Convocation

Have you successfully completed all courses in your program of study?
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have met the requirements to graduate. Processing of Course Exemptions, clearing of incomplete grades and any other outstanding issues have to be completed before you will be cleared to graduate.

Post-Secondary students can check MAP on MyMohawk to see if all the requirements of their program have been met to graduate.
Do you have any outstanding liabilities?
Graduands with outstanding debts to the college can still participate in the ceremony, but will not receive their diploma/certificate until the debts are cleared. Students should still apply to graduate even if they have a hold on their account. Your financial record can be checked through MyMohawk, Student Finances tab, Financial Tools, Account Summary.
Is your mailing address correct on your student record?
Check and update your mailing address through MyMohawk, under the Home tab, Personal Information channel. For assistance, contact The Square - Student Services at 1-844-767-6871, or by email: ask [at] mohawkcollege.ca.
Have you applied to graduate?
You must apply online to graduate (see “Applying to Graduate”) by the deadline date posted (even if you do not plan on attending the ceremony).
Have you checked the Grad List?
See “Checking the Grad List” below.

All Post-Secondary Program (diploma or certificate) potential graduates, including those who completed their Post-Secondary program through Continuing Education, must check the Grad List when it is posted online.

An e-mail with the user name and password needed to access the Grad List will be sent to your Mohawk College e-mail address the week of January 2nd. If you are unable to access your Mohawk College e-mail or MyMohawk, contact the Help Desk at 905-575-2199 or helpdesk [at] mohawkcollege.ca.

The Grad List for the February 2020 graduation will be posted Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 12 Noon (on MyMohawk, Academics tab, Graduation channel).

Do not assume that your name is on the Grad List, even if you are sure you are clear to graduate.

It is your responsibility to check the Grad List as soon as it is posted. Mistakes may happen and your department only has until February 3, 2020 to make corrections or additions to the Grad List.

What Should You Check on the Grad List:

Your name is on the Grad List
Your name is spelled correctly
The program you are graduating from is correct
Honours status is correct (if applicable)
Co-op status is correct (if applicable).

What if There is an Error on the Grad List? Contact your academic area immediately if:

Your name does not appear on the grad list
Your program is incorrect
You do not have Honours status and feel you should
You are not showing correctly as a Co-op graduate.

Contact The Square - Student Services (Room C102, Fennell Campus):

If your first name or surname needs to be changed, see our Legal Name Change webpage for further information and for our Legal Name Change Request Form. When completing the request, be sure to mention this is for graduation purposes.

Students not clear to graduate for the February 2020 Convocation must reapply to graduate once all program requirements are complete.

Convocation Day - What to expect

Convocation is a special, dignified ceremony that requires the full cooperation of you, the graduand.

Graduate Registration and Procession into the Theatre:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Allow travel time to arrive within the graduate registration period. If you do not register within the registration time noted below, it will not be possible to seat you with your classmates.

For a 9:30 a.m. ceremony

8:30 to 9:00 a.m. – Graduate Registration to receive name card and gown
9:00 a.m. – Line up to prepare for procession into the Theatre

For a 2:00 p.m. ceremony

1:00 to 1:30 p.m. – Graduate Registration to receive name card and gown
1:30 p.m. – Line up to prepare for procession into the Theatre

For a 7:00 p.m. ceremony

6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Graduate Registration to receive name card and gown
6:30 p.m. – Line up to prepare for procession into the Theatre

What to Wear:

Gowns are rented by the college for the ceremonies and are not available for purchase.

Graduands are prohibited from wearing hats, pinning anything to their gown, and carrying anything into the Theatre at the time of the ceremony (i.e. cameras, purses, pictures, flowers, food or drink).

As written in the Convocation Ceremony Policy (opens PDF, 959kb), section 6.2, with limited exceptions, graduands are required to follow the long-standing dignity and ceremonial tradition of wearing the traditional academic regalia at all times during the ceremony, except:

Indigenous students who may opt to wear their traditional Regalia;
Active military personnel who may opt to wear their dress uniform; and
Clergy/members of religious orders who may opt to wear their religious apparel.

Graduands will be informed of all ceremony expectations prior to convocation. Graduands who refuse to comply with the dress code will not be allowed to participate in the convocation ceremony.

Graduates must return to the area where they registered for the convocation in order to return their gown and liripipe. Graduates will be charged for items not returned.

Liripipes may be purchased from the Campus Store, Room C104 (beside The Square).

How Long is the Ceremony?

The ceremony will last approximately one and a half hours and graduates are expected to remain for the duration of the ceremony.

Guests are invited to the reception immediately following the ceremony, and graduates will join guests at the reception as soon as their gown and liripipe have been returned to the registration area.

An overall minimum weighted GPA of 60%* is required to graduate, as stated in the Program Promotion and Graduation Requirements Policy AC700 (opens PDF, 96kb). Where courses have been repeated, the highest course mark will be used in the calculation.

*Some programs have Exceptions to the graduation requirements

Residency Requirements:

Students must complete at least 25% of the program requirements at Mohawk College to qualify for a Mohawk college certificate, diploma or applied degree. Courses granted for advanced standing and/or credit for prior experiential learning are not included in the 25% calculation.

Timelines for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students are expected to demonstrate mastery of current competencies outlined in the Program of Studies applicable at the time of graduation. Mohawk College does not permit backdating of diplomas.

In cases where study has been interrupted for one or more years, the college may require a student to repeat a subject area.

Graduation Designations

Upon receipt of a diploma, graduates are entitled to use a designation, as described below, after their names:

Ontario College Certificate Programs	OCC
Ontario College Diploma Programs	OCD
Ontario College Advanced Diploma Programs	OCAD
Ontario College Graduate Certificate	OCGC

Terminology

Graduand: Designation for a student prior to receiving their diploma or certificate.

Convocation: Official ceremony for awarding of diplomas and certificates.

Liripipe: The Liripipe was first used in Europe during the Middle Ages as a mark of distinction. A Master would take the tail (or Liripipe) of his Master's hood and present it to his student as recognition that the student has successfully completed his training period, and was now accepted into the Guild.

Graduate Registration and Procession into the Theatre:

For a 9:30 a.m. ceremony

8:30 to 9:00 a.m. – Graduate Registration to receive name card and gown
9:00 a.m. – Line up to prepare for procession into the Theatre

For a 2:00 p.m. ceremony

1:00 to 1:30 p.m. – Graduate Registration to receive name card and gown
1:30 p.m. – Line up to prepare for procession into the Theatre

For a 7:00 p.m. ceremony

6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Graduate Registration to receive name card and gown
6:30 p.m. – Line up to prepare for procession into the Theatre

What if I cannot attend the ceremony?
You must still apply to graduate (and check the Grad List when posted, if applicable) even if you are not able to attend the convocation ceremony.

Diplomas and certificates will be held for pickup at The Square - Student Services, Room C102, Fennell Campus, for one week following the ceremony. Please ensure you bring photo identification (e.g. driver's licence, ONE Card). If someone is picking up your credential for you, written and signed authorization must be presented.

Any credentials not picked up will be mailed to your address on MyMohawk the following week.

**Make sure your address on MyMohawk is always kept up-to-date.**

What if I owe money to the College?
Graduands with outstanding debts to the college can still participate in the ceremony, but will not receive their diploma/certificate until the debts are cleared. Students should still apply to graduate even if they have a hold on their account. Your financial record can be checked through MyMohawk, Student Finances tab, Financial Tools, Account Summary.

How long is the ceremony?
The ceremony will last approximately one and a half hours and graduates are expected to remain for the duration of the ceremony.

Guests are invited to the reception immediately following the ceremony, and graduates will join guests at the reception as soon as their gown and liripipe have been returned to the registration area.

Are there any costs associated with the ceremony?
There are no additional costs. The convocation fee is part of the fees you have already paid.

Is there anything I should know about photographs or videotaping?
Mohawk College will be videotaping and simultaneously live streaming our convocation ceremonies on the web. These videos will then be posted on the college's YouTube site at: https://www.youtube.com/user/mohawkcollege

Guests are invited to take photos during the ceremonies. A professional photographer will also be available before and after the convocation ceremonies.

Videos and photographs taken during convocation may be used in official college printed and electronic publications.

Is there anything else I should know?
Graduates must return to the registration area immediately after the ceremony to check out and return their gown and liripipe. Gowns and liripipes will be available for pictures at the reception.

Liripipes may be purchased from the Campus Store, Room C104 (beside the Square).

Gowns and liripipes not returned immediately following the ceremony will be charged to your account for the cost of these articles (gown $75 and liripipe $40).

Graduands who refuse to comply with the dress code will not be allowed to participate in the convocation ceremony.

Graduates are prohibited from wearing hats, pinning anything to your gown, and carrying anything into the Theatre at the time of the ceremony (i.e. cameras, purses, pictures, flowers, food or drink).

How do I book my grad photos?

Visit www.lifetouch.ca/hamiltonregion
Scroll down the page to "choose your location" and select your appropriate campus
Click “Schedule” in the top right of the page
Once on the schedule appointment site, choose the "Mohawk College" option under "Select Session"
Choose a time and day best for you

If you need a Diploma or Certificate replacement fill out the Diploma/Certificate Replacement Form PDF and submit to the The Square - Student Services.

February 2020 Graduation

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