What's In A Diploma? -- UW Branch Campuses Search For Identity

THE five members of the first graduating class of the University of Washington's Tacoma Branch Campus received their diplomas Friday. Confusion over exactly what the diplomas mean, however, detracted from the proud occasion.

Small type on the diplomas declares the degrees are granted by the Tacoma faculty, and the diplomas are signed by the dean of branch campuses. Some, like Keith Benson, chairman of the UW faculty senate, worry the diplomas are too similar to those given by the UW main campus.

Do the branch-campus diplomas indicate graduates have acquired a standard UW education? Or do they signify an education different -

but not necessarily better or worse - than what students at the main Seattle campus receive?

The UW administration wants to answer yes to both questions. Students at the Tacoma and Bothell campuses are assured the quality of teaching is comparable to that on the main campus. Meanwhile, main campus faculty are told the branches are institutions with different standards, and more importantly, distinct faculty-hiring criteria.

Clearly, the branch campuses are different. They offer only junior and senior-year classes and do not grant degrees in specific areas of study. All graduates receive a general "liberal studies" degree and entrance requirements are more flexible.

Clarifying these differences would be good for both faculty and students, though altering the diplomas to emphasize the difference between campuses seems silly.

Washington State University, which has branch campuses in Vancouver, Tri-Cities and Spokane, has avoided this identity problem. All diplomas are exactly the same as those granted at the Pullman campus. No branch locations are indicated. Branch-campus students fulfill the same credit requirements as Pullman students, and can receive degrees in dozens of majors. They're even invited to commencement ceremonies at Pullman.