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Although graduands will receive detailed instructions at the convocation rehearsal on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Hazen Hall Lecture Theatre, the following information is a general outline.
Only the graduates, not guests or family members, will gather in the Grand Hall (40 Charlotte Street) on Friday, Oct. 25, no later than 3:30 p.m., to line up in the proper order and process to the ceremony. Graduates walk in pairs, by number. You must ensure you bring your parade card with you. You will receive this at the rehearsal. If you do not attend the rehearsal, you must find a student marshal while in the Grand Hall.
For the Bachelor’s degree recipients, the tassel dangles on the left side of the mortarboard. (This will move to the right side of the academic cap after your photograph has been taken and after leaving the stage.) For Master’s degree recipients, the tassel dangles on the right side of the mortarboard and remains on that side. The top of the cap should rest flat on the head. Those receiving their PhDs will wear a beefeater tam.
Bachelor’s hoods are worn with the colour showing only on the left shoulder. Undergraduands receiving more than one degree wear the hood representing their first degree and carry the hood for their second degree on their left arm. Doctoral graduands also carry their hoods on the left arm. Master’s and PhD hoods are worn open on both sides.
For the procession, the piper will lead the Associated Alumni Honour Guard, followed by the Student Marshals and Graduands, then the Faculty and Platform Party. The procession will proceed from the Grand Hall, across King Square, to the Imperial Theatre.
After some preliminary words, the campus orator announces, "Candidates for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master’s and Bachelor’s will stand for the Supplication, Presentation and Admission.”
Graduands will stand in unison until completion of the presentation (an exchange, in Latin, between the Orator and the President). Then the Orator will begin with doctorate graduands and announce, “Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy please proceed onto the platform for individual acceptance. All other candidates, you may be seated.”
Graduands in the front row only remain standing in readiness to move forward to the stage; other graduands remain seated. Front row graduands advance to the left side of the aisle, in single file. The person in front of you should have a lower number on his or her card. Each graduand will climb the stairs and present the card to the Orator, who does not return it.
The second row graduands stand when they are directed to do so by the Student Marshal and proceed to the foot of the stairs of the stage. Subsequently other rows stand and proceed in turn.
When the Orator reads the graduands’ names, they move across the stage, acknowledging the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick with a nod, if in attendance.
Doctoral graduands will proceed to centre stage to be hooded by the Chancellor and to receive their degree parchments from the President. A photograph will be taken by the UNB photographer, then they will proceed to the far right of the stage to exit.
Master’s graduands will pause in front of the President, who will gently tap the right shoulder with a mortarboard, while shaking hands. They will proceed to the far side of the stage to receive their degree parchments from the associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies. A photograph will be taken by the UNB photographer.
Bachelor’s graduands will cross the stage, nodding to both the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, if in attendance, and the President, then proceed to its far side to receive their degree parchments from their dean (or representative). A photograph will be taken by the UNB photographer.
If you prefer not to shake hands with the Dean, please place your hand, palm side down, on the left side of your chest.
After Bachelor’s graduates exit the stage, the tassel is moved to the right side of the mortarboard. Bachelor’s degree graduates may now turn the right side of the hood open so the entire hood is shown.
Graduands receiving more than one degree at a given ceremony should make themselves known to the Student Marshals at the rehearsal. If you are unable to attend, then on the day of the ceremony you will need to locate a Marshal in the Grand Hall for instructions. You will receive specific instructions regarding receiving your second degree.
Concurrent degree graduands will require two hoods – one representing each degree, for example BA/BEd. When placing your rental order (gown, hood, cap) through the regalia rental site for the first degree, select the option to “add more to order” to reserve a second hood at no additional charge. You will pick up both hoods at the same time with your gown. All rental regalia must be returned immediately following the ceremony. If both hoods are not returned with the gown, graduates will be responsible for paying replacement costs.
When you applied to graduate you were asked to extend permission for UNB to list your name in graduation collateral, both online and in print. If you did not give consent, this also extends to not allowing your grad photo to be placed in the class composite*, a grad photo display created by Photography Flewwelling and hung in Hazen Hall. Following fall graduation, those who did not give consent will receive an email from the Registrar’s Office asking for confirmation on placement in the composite. Please watch for the email and respond accordingly.
*Each year, Photography Flewwelling creates a composite which contains the graduation photographs of students graduating in Saint John. (Only graduation photographs taken by Photography Flewwelling are included.). After you receive the images, you can select which photograph you would like included in the composite; regardless of whether you place an order or not. If you do not let Photography Flewwelling know which photograph to use, its staff will select for you. For further information, please contact the company at 506-633-0045.