AMHERST — On the day that the University of Massachusetts holds its 2023 commencement, many off-campus students with yearlong leases may already be out of their local homes.

That is expected to be the case for junior Hailey Roseman, whose lease for an off-campus residence is set to expire May 26, 2023, the same day that the main undergraduate celebration is scheduled.

Knowing this, Roseman recently created an online petition, signed by “Class of 2023,” that aims to have UMass leaders consider restoring commencement to an earlier May date, in large part because of the uncertainty for seniors who will need to extend or overstay their leases so they can participate in the event.

“The problem with pushing commencement to Memorial Day weekend now proves to be a real issue for any student who lives off-campus and plans to attend their own graduation,” reads the petition titled “Give the Class of 2023 the commencement they deserve.” “While we can beg our landlords to extend our lease or help us out in some way, the reality is that landlords do not have to comply or may not be able to.”

The petition, at https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/give-the-class-of-2023-the-commencement-they-deserve, is addressed to Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and other administrators, and claims a “plethora of problems” associated with the calendar change.

Those other impacts include the observation that hotels and other local lodging are being booked by people coming the same weekend for Amherst College’s commencement, and the more limited time that will be afforded for students who will be pursuing internships and those heading to the workforce.

For students who don’t live in dormitories, including most juniors and seniors, landlords and leasing companies typically engage in 360-day agreements that begin June 1. The idea is that gives a few days for the property owners to get the homes and apartments ready for the next tenants, using that time to clean and repair.

UMass implemented the later commencement as part of changes to the academic calendar that will include a six-week winter session. That is viewed as enhancing academics for students, who will have the ability to catch up or stay on track for their degrees. The current 3½-week winter session was seen as too condensed for student learning and not as pedagogically sound.

Like Roseman, junior Emma Taubert finds herself in a similar situation, and has written a letter to the administration seeking a change to commencement next year. Tauber said that students were not consulted, especially in a class that has already had limited normalcy during its first three years on campus. Freshmen year students were sent home early due to the onset of COVID-19, and many were not able to fully live on campus as sophomores.

“We were all looking forward to a normal senior year and plenty of time to celebrate with and after commencement,” Taubert said. “UMass has not taken any student opinions on this matter and they have not addressed our many concerns.”

The calendar adjustment has also upended her family’s plans. Mary Taubert said that she had booked a home to rent for eight people to celebrate the mid-May 2023 commencement for her twin children. That now has to be changed.

The petition notes that some seniors may have to miss commencement due to the new date, and others who would want to celebrate with friends and family may have to leave Amherst beforehand.

“We have worked for years towards this glorious celebration that we intend to share with who we love,” the petition states. “Yet, now we can’t. Our celebrations will be cut short.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.

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