Union Institute & University presents learner-designed commencement weekend

BRATTLEBORO — Union Institute & University's (UI&U) Brattleboro Center will host a commencement weekend on Dec. 11 and 12 for new graduates of the Bachelor of Arts Weekend residency program.

On Saturday the 11th, the B.A. graduates will give presentations, open-to-the-public, based on their studies. The weekend events will culminate on Sunday the 12th at 11:45 a.m., in the Community Room at the Vermont Academic Center when the graduates, their families and UI&U Brattleboro faculty and staff gather for the commencement.

“One of the most unique aspects of the Brattleboro B.A. commencements is that they are learner-centered and learner-created,” said Diane Robinson, director of admissions for the UI&U's Brattleboro Academic Center.

From the design and printing of the environmentally-friendly program (spearheaded by new B.A. graduate Alan Benoit of Manchester, Vt.)  to choosing the speakers for Sunday's commencement, the new graduating class organized the entire commencement ceremony.

Saturday presentations will take place from 1:15-4:35 p.m. and be held at the Vermont Academic Center. The B.A. curriculum emphasizes practical, real-world application and community engagement and the culminating presentations are open to the public.

B.A. graduate Jennifer Tucker will explore poverty and how it affects the education of children in her talk “Poverty and Education.” Learner Misty Kennedy will discuss the history, stages, and interpretations of children's drawings in her talk “Drawings of Children,” and Alan Benoit will explain the concept of “green washing” in his talk, “What Shade of Green.”

Union Institute & University's Brattleboro Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Master of Arts with concentrations in psychology and counseling programs are located in the Vermont Agricultural and Education Center on Old Guilford Road at 3 University Way. The Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D.) program is based out of the Marlboro College Graduate Center downtown.

For more information about the Brattleboro degree programs and the B.A.commencement weekend, contact the Brattleboro Academic Center at 802-257-9411 or [email protected]. For information about Union Institute & University, visit www.myunion.edu.

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