Some of the university’s 5,500 students had objected to the choice of DeVos as speaker when it was announced in September, and more than 3,000 digital signatures were gathered on an online petition sent to the university’s president, Kurt Schmoke.

“Inviting an individual that has caused, is causing and has potential to continue to cause direct harm to students at this school shows clear disregard for the safety and well-being of students,” the petition stated. “Further, it creates an implicit endorsement of policies that can and will have a lasting negative impact on the very graduates this ceremony is supposed to celebrate.”

At the time, Schmoke said he was pleased that the education secretary could speak at the university’s commencement, and underscored the school’s commitment to free speech and to hearing from a range of perspectives.

On Monday, a group gathered outside holding signs that praised public education and that carried slogans such as “TOSS DEVOS.” And the secretary was greeted by some boos and some applause inside the ceremony.

University spokesman Chris Hart said Monday that students’ views covered a spectrum, with some staunchly opposed to DeVos and others upset their graduation day might be disrupted by protesters.

“It was respectful, it was measured, it was not disruptive,” Hart said of graduates who protested silently during the speech.

Protesters chanting outside weren’t disruptive, either, he said: “Her speech was, I think, well-received.”

He said it was “a sign of respect on all sides that we can come together and have a discussion at a public session and not drown each other out. . . . You can speak your mind and yet not sidetrack an event.”

Noah Johnston, the chief of staff of the public university’s student government association, agreed that students had a range of opinions. He said when student government leaders objected to the choice of DeVos in September, there was pushback from students who didn’t understand the group was calling for greater student involvement in the selection of a speaker. The student government passed legislation this fall that will give students a greater voice in the process, Johnston said.

“There has been a movement throughout the student body to ‘resist’ the commencement speech from Secretary DeVos,” he said. The student government association wasn’t part of that movement, he said, but encourages students to express their concerns.

“It’s relatively peaceful,” he said Monday. “Everyone seems to be focusing more on the commencement — they just seem to be happy that they’re graduating.”

In her speech, DeVos praised individual graduates who had persevered, and challenged them all to serve others. And she urged them to listen to those with whom they disagree.

“On social media and on many college campuses, groups and individuals pit themselves against each other — not to discuss and debate deeply held beliefs or ideas — but to raise decibels, score ‘gotcha’ points or shout down an opponent’s voice,” she said.

“. . . But we will not solve the significant and real problems our country faces if we cannot embrace this paradox of silence.

“We will do well to first listen, study, ponder, then speak to genuinely engage those with whom we disagree. Voices that are quiet at first, grow in strength while those who rush to shout are humbled.