Congregation Ceremonies are held in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (see map).
Students assemble in the Graduate Student Centre (see map) 1 hour and 30 minutes before their ceremony start time.
There is no secure storage space available in the Ballroom of the Graduate Student Centre, so whatever you bring with you into the Ballroom, you will need to bring with you into the Chan Centre and you will need to hold onto these items throughout the ceremony. It is recommended that you leave personal items such as purses and coats with your families / guests.
For each ceremony, students will assemble in their allotted sections of the Ballroom of the Graduate Student Centre. This must be completed 30 minutes prior to the start time of the ceremony, at which time the marshal will explain the procedure for the procession. The procession will leave 20 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Your diploma and a card inscribed with your name will be given to you as you are joining the procession. The procession forms in two lines, each led by a marshal, and marches to the Chan Centre where the lines are re-connected and directed to the proper seats. Your position in these two lines is decided by your required order of appearance when you cross the stage. You MUST therefore remain in your own line and in your original position in that line.
You will be seated in the Chan Centre and will remain seated until the Faculty Procession enters. As the marshal signals the entrance of the Faculty Procession, you will rise and will thereafter sit and rise as directed by the Chancellor and / or President.
When the conferring of degrees is to commence, successive rows of candidates will be directed to rise and follow the marshal to the platform. You should stop on the platform and hand the card with your name on it to the person reading the names. As your name is read out, you pause for a moment in front of the Reader’s Podium facing the audience, so that a picture can be taken of you. You then proceed across the platform, pausing to stand facing the Chancellor. She will say “I admit you” and shake your hand, you then nod to the President and continue across the stage. The Dean of your faculty will be standing on stage near the President to shake your hand as you proceed across the platform. Candidates who are graduating in a Diploma program will do the same. A marshal will direct you to a seat. You will please remain in that seat until the end of the ceremony.
In order to avoid any delay, there should be three candidates at any one time on the platform waiting to go forward to the Chancellor:
A. close to the Dean
B. halfway between the top of the steps and the Dean
C. at the top of the steps
When ‘A’ goes to the Chancellor, ‘B’ at once takes the place of ‘A’, ‘C’ takes the place of ‘B’, and ‘C’s’ place is taken by the next candidate from the bottom of the steps. Candidates must remove their mortar boards when they reach the top of the steps. If you are a candidate for a PhD and / or EdD degree, the hood is carried on your right arm, and the President will drape it over your shoulders after you have been admitted by the Chancellor.
Candidates to receive Diplomas do not wear hoods unless they already hold a university degree, in which case they wear the hood appropriate to that degree. After the ceremony the new graduates remain in their places until a marshal directs the formation of a procession to leave the building.
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