Frequently Asked Questions

Important Notes:

  • Peterborough ceremonies are scheduled to be held outdoors. Encourage your guests to dress for the weather and be prepared for the sun. There is no guest limit for outdoor ceremonies. 

  • In case of rain, heat, or poor air quality, ceremonies will be moved indoors to the Athletic Centre. The decision will be made 1 hour before the ceremony. There is a maximum of 4 guests per graduate for indoor ceremonies - graduates reserved these tickets when they submitted their RSVP form (May 26 deadline). Guests must present their electronic or printed tickets to enter the gym. Additional guests are welcome to watch the live-stream from the comfort of several viewing rooms on campus. 

  • For indoor and outdoor ceremonies, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The capacity limits for indoor ceremonies are determined by the Fire Code Prevention Act of Ontario. 

Quick Links

Do I need to register for Convocation? Where do I buy tickets? 

  • All graduates must first apply to graduate and complete the RSVP form. 

  • Tickets are required for guests attending the Peterborough ceremonies and are booked by the students through the RSVP. Should the Convocation ceremonies move into the gym due to inclement weather conditions, only 3 guests per graduate can enter by showing tickets in their student's name. 

  • An electronic invitation is available for graduates to download and use if they please. The invitation can be downloaded here. 

Do I need to rent a gown for Convocation? 

  • No, hoods and gowns are provided to graduates on the day of their ceremony.

I’m a Durham student and/or I have a joint major/specialization – which ceremony do I belong to? 

  • When you RSVP to convocation, you will need to select which graduation group you want to be a part of. This will be the ceremony you will walk with during Convocation. As a joint major, you can choose which major group you would like to walk with. Graduating students with specializations or part of stream programs will walk with the major they are receiving.
     
  • Durham students have their own ceremony at the Tribute Communities Centre. If you want to attend this ceremony, choose Durham as your home campus in the RSVP form. If you prefer to attend in Peterborough, choose Peterborough as your home campus in the RSVP form.
     
  • Make a note of what you choose (in case you forget!). If you have forgotten, contact us at convocation@trentu.ca

What time do I need to arrive for my ceremony? 

  • Come to the Student Centre at least 1 hour before your ceremony. Bring your student card! (If you don’t have it, bring photo ID). 

  • Please leave bags or large purses with your family as there is no room for them on the stage. It is not safe for children to be on the stage so please ensure your guests can care for them.

Where are the indoor viewing rooms? 

Do I need to make arrangements for myself or a guest with accessibility needs? 

  • If you are a student with accessibility needs (i.e. difficulty walking the procession or sitting in a crowd, experience hearing or vision impairments, require a place to breastfeed, etc.) please email convocation@trentu.ca or contact Student Accessibility Services.

  • For information on guest accessibility, please see below:

    • Parking: Accessible parking is provided in the lot closest to the Convocation ceremonies in front of Bata Library. Please identify yourself to the parking attendants. If you require mobility assistance devices such as a cane, walker or wheelchair, we highly recommend you bring it with you to convocation.

    • Accessible Guest Seating: Ushers in vests will assist guests at the ceremony site, either to get up the stairs to the seating area, or to accessible seating on the bridge level of the University Court. Accessible seating is covered by a tent and can be accessed by elevators in Champlain College (entrance by the Bookstore) and Bata Library. There are also shaded areas on the general seating level. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

    • Ceremonies are also broadcast in air-conditioned rooms in the Champlain College Lecture Hall 307, Stohn Hall in the Student Centre, and the Bata Library Film Theatre. These rooms are accessible.

  • There is a sign language interpreter at many ceremonies. If you or your guests need to be close to the sign language interpreter please email convocation@trentu.ca.

My relatives are international and require a VISA, how can I invite them to my convocation ceremony?

  • If your relatives are international and require a VISA to attend convocation, please visit our Guest Information webpage for more details.

How long are the ceremonies? 

  • The ceremonies are between 1 – 1.5 hours. 

Is there a fall Convocation ceremony? 

  • No, Trent only holds Convocation in June. Everyone that graduated in the fall or January are encouraged to attend the June ceremonies and their name will be included in the electronic program. 

Can I borrow a gown and hood to take my own photos? 

  • Gown and hoods are available to rent year round from Conference Services. There is a fee that covers the cost to maintain regalia. You can rent gowns (both undergraduate & graduate gowns)the  on Conferences Marketplace site. You will be first prompted to select the date you would like to pick-up your gown and then you will provide your student number & degree type. Conferences can be reached at conferences@trentu.ca or 705-748-1260. 

I can’t find my student card! How do I sign in? 

  • If possible, you can go to the Card Office and get a replacement. Your student card becomes your Alumni card which gets you discounts, benefits, and services, so it’s worth replacing!

  • If it’s too late to get a replacement for Convocation, simply bring government photo ID with you. 

What if I can’t attend Convocation? Will I still graduate? How do I get my degree? 

  • You must complete the Application to Graduate to graduate, and receive confirmation from the Registrar’s Office, to graduate. If you are unable to attend Convocation, students should complete the Degree Mailing Address form that is available under the Academics tab of the myTrent portal. 

    • Students that graduate in the Spring (following the Winter term), can pick up their degree certificate at their Convocation ceremony from the Office of the Registrar (student or government ID necessary to pick up). Degree certificates will be mailed to those that completed the Degree Mailing Address form in the weeks following the ceremonies (if they did not pick up during Convocation).

    • Students that graduate in the Fall (following the Summer term) or the Winter (following the Fall term) are asked to complete the Degree Mailing Address form. Degree certificates are then mailed to these students a few weeks after their degree is conferred by the University Senate. Alternatively, they can wait to pick up their degree certificate at the next Convocation ceremonies.

    • Students do not complete the Degree Mailing Address form until after they receive confirmation that their degree has been conferred by the Senate of the University.

    • Degree certificates will only be held for a period of two years, after which students must request and pay for a replacement degree certificate. In addition, their degree certificate and official transcript will not be released if they have an outstanding balance owing to the University or have outstanding Library fines.

  • Graduate students please contact graduate@trentu.ca about obtaining your degree parchment.

Where can I breastfeed?

  • For a private space on West Bank, please visit the designated Breastfeeding Room located in Bata Library, Room 207. 

How do I access my stage photos?

  • Proofs of graduate’s stage photos will be sent to their Trent email by info@mirandastudios.ca in the weeks after their ceremony.

NOTE: Convocation ceremonies are public events that are photographed, recorded, and livestreamed on trentu.ca/live. By attending, you are providing consent that Trent University may use your likeness in any future Trent materials without compensation. If you have any questions, please contact convocation@trentu.ca.

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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