The decision to limit December's university-wide commencement ceremony to doctoral and master's students could mean a decrease in proceeds from the ceremony, while the ceremony itself could cost more to produce.

While officials are still unsure of the financial impact the graduation changes will have, Alexis Hernandez, associate dean of students, said expenditures related to using McKale Center for the limited December commencement are expected to be higher than they were for past graduation ceremonies.

"All costs related to using McKale, stage, set up, etc. remain about the same," Hernandez said. "There will be increased costs for printing more programs and increased security costs."

Despite the increase in expenses, Frank Farias, director of the UofA Bookstore, said he is not able to anticipate if there will be an increase or decrease in graduation revenue.

But Farias said the bookstore could potentially lose money because of the lack of a university-wide commencement.

University officials announced last week that December's university-wide commencement would be limited to doctoral and master's students, while undergraduates will participate only in their individual college convocations.

Every semester, the UofA Bookstore finances the university's commencement ceremonies with an estimated $50,000, Farias said.

The bookstore then receives revenue from graduation by selling commencement-related items, like graduation announcements, class rings, caps, gowns and invitations.

Farias said that because not all individual colleges require students to wear caps and gowns, the resulting financial impact on the bookstore could be a decrease in graduation revenue.

Funds from graduation allow the bookstore to either break even or "recycle money back into the community," Farias said.

"All the money realized goes to different services, including ASUA, Faculty Fellows Speaker Series, scholarship support, UApresents, KUAT and the Southwest Retail Center for Education," Farias said.

Farias said the bookstore does not profit from graduation, as the proceeds go back to the university.

Debby Shively, associate director of the UofA Bookstore, said she is in the process of contacting individual college deans and asking whether their graduates will be required to wear caps and gowns. Until then, the bookstore cannot project an estimated gain or loss in revenue, Shively said.

"The discussions over the next several weeks should provide us with a sense of direction," said Farias.

Hernandez echoed the statement and said although he anticipates increased costs, much of the financial aspect will not be known until the Commencement Operations Committee receives specific details surrounding the changes.

"Then we'll estimate costs," Hernandez said. "We know what it really costs when the bills come in."

Regardless of the expected revenue, Farias said the UofA Bookstore will continue to finance the university graduation ceremony and stand behind President Likins' decision.

"We find it to be an important program we should support," said Farias. "Unfortunately, a few people who are disrespectful stopped this (ceremony) for many."

While the UofA Bookstore finances the university commencement, each college pays for its individual commencement ceremony.

The financial implications of the December commencement changes within the colleges are still widely unknown.

Alistair Chapman, student body president, said last week he heard "chatter" among colleges that some convocations will charge an entrance fee for guests in order to pay for venues.

Chapman said colleges might have to find larger venues in order to accommodate the expected increase in guests at the individual convocations.

But Debra Olson, executive assistant for the College of Humanities, said their ceremony will be the same as in previous years, with a free luncheon for students while guests are charged.

The College of Humanities convocation will be held in the Student Union Memorial Center's Grand Ballroom, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.

But Gail Burd, associate dean for the College of Science, said while locations on campus are large enough to accommodate December graduates and their guests, the College of Science will have to go off-campus in the spring to accommodate more guests if the changes become permanent.

"If we have to go off to some resort or the TCC Music Hall, it might cost something," Burd said. "We're hoping not to have it off-campus. We certainly wouldn't want to charge a lot of money."

According to Burd, the College of Science ceremony has never had an entrance fee.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the location for the College of Science December's ceremony is still undetermined.

Although Farias and Shively said they support administration's decision to change the December format, both hope the university-wide commencement ceremony resumes in May, not because of financial reasons, said Farias, but due to the "passion and history" involved in commencement.

"It's a beautiful ceremony," Shively said.

To address the issues surrounding commencement, ASUA will hold a town hall today at 1 p.m. in the Kiva Auditorium in the Student Union. Students, parents, alumni, faculty, administrators, staff and the local community are welcome to attend the campus-wide forum to voice their opinions or learn more about the December changes.