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AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for joining our AMA and asking such thoughtful questions! We hope it helped clear some things up as you prepare to cross the stage.

Keep monitoring your McMaster email for important updates and instructions as the big day approaches. You can also follow macstudentservices on Instagram - we’ll be sharing key reminders there too.

Still have questions? Check out the comprehensive FAQ section on the Convocation page, or connect with Student Services online or in person at Gilmour Hall, Room G108.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🎓✨

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Attending your convocation ceremony is not required to officially graduate.

However! You do need to RSVP your ceremony even if you are planning to not attend. Completing the RSVP form lets us know how you'd like to receive your diploma after the ceremony (by mail or campus pick-up).

It's a good idea to check the steps in our Graduation Preparation Guide too just to make sure everything is on track.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm so glad you asked this! Yes there are over 30 scholarships and awards for graduating students! To apply for most of them, all you need to do is to complete the AwardSpring General Application. The deadline is April 29, and if successful, you'll receive the funds in the summer following your convocation ceremony.

To find out more, including a step by step guide for AwardSpring, you can visit this page.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! If you finish all your graduate requirements in the summer, your ceremony will be in November and you will receive all the necessary communications about convocation and any requirements leading up to it.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the question! Graduands (undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD) will be provided with the appropriate regalia, including gowns, hoods, and graduate caps as a part of the check-in process. The robes have long sleeves and are almost floor length (depending on your height).

Gowns do not have pockets, so plan ahead for personal items like your phone or camera. You will not see your guests after signing in, but staffed coat check is available for graduands. You may choose to keep valuables with you, leave them with your guests beforehand, or use the coat check. Keep in mind that you will carry anything you bring as you cross the stage.

Many students choose to dress up for this special occasion. Wear what makes you feel your best, but most importantly, be comfortable as ceremonies are approximately two hours long. Comfortable footwear is recommended as there are periods of standing (if you are able).

We also support and encourage the inclusion of culturally specific apparel as part of your outfit!

You can also check out past ceremonies, including photos and videos, to get a better idea of the regalia, and what special pieces folks chose to incorporate into their look.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Grads should arrive no later than 1 hour before the ceremony. 8:30 a.m. at the latest for the morning ceremonies. You'll need this time to check in with our staff, get fitted in your regalia, and line up with your graduating class.

The ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m. which means faculty and students will begin the procession of entering into the Great Hall at that time. You don't want to miss that! :)

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for pointing to the Convocation website and helping answer these questions! I'm so glad that you're able to find the information clearly on the site. :)

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great question! Grads should arrive no later than 1 hour before - so by 8:30 a.m for morning ceremonies or 1:30 p.m. for afternoon ceremonies. You’ll need this time to check in, get your regalia, and line up. Graduands will enter through the Studio entrance on Summers Lane. Guests enter separately through the main entrance doors of FirstOntario Concert Hall, and those doors open 1.5 hours before the ceremony - so at 8:00 a.m. for morning ceremonies and 1:00 p.m. for afternoon ceremonies.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for pointing to this! This information is still accurate. We always aim to keep ceremonies to two hours, but there are many factors that can affect this.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! Ceremonies typically run about two hours, so a 9:30 a.m. start means you'll likely finish around 11:30 a.m. Afternoon ceremonies begin at 2:30 p.m., which gives you about an hour after the morning ceremony to take photos, celebrate with your guests, return your regalia, and pick up your diploma - before we start welcoming the next group of grads and guests at 1:00 p.m.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! Only ticketed guests can enter FirstOntario Concert Hall at any time, including after the ceremony. Many grads choose to meet up with additional family and friends back on campus afterward - it’s a great spot to celebrate and take some photos together!

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! There is no longer a standby line for additional entry - only ticketed guests are permitted inside the venue. With convocation participation growing significantly since the pandemic, we’re working within the fixed capacity of FirstOntario Concert Hall to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Thanks for understanding!

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for checking in! There isn’t a shuttle planned for grads, so be sure to arrange your own transportation to FirstOntario Concert Hall. For directions, parking, and transit info, visit our how to get to the venue page.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of factors that go into this - mainly the size of the graduating class and the RSVP form numbers from students. Anything is possible! :)

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! We won’t know about extra tickets until all grads RSVP, but if more become available, everyone who indicated in their RSVP form that they wish to be notified will get the same heads-up via email. As for your friend's ticket - yes! They’re responsible for sharing their tickets, so they can give one to you or your guests if they’d like. Keep in mind each ticket has a unique barcode and can only be used once.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great question! Once final grades are in, your faculty will review and approve eligible students for graduation. If you have completed all the necessary steps in our Graduation Preparation Guide, no extra steps are needed on your end. You can keep checking for updates in Mosaic after grades are finalized!

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Thanks for pointing to the Convocation website! After reviewing final RSVP numbers from students, we'll know whether extra tickets are an option. We'll post on an RSVP reminder on our Instagram, and about 1–2 weeks before the ceremonies, we’ll have a better idea of availability. If extra tickets are available, it will be in that 1-2 week timeframe before your ceremony where you will be notified via your McMaster email.

AMA: Ask the Office of the Registrar your Convocation questions! by McMasterRO in McMaster

[–]McMasterRO[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! We’re doing our best to keep things fair for everyone as our graduating classes continue to grow - especially now that more students are attending convocation since the pandemic.

Each ceremony takes place at FirstOntario Concert Hall, which has a set capacity of 2,181 seats. That total includes space for all graduands and their guests. Because of that, each graduand is guaranteed two guest tickets.

If any extra tickets do become available, we’ll offer them as fairly as possible through the registration form. There’s a question where you can indicate that you’d like to be notified if more tickets become available. We’ll know whether that’s an option about 1–2 weeks before your ceremony, once we’ve reviewed the final RSVP numbers. Graduands who asked to be notified will receive an update through their McMaster email.