Hi Julie -
My answers are shown under each section. Feel free to contact me again if
I can be of any more help. Liz
On Thu, 25 Jan 2001 10:35:55 -0000 "Smith, Julie" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Hello all
>
> I've just joined the mail list - I'm mainly interested in graduation issues as this is my major area of responsibility.
>
> Here at Sheffield Hallam University we currently hold 14 ceremonies annually during one week in November, with a total of over 4,000
> graduates and 16,000 guests attending. However this looks set to change in the near future and various options are being explored,
> including the possibility of July ceremonies for undergraduates.
>
> I would be very grateful for any feedback from any organisers of July ceremonies in similar sized universities/institutions, especially on
> the format these take. Our ceremonies' format are currently driven by how graduates are ordered in our ceremony booklet, and we usually
> face enough of a challenge preparing for November (!) so I was wondering how others cope with July ceremonies, bearing in mind the short
> space of time between graduates receiving their results and the ceremony date?
Brunel holds 12 ceremonies each July. In 2000 we had approximately 4000
eligible students of which about 2,800 attended. Our ceremonies are held
on-campus and the Sports Hall holds about 900. To give an idea of tight
timetable, exam boards must meet before 29.6.01, programme will go to print
on 4.7.01 and the first ceremony is held on 12.7.01. We also aim to
produce all degree certificates prior to the ceremonies.
Our student seating is governed by our printed programme. In the past the
order has been Bachelor, Master, Doctorate (with any non-degree courses
fitted in where appropriate). We may be reversing the order this year.
Having organised both July ceremonies (Brunel) and November (West London
Institute), the main difference is having to be as prepared as
possible prior to the main mailshot to students. It also means weekend
working and huge amounts of overtime - stamina is essential!
>
> I would also welcome the opportunity to attend graduation ceremonies at other universities this summer to experience these first hand.
>
If this would be helpful, let me know. Our ceremonies will be held on 12.7
(1), 13.7 (3), 16.7 (3), 17.7 (3), 18.7 (2). I wouldn't be able to spend
much time with you but you're welcome to have a seat in the hall or
watching from the balcony might be a possibility.
> Also, for the first time last year we ran an information website for
graduating students, which proved successful, so we intend expanding on
> this for this year. We are also considering "on-line" ordering of tickets for our ceremonies - has anyone else tried (or rejected) this
> idea or have any views?
Very interested. We have information on the website but haven't used it
for applying for tickets - I'd welcome any feedback you get from others on
this.
>
> Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you. If you wish, please reply to me direct at: [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Regards
> Julie
>
> Julie Smith
> Special Events Co-ordinator
> Sheffield Hallam University
> Tel: + 44 (0) 114 225 5336
> Fax: + 44 (0) 114 225 5337
> Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Liz Woodward
Assistant Registrar (Conferments)
Brunel University, UK
Direct line: 01895 203283
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