Second Life to host first college graduation

A slide from a Bryant & Stratton College gallery of the upcoming graduation ceremony at its virtual campus in Second Life.

(Credit: Bryant & Stratton College)

It's the time of year for college graduations--students don caps and gowns, degrees are conferred, and commencement speakers stir graduating seniors' emotions--even in the virtual world.

Second Life on Wednesday is hosting the commencement ceremony for online students graduating from Bryant & Stratton College, and appropriately, Second Life founder Philip Rosedale will be the guest speaker.

"These graduates are pioneers, overcoming life's obstacles to pursue their educational goals through online education and start a new life," says Scott Traylor, director of admissions of the 150-year-old college. "It is particularly fitting and gratifying that they celebrate their achievement with Philip Rosedale, the man who pioneered a whole new virtual world through Second Life."

Bryant & Stratton College has chosen to offer its online curriculum through Second Life's education community. There, students can go to virtual campuses, attend conferences, and register for online classes. Hundreds of schools use Second Life, from K-12 to universities, including Harvard, Texas State, and Stanford. Study abroad is even possible, where students can virtually study in Asia, the Middle East, or Africa.

The college will bestow diplomas on Wednesday to about 40 graduates who have earned online degrees. Besides Rosedale's speech, the event will include a virtual procession for students dressed in their digital regalia.

Bryant & Stratton was initially a business institute and is now an accredited proprietary college with campuses in Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and New York, according to its Web site. It offers both two-year and four-year degrees.

[AnthoneyB]

Gladly enough Second Life has the Best way of connecting with People in Awesome ways :) i Myself use it for Business

[Police_States_of_America]

can my grandma come too?

[RickRussellTX]

So, when does the graduating class get attacked by a storm of flying *******?

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2006/12/21/second-life-event-interrupted-by-flying-*****-attack

[knowles2]

haha, I have heard a couple of rumors about attempts to try and pull a similar stunt here. Unless it done by a guest it unlikely it will be achievable.

But I am pretty sure they will cut the entire event off from normal players who would plan such terrable things. And make it a invitation only event, which I believe can be enforce in second life.

But may be there ways around such a system.
sad as it may be.

[Arednuwa]

Great story, and good publicity for Virtual World Education, but sadly they were not the first.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/TSTC/virtual_education/prweb2419874.htm
vTSTC did it a month ago, and their person obtained their degree completely though Second Life. Real Degree, Virtual World!!!
http://v.tstc.edu

[secondlife12]

Actually, vTSTC had someone complete a certificate program. I think they are saying this is the first "college" graduation...so, their grads are earning a degree not just a certificate which only takes a few courses. Anyways, kind of cool they have a good number of students graduating in SL....and they have Philip Rosedale there as the commencement speaker...that's pretty cool.