Victory in fight against graduation cost
Students are celebrating victory after lobbying against the cost of graduations.
Sunderland Students’ Union started a campaign to lower the overall price of graduation for students by ensuring that all graduates receive two free tickets for their ceremony.
The union’s vice-president Kirsty Paterson, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the university’s decision to help ensure that graduation will be lessofafinancialburdentoitsstudents.
“This decision reflects months of campaigning from me and the rest of the staff at the Students’ Union, whose hard work and commitment have made this proposed change a reality.”
The Students’ Union had said that the price of graduation was comparable to a ‘tax on graduates’, coining the #WEARoverpaying campaign.
The cost of a ticket is £27.50, with the overall cost of the event averaging £200 per student, including gown hire.
As a result, many students reportedly found themselves unable to attend the event, opting for a cheaper alternative in which multiple family members could celebrate together.
The new policy will be introduced in time for graduating Sunderland students this summer and will remain a permanent fixture for the university.
The University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Robert Trimble, said: “Ensuring our students get the best experience and best value in all they do here at Sunderland is paramount.
“That is why I am very pleased indeed that, after consulting at length and listening to our Students’ Union and our students, we have been able to significantly reduce the overall costs of their most important day.
“From the summer of 2017 we will be offering our students two free guest tickets for their graduation ceremony, in addition to the free ticket our graduating students have always received.”