Pima Community College’s tradition of hosting a multicultural convocation is being integrated into its main commencement ceremony for financial reasons this year and not due to federal orders against DEI, officials say.
“PCC has held multicultural convocations at various times in its past,” said Justin Kree, the community college’s director of media relations. “This celebration event was for graduates and their families from all parts of the community; it highlighted the broad cultures in the community such as arts and food.
“However, budget constraints have restricted that event over various years, and participation has not been as high as we would like because it was disconnected from graduation. That event has been in redevelopment prior to the changes at the federal level,” he said.
Kree said PCC, which has more than 17,000 students, has never held any specific graduation ceremonies for diversity communities other than the main graduation.
Pima Community College’s main commencement ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 at the Tucson Convention Center’s North Exhibition Hall.
PCC will present 5,983 degrees and certificates to 4,714 graduates, as some graduates have earned multiple credentials. The oldest graduate is 72, and the youngest is 16 years old. The commencement speaker will be Alexandra Marie Belford, who is graduating with an associate degree in liberal arts.
The five most popular degrees among this year’s graduates are liberal arts, science, business administration, nursing and general studies, PCC said in a news release.
Graduates line up in the staging room prior to the start of 2024 commencement ceremonies for Pima Community College. This year’s event is Wednesday.
This year, key elements of the multicultural convocation will be incorporated into the main commencement ceremony’s pre-show, featuring three student representatives and a welcome from employees as graduates arrive. There will also be food, music and giveaways at the ceremony.
The multicultural convocation, which started in 2005, was an “inclusive celebration” that “offered a more personal and meaningful way to honor academic accomplishments through graduate stories, cultural food, and music,” Kree said.
It took a hiatus from 2020-23 during the pandemic and resumed in 2024.
When asked if merging elements of the multicultural convocation into the main commencement ceremony had any relation to President Donald Trump’s executive orders to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs, Phil Burdick, vice chancellor of marketing and communications, said PCC is always mindful of federal and state policy directions.
“However, merging our multicultural celebration with the broader graduation ceremony just made practical sense on multiple fronts — lowering costs, planning, logistics, and enhancing the student experience,” Burdick said. “As a locally funded community college, our focus is always on maximizing resources to provide the best possible experience for our students.”
As to the budget concerns cited, Burdick said they involve the expense of graduation ceremonies and PCC’s efforts to be fiscally prudent with public funds. The college has not had any major direct cuts to federal funding this fiscal year, he said.
“It’s really just a reflection of our ongoing commitment to resource stewardship,” he said. “As you know, Pima Community College does not receive maintenance and operational funding from the state of Arizona. This reality means we must be especially mindful of how we allocate resources to ensure they are deployed effectively and responsibly.”
PCC has never provided graduation attire or regalia related to diversity identities, except for those related to students’ careers and professions. However, students are free to wear stoles, chords, and similar items, including those related to any aspect of their identity, said Kree.
Check out the recently completed Advanced Manufacturing Building at Pima Community College's Downtown Campus in Tucson.
