Interview with Paul Oliaro, Dean of Student Affairs at California State University,
Fresno
What are some unique graduation traditions that Fresno State has?
One of the more unique traditions is the fact that we have several convocation ceremonies
prior to the all-university commencement. Several of our colleges and schools hold their
own convocation either at the Save Mart Center or in the Student Recreation Center and a
that time all of the graduates have an opportunity to walk across the stage, have their
name read, and receive what is really a facsimile of a diploma. They shake hands with the
dean, their parents are out there watching, and it’s a much more personal ceremony.
There are also several departments on campus that also conduct their own convocations
prior to the all-university ceremony on Saturday morning. One of the unique features
after the all-university ceremony on Saturday morning is there are two very special
celebrations. One is our African American celebration for all of our African American
students, which also involves their parents and a number of speakers. And that evening,
on Saturday evening, we have our Latino celebration that celebrates all our Latino
graduates. That celebration usually attracts up to 10,000 participants, about 500 and some
graduates, but also their family members. It is really a celebration of the Central Valley.
So those kinds of unique experiences make commencement a very wonderful and special
tradition for Fresno State.
What is the history behind carrying the mace, and who does that at Fresno State?
The history behind carrying the mace is that it is our most senior faculty member who has
the most years of service on our campus who is the person who has the privilege of being
the mace barer. The mace barer leads the entire ceremony and the procession of students,
faculty, staff, and platform party to begin the commencement ceremony. This year, as it
has been in the recent past, that mace barer is Diane Majors who is a faculty member in
our library, in the Henry Madden Library.
Where did we get the mace?
Another unique piece of our mace barer ceremony is the fact that it was given to us by a
donor by the name of Joe Dale.
What is one of the more special moments at graduation?
There are many special moments at our graduation ceremonies in addition to the fact that
the president will confer all the degrees in the middle of the ceremony, but for me the
more special components of that ceremony is the recognition of all the Dean’s Medalists.
Each college and school, along with the Division of Student Affairs, has an opportunity
to identify and recognize a single graduating senior who has been recognized for their
achievement academically, for their community service, and for their leadership on
campus. They are recognized as the best and brightest of all the graduates within that
college or school, and, for us in the Division of Student Affairs, as a student who has
been actively involved in our campus. There are also graduate students who are
recognized by each college and school for a Graduate Dean’s Medalist.
What is special about the end of the ceremony?
Near the end of the ceremony, the President then has the opportunity to announce the
name of the individual who among all the Dean’s Medalists is most worthy of the highest
honor awarded to an undergraduate, the President’s Medal.
What new traditions are we starting at Fresno State?
This year we will also be starting a new tradition. It was a tradition brought to our
attention by students. They suggested that there should be a way for students to be able to
give each other a paw pin representative of Fresno State. So when students enter the Save
Mart Center and line up prior to the procession, they will receive a paw pin symbolic of
Fresno State. At the very end of the ceremony, when our Alumni Association
representative welcomes all students as new alums, they will be asked to pin the little
paw pin on the student next to them.