Graduates at this weekend's commencement ceremonies at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa — whose chancellor happens to be an expert on infectious diseases — should not expect a traditional handshake as part of their official congratulations from UH officials.

Instead, students will receive "another sign of congratulations," which Manoa officials say will be a surprise.

The announcement, made yesterday by Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, received criticism from some students who felt barring handshakes is an "overboard precaution." Other students were supportive, noting that one Manoa student has already been confirmed to have contracted swine flu, or H1N1 Influenza A.

"I'd be shaking thousands of hands — and I love doing it — but even if only one of those people had something on their hands ... that is a concern that can be raised in people's minds about transmission," Hinshaw said.

Hinshaw said the decision was made for several reasons. She wanted all students to feel comfortable attending commencement. And she felt the university should lead by example during the current swine flu outbreak.

"Since we've been giving out a lot of advice about how to best protect yourself, then we should illustrate those methods," said Hinshaw, who has made several media and public statements about the H1N1 virus and how to prevent transmission.

Harold Stiller, a travel industry management major who will be graduating on Saturday, said the handshake is a symbolic gesture of accomplishment.

"We're all going to be sitting in an enclosed space anyway. I don't see how shaking hands or not shaking hands will make all that much of a difference," Stiller said.

"It seems so unnecessary," he said.

10 CONFIRMED CASES

The announcement to ban handshakes at graduation comes as four additional people in Hawai'i tested positive for swine flu. So far, 10 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the Islands.

It also comes days after a UH-Manoa student living in the Hale Wainani residence hall was confirmed to have swine flu.

In addition to no handshakes, the school will provide hand wipes and make hand-wash stations available, Hinshaw said.

The school also urged anyone who is ill with flu-like symptoms to stay home and not attend the ceremony or any other public gathering.

More than 1,500 bachelor candidates are eligible to attend the undergraduate ceremony Saturday morning. Nearly 800 graduate degree candidates — master's and doctorate degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates in secondary education — are eligible to participate in the afternoon ceremony.

Hawai'i's public school system, which will hold commencement ceremonies in June, has not made similar decisions to ban handshakes, said Sandy Goya, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.

Goya said the DOE is likely to issue health guidelines to schools this week.

SOME DISAPPOINTED

Peter Maher, an art major graduating Saturday, said many students were concerned about swine flu when news broke that a Manoa student had contracted it.

"I do think it's pretty serious," Maher said.

He said he didn't have an opinion on handshakes at the commencement ceremonies.

"It seems a little extreme, but I can see where they are coming from," he said.

Maher said there are other options than just an outright ban of handshakes. For instance, someone could distribute alcohol-based hand sanitizer to graduates before receiving their degrees on stage.

Elise Davis, a public health graduate student, was supportive of the ban. She said students have been taking additional precautions since news of swine flu broke.

"It could help since there was an outbreak here," she said.

But Tye Miller, a junior majoring in business, said she thinks the swine flu scare is being blown out of proportion.

"It's not that big a deal," she said.

Miller said handshakes are a traditional part of graduating and getting rid of it will make for an impersonal ceremony.

"When I got my associate degree, some of my closest professors stood up to shake my hand. You build relationships with these people. It's disappointing that all of a sudden you're not allowed to do that," she said.