There are 3,500 麻豆传媒 students convocating at ceremonies in Truro and Halifax this spring thanks to years of hard work on their part 鈥� and six months of preparation by university staff.
When students鈥� fall terms wind down in December, things start getting hectic for faculty and staff who have a hand in Spring Convocation. More than 100 staff in the Registrar鈥檚 Office play a role in the ceremonies by doing everything from reviewing graduation applications, checking graduation eligibility and recruiting volunteers to printing the actual degree parchments.
鈥淐onvocation involves nearly every unit within the Registrar鈥檚 Office,鈥� says University Registrar Mike McAllister. 鈥淚t brings everyone a huge sense of pride to work on a project that is so meaningful to our students and their supporters.鈥�
Getting the details right
Three staff members who play key roles in working on the ceremonial aspects of convocation are Christina Coakley, Crystal Bona and Janet MacDonald.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like planning multiple weddings at once,鈥� says Coakley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a balancing act. We鈥檙e coordinating honored guests, degree recipients, venues, flowers, invitations, programs, scripts, seating and a symphony for 16 unique ceremonies.鈥�
No detail goes unchecked to ensure a successful Convocation ceremony.
鈥淲hen it comes to the degree parchments, every detail matters,鈥� says MacDonald. 鈥淔rom checking the spelling of names to confirming that the proper program is listed and alphabetizing them by ceremony, each parchment is double or even triple checked before it鈥檚 sent to the stage.鈥�
Bona says that the job is 鈥渉ard work, but it鈥檚 fun,鈥� and acknowledges how important it is to students that their supporters are part of their big day.
鈥淭heir whole journey starts with their family after all, those who were there to support them throughout their entire academic career,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a special moment during the Convocation ceremony where students stand to acknowledge parents and family members and in that moment, a wave of emotion floods over the entire crowd. You can just feel the level of excitement and support flourishing in the room.鈥澛犅犅犅犅犅� 聽
Celebrating Dal鈥檚 graduates
After over 3,000 hours of work has been completed, the entire Dal community feels a sense of pride and accomplishment alongside those who are about to cross the stage. 鈥淭he school鈥檚 entire faculty and staff feel so proud to be able to celebrate this big occasion for graduates,鈥� says Bona. 鈥淚n this moment, they鈥檙e becoming alumni and ambassadors of the university. We want their outgoing experience to be as meaningful as possible.鈥�
Coakley emphasizes that the main focus of convocation is to benefit the graduating students. 鈥淣o matter what, this day has to be about the grads. A successful ceremony that leaves them smiling reminds us why we鈥檙e here.鈥�
For the entire team in the Registrar鈥檚 Office, Convocation represents the culmination of a student鈥檚 university experience.
鈥淲e work with students from the time they鈥檙e applying to Dal until they graduate,鈥� says MacAllister. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a busy time of year for our team but it鈥檚 also a time of year that brings so much excitement. The students work very hard to earn their degree and they deserve immense recognition for their success.鈥�
鈥淚 never get tired of seeing students cross the stage,鈥� says Bona. 鈥淚n that moment, everything comes together. Every visit during office hours, every connection they鈥檝e made, every question they鈥檝e asked has led them to this accomplishment. Now, so much possibility awaits them.鈥�