Graduation Ceremony
Important Information for Graduating Students Attending Convocation
Graduates of Dawson College who completed their studies in Summer 2012, Fall 2012 or Winter 2013 are invited to attend their graduation ceremonies at Place des Arts on June 18, 2013.
(Please note that if you have completed your graduation requirements during the periods noted above, you will be invited to attend the graduation ceremony by mail at the address you have provided the Registrar. If you have moved, you must advise the Registrar so that you may continue to receive mail from Dawson, including notice that your official Ministry diploma has arrived.)
First Letter to all Potential Graduates
In April, you will receive a letter to advise you that you have either completed the graduation requirements of your diploma program or that you are a potential graduate (if you are finishing in the Winter Term).
Your envelope will include a postcard that you must return to the College to indicate whether or not you will be attending the ceremony, as well as your height so that we may order the correct size graduating gown. There are no caps, only gowns.
Second Letter with Ticket Information
In May, those who have returned the postcard will receive a second letter to give you all the details you need for participating in the event. This will include ticket pick-up date and time and instructions.
Ticket distribution goes like this:
- You will be asked to come to the College, usually Lower Atrium, on a given day about a week before the ceremony.
- Once you have presented your ID, or if you can't make it, the person you have sent in your place has presented your ID, you will receive an information sheet, a "graduate" ticket for yourself, and tickets for your guests, to a maximum of 5.
- If any tickets remain, we will put a notice on Facebook and on the website homepage so you can pick up extra tickets the following day, while quantities last. They will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Once there are no more tickets, there are no more tickets. Place des Arts will not let us hand out more tickets than there are seats, and they will not let you enter without a ticket.
The Convocation Ceremony
The ceremony will be held at Place des Arts in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and begins at 7:30 p.m. Graduates are requested to be at Place des Arts by 6:15 p.m. in order to be checked in, to pick up their gowns and to be marshalled correctly into place. They should enter through the main doors to the hall and will be directed to the processing and dressing area.
Doors to the hall are open for guests at 6:45 p.m.
After the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to a vin d'honneur. The ceremony generally lasts three hours, including the closing reception.
Traffic and parking around Place des Arts is always difficult, those attending the event should allow extra time to arrive at the venue at the appointed hour. Using the Metro is the best option.
Important Information for Faculty and Staff Attending Convocation
All employees of Dawson College are invited to attend. An e-mail goes out to the community in May. A number of rows are reserved in the front, but we require confirmation of attendance so that we may reserve an adequate number of places.
Platform Party
Members of Senate, the Board of Governors, Chairs and Coordinators of all programs, deans, assistant deans, and special guests, such as the valedictorian and recipients of the Director General's Awards for Teaching Excellence, are invited to be part of the platform party.
A memo is sent in late April, early May to provide information and to request information so that we may order the appropriate academic dress. We prefer that you RSVP in writing, as indicated in the memo.
This year by exception, the Convocation ceremony will be held in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (parterre and corbeille levels) and will begin at 7:30 p.m. The platform party is asked to arrive at Place des Arts by 6:15 p.m. so that you may be gowned. You must enter via the Entrée des Artistes on de Maisonneuve.
A small reception will be held at 6:45 p.m. in the Green Room for members of the platform party and special guests. Marshalling of the platform party begins at 7:15 p.m.
A vin d'honneur is held immediately after the formal portion of the program. The ceremony generally lasts about three hours including the closing reception.
More information
If you require information about Convocation that is not included here, contact Carey-Ann Pawsey at (514) 931-8731 ext. 1032 or Geoff Kloos at ext. 1354.
