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. Postsecondary 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 (ask[at]mohawkcollege[dot]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.

February 2024 graduates will attend the June 2024 Convocation ceremonies to be held the week of June 17-20, 2024. 

Credentials will be mailed to address on file for February graduates the week of February 19, 2024.  Make sure your address is up-to-date by January 26, 2024 to ensure it is mailed to the correct location.

Location:

McIntyre Performing Arts Centre
Mohawk College Fennell Campus, Hamilton, Ontario

Mississauga Campus Graduates

Information for our Mississauga ceremonies will be added shortly.

Ceremonies for students who have completed an apprenticeship certificate or have completed a certificate that is only offered through Continuing Education will be held in October 2024. Learn more about CE Graduation and Convocation.

All Postsecondary Program (diploma or certificate) potential graduates, including those who completed their Postsecondary 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 3, 2024. 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 (helpdesk[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca).

The Grad List for the February 2024 graduation will be posted on January 19, 2024 in the afternoon (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 January 26, 2024 to make corrections or additions to the Grad List.

What You Should 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 Student Services at ask [at] mohawkcollege.ca (ask[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca):

• If your first name or surname needs to be changed, see our Legal Name Change website 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 2024 Convocation must reapply to graduate once all program requirements are complete.

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

Note: The information below is not applicable for Mississauga Campus students. For Ceremony and Ticket information for Mississauga Campus students, please contact triOS directly.

Graduate Registration and Procession into the Theatre - Mohawk College Convocation Process

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

What to Wear:

Mohawk College is a scent-aware space. Out of respect for our employees, students, and visitors, we request that you limit the use of scented products while on campus.

Business casual is the suggested attire for the celebration. Convocation is celebrated in traditional fashion with graduates wearing a black convocation gown over their clothing during the ceremony.

Graduands are prohibited from wearing hats, and carrying anything into the Theatre at the time of the ceremony (i.e. cameras, purses, pictures, flowers, food or drink). It is recommended that personal belongings are left with the graduate's guests or in the purse/coat check.

As written in the Convocation Ceremony Policy, 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.

Ceremony Length

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

Parking

Parking is free for the ease of the graduates and their guests.

Note: The information below is not applicable for Mississauga Campus students. For Ceremony and Ticket information for Mississauga Campus students, please contact triOS directly.

Ordering Tickets for Convocation

• The Convocation ticket website will be available for graduates to request tickets for their guests in late May. See links on MyMohawk, Academics, Graduation channel.
• The graduate does not need a ticket.
• Guests must present their tickets to be scanned at the door to the ceremony. Tickets can be scanned from a print copy or the screen of a mobile device as long as the QR barcode is clear and visible.
• All ceremonies will be live streamed and recorded, allowing graduates, family and friends, who are unable to attend in-person, to watch the ceremonies anytime. Links will be posted on the main Mohawk College website during convocation week.

Extra Tickets

Limited seating in the theatre restricts the number of guests allowed. Extra tickets, if available, can be obtained in early June by accessing the Convocation ticket request site (MyMohawk, Academics, Graduation).

An overall minimum weighted GPA of 60%* is required to graduate, as stated in the Program Promotion and Graduation Requirements Policy AC700 PDF. 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.

Credential: A general term used when referring to 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:

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 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.

Credentials not picked up at the ceremony will be mailed to the address on file in MyMohawk the week after the ceremony.

**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.

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.

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 liripipe.

Liripipes may be purchased from the Campus Store, Room C104 (beside The Square) for $40.

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 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?
Check out the MSA's Grad Photo site.

Questions regarding your Program of Study, Grades or Eligibility for Graduation should be directed to your academic department.

Any other questions regarding the graduation process can be directed to:

The Square - Student Services
Phone: 1-844-767-6871
Email: ask [at] mohawkcollege.ca (ask[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca)