Melbourne Uni, RMIT and ACU cancel students’ 2020 graduations

Students are furious a major Melbourne university has cancelled this year’s graduation ceremonies in the wake of the pandemic. But they’re not the only ones affected, with other universities also canning students’ big day.

ACU has reportedly cancelled student graduations across the country in the wake of the pandemic, but students say it's a blatant cost cutting measure.

At least four major Victorian universities have cancelled in-person graduation ceremonies for their 2020 cohort, sparking fury from disappointed students.

One angry Australian Catholic University Student slammed his education provider’s decision to can his big day as an attempt by the uni to cut costs during the pandemic.

Australian universities have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and widespread redundancies have been flagged.

ACU informed students in an email on Monday that summer graduations were cancelled and, according to students, gave no word on when or if replacement ceremonies would be held.

More than 3300 people have signed a change.org petition calling for the university to let students attend a ceremony at a future date.

Melbourne University, Swinburne and RMIT also confirmed with the Leader on Thursday they had called off their onsite graduation ceremonies this year for all students.

A Swinburne spokesperson said graduates could attend a free virtual ceremony this year as well as a future in person graduation ceremony, if they chose to do so.

La Trobe University has postponed graduation ceremonies and a spokesperson said planning was underway to find an alternative way for graduates to celebrate.

Victoria University will stream ceremonies online and host an in person ceremony at a later date.

Melbourne ACU student Mitch Atanasovski, the petition’s author, slammed ACU’s decision as a blatant cost cutting measure that left thousands of hardworking graduates in the lurch.

He wrote the decision affected ACU students across the country, not just those in virus plagued Melbourne, and questioned why overseas universities in cities hit worse by the pandemic postponed graduations, but ACU saw fit to cancel them altogether.

“I completely understand that there is a global pandemic and a graduation ceremony is not feasible at this given time, but after four and a half years of hard work, dedication and perseverance I was proud to be the first person in my family to graduate university,” he wrote.

“I knew that I wouldn’t be able to have a graduation ceremony this year but I was hopeful I could share this moment with my mum and sister in the future.

“I am sure ACU Melbourne is not the only university trying to save time and money by not having a graduation for students in 2020.”

Speaking to the Leader, Mr Atanasovski, who completed his degree in Arts and Global Studies this year, said he was disappointed ACU hadn’t bothered to host an online graduation.

He said a mate who studied at a different university was given the option of graduating with next year’s cohort but ACU had been totally inflexible.

“Some people are PhDs, doing seven or eight years and not getting to celebrate. One girl got her certificate in the mail and it was all scrunched up,” Mr Atanasovski said.

ACU has national campuses in Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, Blacktown, Brisbane, Canberra, Northfield and Strathfield.

Angry students commented on the petition saying they deserved a ceremony.

“We worked so hard for this moment, even if it’s delayed we still deserve the hat, gown and recognition with our loved ones and peers,” one woman wrote.

“If you’ve worked so hard for years for your degree you deserve to celebrate. At graduation, all those times when you had mental breakdown over assignments and the financial difficulties you endured all become worth it,” another woman wrote.

ACU deputy vice-chancellor and president Dr Stephen Weller confirmed all 2020 graduation ceremonies were cancelled.

It was the “only responsible decision” the university could take in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, he said, and other Australian universities had made similar decisions.

Students would not be prevented from graduating as a result, he said, and most students had already had their degree conferred and received their certificates.

“The decision to cancel our graduation ceremonies in 2020 was not taken lightly and we want to celebrate this important milestone for our completing students and their loved ones,” Dr Weller said.

“We are following the (authority’s guidelines) which recommends restriction of large gatherings of people, and the advice of government and health authorities in each state and territory where our campuses are.

“It is certainly disappointing for each of our graduating students who have invested so much of themselves to reach this achievement, and we are arranging for them to have photos taken in academic regalia so they can safely celebrate with family and friends when health restrictions allow us to do so.”

Monash University did not respond by deadline to the Leader’s request for comment.

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