In an email to members of the Baldwin Wallace University community on April 22, president Lee Fisher announced that the university will hold an in-person, traditional commencement ceremony for its Fall 2026 graduates.
This follows a decision in March that cancelled commencement because of the high cost associated with the event and the low number of expected graduates. The university’s new plan for Fall 2026 is to hold commencement on the Mainstage of the Kleist Center for Art & Drama, which Fisher described as “a smaller, more intimate venue that will accommodate all December graduates and at least two guests per graduate.”
In his April 22 email, while Fisher maintained that the March decision was made in “good faith,” he said that “leadership often requires making difficult decisions–and just as important, being open to reconsidering those decisions when new ideas and perspectives emerge.”
Many of these perspectives came from the students themselves. Fisher shared with the community that, over the past month, he has heard from and met with many December graduates and their families. While they appreciated Fisher’s offer to hold a reception at the President’s Residence (instead of commencement), they made clear the importance of walking across the stage.
One of those students, Marissa Brigger, a senior Neuroscience major, said that having a “normal” graduation ceremony is a lot more meaningful than most people realize, especially for her, having grown up homeschooled.
“I never got to experience the environment of a formal graduation ceremony with strangers, friends, and family,” Brigger said. “Many of the comments I read on social media initially were harsh and unempathetic to the abrupt announcement, which stung, as a young adult who just wanted a small moment of normality at the conclusion of an unconventional educational journey.”
Brigger said that she is “so excited” to be able to celebrate her achievements at a ceremony with friends and family thanks to Fisher and his administration’s reconsideration.
Haley Snevel, a senior Biology and Spanish double-major who also met with Fisher, said that a traditional ceremony is important for her to be able to transition from college to career.
“To me, a graduation ceremony signifies the end of an era, where I can completely move on and start my future career,” Snevel said. “It symbolizes all of the hard work that I have done to meet this specific deadline, and it is a way for my parents, friends, and family to show their love and support to my dedication and hard work. It offers me the closure that I need to be able to fully move on from college and enter the professional work force.”
Snevel said that she is grateful that the university took the time to “thoughtfully listen” to her and other students’ concerns and ultimately learn from its students, just as its students learn from it.
Aleka Kasson, a senior Studio Art major who also met with Fisher, said that she is completely satisfied with Fisher’s decision to reinstate Fall commencement, and emphasized the respectful nature of the meeting, saying she felt “completely heard and understood.”
“President Fisher deeply cares about each student at Baldwin Wallace and wants their voices to be reflected in all his actions as president,” Kasson said. “Supporting the student body is his prime concern, and this is illustrated by the way he handled our concerns and acted on them.”
Brigger agreed, describing the students’ meeting with Fisher as “exceedingly productive.” She said that it was obvious that Fisher’s goal was to listen and understand, while encouraging the students to speak openly about their thoughts and ideas, “which confirmed his open-minded attitude toward the conversation.”
Fisher closed his email by thanking students, families, faculty and staff for being willing to express their views with “care and civility,” and described how this compromise reflects BW’s commitment to community collaboration.
“This new approach allows us to do what Baldwin Wallace does best: find a thoughtful, values-driven solution that honors our students, respects our financial responsibilities, and reflects what is possible when we listen to one another and work together as a community,” Fisher stated.
Brigger said that this series of events is a “valuable learning opportunity” for the entire community. She encouraged future students to have the courage to advocate for themselves in a professional manner, stating that, “Nothing productive will ever be accomplished when reacting angrily; instead, any time we encounter change that negatively impacts us, we should take time to sit with it for a moment.”
“The solution we were able to reach was a culmination of efforts from students and members of the administration alike,” Brigger said, “which paints a beautiful picture of how change can be induced through collaboration.”
