All ceremonies will be held in the gymnasium and usually last two to three hours. Out of respect for other graduates and guests, plan to stay for the entire ceremony.

Graduate Check-in

Please arrive in the gowning room an hour and a half before your ceremony at the Barrie campus for registration and gowning. For ceremonies in Orillia and Owen Sound, please arrive one hour prior to the ceremony beginning.

You will be given a card upon check-in. This card will have your name and program information for the Orator to read as you cross the stage. Keep this card with you at all times.

Gowning

After you check-in, you will go to the gowning room where you will sign for your gown and liripipe or hood. The College lends gowns to graduates for use during the ceremony. Please return your regalia to the gowning room promptly (within 30 minutes of the ceremony ending). You must sign your gown back in at the gowning room. Any student not returning his/her regalia will be billed for its replacement.

Procession and Marshalling

Once you have your name card and academic regalia, find the sign with your program name and line up with your classmates. Please place yourself in alphabetical lines, by program, to form the Processional.

The Procession will depart 15 minutes prior to the ceremony beginning. You will be lead into the gym behind the Platform Party and faculty. Please remain standing for the singing of the national anthem.

The program will continue with speeches by the President or Vice President, Board of Governors and the Alumni Association.

Presentation of Certificates and Diplomas

On a signal from the Marshal, the graduands (students are graduands until crossing the stage, becoming a graduate) will proceed, one row at a time, to the stage. As each graduand’s name is read he/she will cross the stage to shake hands with the President / Vice President and representative of the Board of Governors. He/she will then receive an envelope from the Program Dean (officially becoming a graduate). The Marshalls will direct graduates to receive their actual credential off-stage and then be escorted directly back to their seat.

This process will continue until all graduates have been called.
For the enjoyment of everyone, we ask that movement and talking be kept to a minimum during the ceremony to show respect for all names called.

Conclusion

At the end of the ceremony, the Platform Party will lead the Recession, followed by faculty and graduates to the convocation reception. Guests may follow after the graduates.

Convocation Reception

All graduates and their guests are cordially invited to a reception following the Convocation Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. You should arrange to meet your guests in this area.

Gown Return

Return your gown to the gowning room promptly and sign it back in to avoid being charged for its replacement.