Trent University Celebrates 40th Convocation May 30, 31 and June 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

More Than 2,200 Graduates to be Honoured in Five Ceremonies Over Three Days, Including First-Ever Graduates of the Trent-Fleming Forensic Science B.Sc. Program and the
Canadian Studies Ph.D. Program

Monday, May 28, 2007, Peterborough

Convocation Highlights:

• 40th Convocation
• Trent’s largest graduating class
• Over 2,150 undergraduate degrees to be granted
• 49 graduate degrees – 11 Ph.D.s and 37 Masters degrees
• First-ever graduates of Trent-Fleming Forensic Science B.Sc. program and Canadian Studies Ph.D. program
• Six distinguished Canadians to receive Honorary Degrees

Trent University will honour the largest graduating class in its history during its 40th Convocation ceremonies to be held over the course of five ceremonies on Wednesday, May 30, Thursday, May 31 and Friday, June 1. Among the record 2,202 undergraduate and graduate students who will receive degrees and diplomas at the ceremonies are the first graduates of the Trent-Fleming Forensic Science B.Sc. program and the Canadian Studies Ph.D. program.

Two ceremonies will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Friday, one ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. All proceedings take place outdoors on the podium of the Bata Library on the Symons Campus.

Over the five ceremonies, degrees will be conferred upon approximately 2,150 undergraduate and 49 graduate students. Eleven Ph.D.s and 37 Masters degrees – 24 in the arts and 14 in the sciences – will be granted. Also at the ceremonies, the Governor General’s Gold medal will be presented to the graduate student with the highest standing and the Silver medal will be presented to the undergraduate student with the highest standing. In addition, four Symons Medals and two Bagnani Medals will be presented to undergraduate students who have achieved high academic standing in their programs.

Dr. Roberta Bondar, Trent University’s ninth chancellor, will preside over her fifth convocation; she was installed as chancellor in 2003. During the ceremonies, six distinguished Canadians will receive honorary degrees.

Statistics from the Office of the Registrar for undergraduate studies show that 72 per cent of graduates are female, while 28 per cent are male. The University is pleased to report that 65.7 per cent of the graduating class will receive an Honours degree, up from 57 per cent last year. Important milestones in the undergraduate area are the first students graduating from the Trent-Fleming Forensic Science Program, which opened to students in 2004, and the largest ever graduating classes in Nursing (109 graduates) and Business Administration (110 graduates).

All undergraduate students graduating with a cumulative average of at least 80 per cent are named to the President’s Honour Roll. This year, 18.3 per cent of all graduates are on the President’s Honour Roll (up from 17 per cent last year).

An important milestone at the graduate studies level is that the first Ph.D. degrees in Canadian Studies will be conferred upon graduates during the Wednesday morning ceremony.

A detailed breakdown of each convocation ceremony is as follows:

On May 30 at 10 a.m., all doctoral degrees, including the first-ever granted from the Canadian Studies Ph.D. Program, and Masters degrees will be conferred upon graduates, as well as Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and all Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees for Champlain College. During this ceremony, the first-ever Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degrees will also be conferred. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Dr. Ron Fourney, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professor Chris Metcalfe will be presented with the Distinguished Research Award and the Governor General’s Gold medal will be awarded to a graduate student.

On May 30 at 3 p.m., Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred upon graduates from Peter Gzowski College, Otonabee College, and Peter Robinson College, in addition to the conferring of Canadian Studies Diplomas and Native Studies Diplomas. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Dr. Rosemary Speirs, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professor Ivana Elbl will be presented with the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching and one Symons Medal recognizing academic excellence will be awarded to a graduate.

On May 31 at 10 a.m., Bachelor of Business Administration degrees and Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees for graduates of Julian Blackburn College will be conferred. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Jim Balsillie, who will address convocation, and the Eminent Service Award will be presented to Dianne Choate. Also at this ceremony, a Bagnani Medal and the Governor General’s Silver Medal will be awarded to graduates.

On May 31 at 3 p.m., Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred on graduates from Lady Eaton College and Catharine Parr Traill College. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Stuart McLean, who will address convocation. The Eminent Service Award will be presented to Professor David Morrison. Also at this ceremony, a Bagnani Medal, and three Symons Medals will be awarded to graduates. Professors and Librarians Emeriti will also be honoured.

On June 1 at 10 a.m., all Bachelor of Education degrees will be conferred. Joint honorary degrees will be conferred upon The Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain and G. Wallace F. McCain. Mrs. McCain will address convocation.

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Media are invited and encouraged to attend convocation.

For official comments and more information on convocation details, please contact:
Susan Salusbury, Registrar, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 ext. 7677

For more information on convocation logistics and media support, please contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Officer (media specialist), Trent University, (705) 748-1011 ext. 5371

For further information on the 2007 Honorary Degree recipients, visit the following site.