Ceremony instructions
Although graduands will receive detailed instructions at the convocation rehearsal on Thursday, May 16 at 5 p.m. in the Hazen Hall Lecture Theatre, the following information is a general outline.
All graduands will gather in the Quad on Friday, May 17, no later than 1 p.m., to line up in the proper order and process to the ceremony. Graduands 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 Quad.
For the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree recipients, the tassel dangles on the left side of their mortarboards. This will move to the right side of the academic cap after your photograph has been taken with the appropriate dean and after leaving the stage.). The top of the cap should rest flat on the head. Those receiving their PhDs will wear doctoral academic beefeater caps.
Master’s and 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.
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 Quad to the back doors of the G. Forbes Elliot Athletics Centre.
Conferring of degrees
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 dais for individual acceptance. All other candidates, you may be seated.”
Graduates in the front row only remain standing in readiness to move forward to the stage; other graduates remain seated. Front row graduates 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 graduate will climb the stairs and present the card to the Orator, who does not return it.
The second row graduates 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 she is in attendance.
Doctoral graduands will proceed to centre stage to be hooded by the Chancellor and to receive their 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 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, please place your hand, palm side down, on the left side of your chest.
After Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates exit the stage, the tassel is moved to the right side of the cap. The right side of the hood is opened so the entire hood is shown.
Concurrent degree graduates
Graduates receiving more than one degree at a given ceremony should make themselves known to the Student Marshals at the rehearsal. They will provide you with specific instructions regarding receiving your second degree.
Class composite in Saint John
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.
