• spamfajitas@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    The fun thing is that people say “I graduated” or “I’m graduating” but it’s technically more correct to say “I am being graduated (by the university).” I might be mixing it up a bit, but the idea is that the university always has the final say over whether or not you get that important piece of paper at the end.

    One of my teachers in high school taught us this, but I never actually thought I’d see it in action. It’s cruel.

    • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      Which is bullshit. If you got the grades and paid your tuition, a university should not be able to withhold your degree. They can ban you from the graduation ceremony, but that’s it.

      It is crazy that a university hold such power over someone.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Harvard doesn’t give grades. You either pass, fail, or pass with honors, more or less entirely at the whim of your professors.

        It’s much more of a social club than a school, and being denied a degree is more akin to having your country club membership revoked than your credentials refuted.

        It’s almost pro-forma, as the real benefit of attending Harvard is rubbing shoulders with the children of billionaires. The goal is to find someone willing to become your financial patron, not to hold a piece of paper confirming that you did all your homework.

        If these kids are on the outs with the school board, they’ve already been blacklisted by anyone that matters.