied with our recommendations. W e t h a n k y o u for t h e
opportunity address the Convocation.