West Chester University faces backlash for using AI announcer at commencement

The controversy over AI-powered name announcements at graduation ceremonies has sparked debate about the balance between technological accuracy and personal touch in academic traditions. West Chester University (WCU) recently found itself at the center of this discussion after contracting with Tassel, a graduation services company, to address long-standing issues with name mispronunciations at commencement ceremonies.

Initial controversy and student response: West Chester University faced significant backlash from students over the use of AI-generated name announcements at graduation ceremonies.

• More than 1,000 people signed a petition organized by senior Elisa Magello, calling for the return of human announcers to preserve tradition and personalization
• The university initially denied using AI in any ceremonies, then later acknowledged its unintentional use in fall 2024 commencement
• WCU officials claimed they were unaware of Tassel’s switch to AI-generated announcements in September

Background and motivation: The university’s decision to partner with Tassel stemmed from a history of problematic name pronunciations that had negatively impacted student experiences.

• Previous ceremonies relied on volunteer faculty and staff to read names, resulting in frequent mispronunciations
• These errors particularly affected students of color and international students, often marring their graduation experience
• The university initially believed they were contracting with human voice actors through Tassel

Technical implementation: Tassel’s AI-powered system demonstrated both capabilities and limitations in name pronunciation accuracy.

• The system handled over 1,000 names with an 84% accuracy rate, as verified by students
• The remaining 16% of names required traditional voice actor recordings
• Students were given the opportunity to preview and reject AI-generated pronunciations before the ceremony

Administrative response: WCU leadership is now actively working to address student concerns while balancing practical considerations.

• Executive Vice President and Provost Jeffery Osgood Jr. initiated discussions with Tassel about returning to human announcers
• The administration plans to consult with the Student Government Association about preferences for future ceremonies
• Cost was reportedly not a factor in WCU’s decision-making, despite Tassel’s assertion that AI helps reduce expenses

Looking forward: The path ahead: This situation highlights the complex trade-offs between technological solutions and traditional approaches in academic ceremonies, raising questions about how institutions can best serve diverse student populations while maintaining meaningful traditions. The resolution at WCU could set important precedents for how other universities approach similar challenges in balancing accuracy with authenticity in graduation ceremonies.