Nearly four months after graduation, the Class of 2009 has just started to receive their diplomas. Many students questioned the cause of the delay, especially during the late summer months."I was expecting it the end of July/beginning of August. I thought it was just me that hadn't gotten it yet or maybe it had gotten lost in the mail. Then I talked to other graduates and found out no one else had received it either," Class of 2009 graduate Nova Damouni said. "I was just frustrated." "I was expecting it the end of July/beginning of August. I thought it was just me that hadn't gotten it yet or maybe it had gotten lost in the mail. Then I talked to other graduates and found out no one else had received it either," Class of 2009 graduate Nova Damouni said. "I was just frustrated."The diplomas printed for the Class of 2009 includes anyone who graduated in August 2008, December 2008 and May 2009. Mary Ellen Farrell of the University Registrar explained that the delay in students receiving their diplomas was due to "production problems."When Seton Hall received the August 2008 diplomas, they were rejected because the letters were not bold or clear enough to read. When Seton Hall requested the August diplomas be redone, it caused a paper stock shortage at the printing company in Minnesota. Therefore, the December and May diplomas were delayed. "Our students need to have a perfect diploma. It's not fair to have the August diploma being washed out and the December and May diplomas to be perfect," she said. "Now everyone has a perfect diploma. It took longer than we thought it would, but it was worth the wait."However, some students question why graduates don't receive their actual diplomas during commencement. Joe Petitto walked in May 2008 but technically his graduation date was August 2008 because he had to take credits over the summer. Since he didn't officially graduate with the rest of his classmates, he had to wait a year to get his diploma printed with everyone who graduated in December 2008 and May 2009. "Most schools you get your actual diploma at the graduation ceremony. I don't know why Seton Hall is different," Petitto said. "It was aggregating to have to wait over a year because even though I walked at the ceremony, the diploma just makes it official."Farrell explained that often times, students don't realize that they do not have all the requirements or credits to graduate, such as students who fail a class in their last semester. By ordering the diplomas after graduation, the university avoids waste of funds and materials."We place the order after receiving a student's eligibility," she said. Other students don't seem to mind the wait. May 2008 graduate David Ayllon said waiting for his diploma didn't bother him at all. "I kind of forgot about it actually. It helped me pretend I was still a student and didn't have to face reality just yet," he said. "I knew I graduated. I didn't need a piece of paper to tell me that."Farrell assures students that this is the first time a delay has occurred and that the university is making a conscious effort to accelerate the process this year. Meghan St. John can be reached at meghan.stjohn.student@shu.edu
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