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May 27, 2009, 03:03 PM ET
Online Students at Bryant & Stratton College Will Graduate via Second Life
Some students at Bryant & Stratton College will have a short commute to their graduation ceremony: All they need to do is turn on their home computers.
On June 10, approximately 40 students in the institution’s online-degree program will sign on to Second Life, a three-dimensional virtual world, where they will watch computer simulations of the college’s vice president and a student speaker address them before their names, degrees, and honors are announced.
While several colleges have experimented with Second Life for college tours, debate tournaments, and more, Bryant & Stratton College claims it is the first to hold a commencement in the virtual world. It will also hold traditional graduations on its 15 campuses.
Scott Traylor, Bryant & Stratton’s director of admissions, says students are now stretching farther from the college’s physical campuses, and with work schedules and the high costs of travel, students asked for an alternative graduation. In addition to the June 10 event, online students are given the option to attend an in-person ceremony.
“They really wanted to have something that was more closely tied to their experience online, and they wanted to graduate with their classmates,” Mr. Traylor says of the students. “Just as they chose their mode of delivery for their education, they can choose their mode of delivery for their graduation.”
For Sheri Frost, the third attempt at a college degree was the charm. Having began her associate degree twice before, in 2001 and 2002, she will receive it this June, in paralegal studies. At first she was uncertain whether she could attend the traditional ceremony because she has four children and commutes using public transportation, but she later decided to go.
“I’m the first college graduate in the family, and I wanted my parents to see me walk across the stage,” Ms. Frost says.
Although she will receive her diploma in a cap and gown, Ms. Frost says she will still sign in online to attend the virtual ceremony.
“A lot of friends that I made through online schooling won’t be able to attend in person,” she says. “I wanted to be there for them and watch them graduate.”
For now, only the students and faculty members can watch the online graduation, but a video will be posted to the college’s Web site later. –Marc Beja
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