Please plan to arrive two hours before the beginning of your ceremony. You will pick up your academic regalia (robe, hood and cap) and your name card and then report to the marshalling area. If you arrive late, you may not be able to participate in the ceremony.

The graduand procession will enter the Pavilion 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Guests who wish to view the arrival of the procession are strongly encouraged to be seated at least 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

For a map of the Rexall Centre and Convocation Pavilion, click here.

Academic regalia (robe, hood and cap) must be rented online prior to the convocation ceremony. Your rental is booked when you RSVP.

Marshalling is the procedure of forming an alphabetical line of graduands by department and by degree classification for the procession to the convocation stage. Guests are not permitted in the marshalling area. The marshalling area is not secure, no items should be left behind once the procession starts.

As it takes time to marshal all of the graduands, it is very important that you arrive two hours prior to your ceremony to collect your academic regalia and be marshalled in order. The procession of graduands will enter the convocation venue 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. If you arrive after the procession has left, you will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.

You will be given a name card which will show your full name as it appears in the convocation program and on your diploma. Hang on to your card! This card is used at the ceremony to announce you.

Handbags or any other articles are not to be carried during the convocation ceremony. Please leave purses, bags, valuables, jackets etc. at home, in your car or with your guests for safe keeping as the marshalling area is not secure.

Academic Costume Code
York University adheres to the Academic Costume Code which prescribes "Nothing else should be worn on the academic gown". In addition, flowers cannot be worn nor carried until after the ceremony has concluded.

Once the procession of graduands is led by the marshals and ushers into the convocation site, the ceremony will consist of the following:

• Academic procession
• Call to order
• National anthem
• Opening greeting
• Chancellor's remarks
• President and Vice-Chancellor's Remarks
• Conferral of special University awards or recognitions (not in all ceremonies)
• Conferring of the Degree Honoris Causa (not in all ceremonies)
• Convocation address
• Dean's remarks
• Presentation of candidates/graduands
• Conferral of degrees
• Closing
• Dismissal
• Withdrawal of the procession

When the degrees are to be conferred, the Chair of the University Senate will ask that the graduands please rise but stay at their seats, and will address the Chancellor with the following words:

"Mr. Chancellor, as Chair of the University Senate and on behalf of the Senate of York University, I present to you these Candidates, and certify that they have successfully completed all the requirements established by the statutes of this University for their degrees.

I now request that you confer on these Candidates their degrees and that you grant them all the rights and privileges, and challenge them to accept all the obligations and responsibilities arising therefrom."

The Chancellor will respond with:

"As Chancellor of York University, by authority of the powers vested in me, I hereby confer upon you the degrees to which you have demonstrated your entitlement to the satisfaction of the Senate, with such title, honours, duties, rights and privileges as are proper to them.

Admitto vos ad gradum."

Ushers will start directing graduands to rise and line up to approach the platform. You will be told to present your name to the card handler, who will give it to the name reader. Once your name has been read, proceed to the Chancellor and pause so that your picture can be taken by a professional photographer. Ushers and marshals will be available to make sure you find your way back to your seat.

Please remain in your seat until convocation has been dismissed. The student procession will follow immediately after the faculty procession.

Immediately following convocation, the graduates and guests of the University are invited to attend Faculty receptions. The exact location of Faculty receptions will be in the convocation program.