General information

Convocation rehearsal

All those receiving degrees at the ceremony are required to attend the convocation rehearsal in the Hazen Hall Lecture Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 – 7 p.m.

Led by the Student Marshal, the rehearsal provides graduands with instructions and information not only on their role in what can be a rather complex pattern of events during the actual ceremony, but on topics such as the proper way to wear academic regalia as well as the degree-granting process.

Graduands will receive their parade cards from the Student Marshal at the rehearsal. You will present this card, from which your name will be read as you cross the stage to graduate, to the Orator. In addition to your name, it will contain a number to ensure that you are lined up and seated in the correct order. If you are not able to attend the rehearsal, you must locate a student marshal on the day of the ceremony, in the Grand Hall (40 Charlotte St.), to obtain your parade card.

UNB asks that graduands do not take personal belongings such as purses, jackets, flowers, and confetti into UNB Saint John’s Grand Hall and the Imperial Theatre’s auditorium. Backpacks are not permitted within these convocation venues.

Convocation schedule

Tickets

Although graduands do not require a ticket, guests who wish to attend must have a ticket for admission, including children. Each graduand may have up to two tickets for the Fall Convocation Ceremony.

All tickets will be available for pick up on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5 – 6 p.m., in the upper foyer of the Hazen Hall Lecture Theatre.

If unable to attend the rehearsal, you may pick up tickets on the day of convocation in the Imperial Theatre lobby, from 2 – 3 p.m. Student identification is required.

To receive additional tickets for the ceremony in Saint John, email unbsjreg@unb.ca no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11. Submissions will not be accepted after this time/date. All graduands submitting a request for additional guest tickets will be given consideration after this date and will receive an email notification of whether their requests were able to be accommodated no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Please advise your guests that the auditorium at the Imperial Theatre will be open for seating beginning at 4 p.m. Seats are unassigned and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friends and family who do not have a ticket will be able to view the ceremony from the comfort of their homes via a live feed at unb.ca/graduation.

UNB has introduced new safety measures and personal belongings such as backpacks are not permitted within UNB Saint John’s Grand Hall and the Imperial Theatre’s auditorium.

UNB Associated Alumni toast

Join members of the UNB Associated Alumni at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 in the Grand Hall for the traditional alumni toast to celebrate the accomplishments of the fall 2024 Saint John graduands.

The toast will be delivered by a member of the #ProudlyUNB alumni family, with a class photo taken immediately following.

Accessibility

The Imperial Theatre provides both accessible and inclusive spaces for guests attending the ceremony. It has barrier free entrances, and is equipped with an elevator. Ushers will direct guests with limited mobility to accessible seating inside the auditorium.

Ceremonies will be live-streamed at unb.ca/graduation for those who wish to watch the ceremony from the comfort of their homes. A streaming link will be available on this website 30 minutes before the ceremony begins.

UNB asks that balloons not be brought to graduation-related events, as they create a visual barrier in the seating area as well as pose a threat to those with latex anaphylaxis.

Photographs during the ceremony

The UNB photographer will take a photograph of each graduate receiving a degree parchment on stage. You will be able to easily download a free print quality photograph a few weeks after the ceremony. Details will appear in the graduation program.

Please encourage your guests to take their photographs prior to and/or after the ceremony.

Purchase a degree parchment frame

Frame your success! Purchase a degree parchment frame from your UNB Associated Alumni and display your degree with pride.

UNB branded products available

During the Convocation Reception, the Campus Store will have UNB branded merchandise on-site in the Grand Hall.

Alumni honour guard

Family members or friends of graduates who are UNB alumni, and would like to attend the ceremony, are welcome to participate in the alumni honour guard. For more information or to reserve regalia, email your name, height and degree information to erika.king@unb.ca before Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

Won’t be able to attend the ceremony?

If you are unable to attend the ceremony, arrangements can be made to pick up your parchment, by booking an appointment.

Degree parchments designated as “to be picked up” will only be held at the Registrar’s Office for three weeks after the ceremony. They will then be mailed to the graduates’ addresses appearing on the application to graduate form. For those who selected to have their diplomas mailed, they will be sent out the week of Oct. 28, 2024.

If you are unable to attend the ceremony, your name will not be announced but will appear in the program.

Has your address changed?

If you are an undergraduate student who needs to update the address you provided on your application to graduate, email unbsjreg@unb.ca. For graduate students, email andrea.ruehlicke@unb.ca.