What is the difference between “Graduation” and “Convocation”?

Graduation and Convocation are not exactly the same things although sometimes people use the two words interchangeably. 

Graduation is the official acknowledgement of your qualification to claim your degree/certificate parchment. It consists of two parts: 

1. Program completion 
2. Conferment by the University Senate. 

There are two graduations per year – June (Spring) and October (Fall). 

Convocation refers to the graduation ceremony at which you receive your parchment in person. Normally, only the June (Spring) graduation has a Convocation.

 

Why is it important to apply for graduation?

Submitting an application to graduate is a requirement for the conferral of your certificate or degree by the University Senate. Applying to graduate will put your name on the graduation list for the Senate to assess and confer your credential. 

Additionally, applying to graduate is a requirement to receive a Verification of Program Completion (VPC).

 

I can’t attend the convocation. When and how will I receive my parchment?

If you can’t attend the ceremony, the Office of the Registrar will start mailing your degree or certificate to the address you provided in the graduation application after the convocation is over. 

 

I have completed my program but I have not officially graduated. Will I still be able to receive a transcript showing I’ve completed my program?

Graduation must be conferred by the University Senate – this is an official step that must be completed before a degree or certificate is granted.

If you have completed your program, for instance, in December, and your graduation doesn’t occur until June of the subsequent year, you are not considered graduated until you are conferred by the Senate in June. Therefore, your official transcript will not and cannot state that you have graduated. It will indicate “None” under “Program Completion”. 

If you are applying for the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) in the interim but have not received your degree/graduate certificate, you can apply for a Verification of Program Completion Letter (VPC). You can order this via the Student Portal. Click on “Request Form” under the “Resources” tab.

When should I apply to graduate? 

You will receive an email when the application to graduate form is open.

• For the Spring Ceremony (Held in June), applications open mid-October and close in late January
• For the Fall Ceremony (Held in October), applications open in mid-June and close in late July

 

Why can’t I access the graduation application form?

It could be because:

• You missed the application deadline and the form is closed.
• If the application is not closed yet, please ensure that you access the form with your AU login credentials (the same user name and password for your AU email account and Student Portal). If you are presently signed in to your personal Gmail on your web browser or Gmail APP, you must sign off completely, and then sign in to your AU email account before accessing the form.

 

I missed the graduation application deadline. What should I do?

When the Graduation Application is open, students will receive an email notification. Reminder emails will also be sent multiple times before the deadline. It will also be promoted on the Student Portal, website and social media. Make sure you don’t miss it! If you missed the graduation application deadline, unfortunately, you will need to wait until the next graduation ceremony.

I’ve applied for graduation. What is the next process?

If you have applied for Convocation, the Office of the Registrar will conduct a graduation audit. If you meet the graduation requirements of your program, you will receive a congratulatory letter from the Office of the Registrar and you will be included on the graduation list to be conferred by the University Senate.

 

I want to invite my family to attend my Convocation. How do I do that?

To support your family’s application, they will need the following documents:

• A Letter of Invitation: The Office of the Registrar does not provide this letter. You can write the letter on your own. Instructions can be found on this webpage for your reference.
• A copy of your study permit
• A copy of the ID page of your passport notarized by a lawyer
• A copy of your transcript(s)
• Verification of Program Completion / Confirmation of Enrollment*
  • For students who met all program requirements by December 2023 or prior, you can request a Verification of Program Completion Letter via the Student Portal. Under “Resources”, click on “Transcript and Form Requests”.
  • For students currently enrolled in courses, you can download a Confirmation of Enrollment Letter directly via the Student Portal.

*If you want to invite your parents to visit you for reasons other than convocation, a Confirmation of Enrolment might be needed instead of a VPC.

Please refer to the IRCC website to find out the Visa application processes and processing time and plan ahead of time.

 

When can I pick up my regalia?

You will receive your regalia at the venue on the day of Convocation. Please stay tuned and check your email for more information.

I have been waiting to receive my parchment in the mail for a while. What could have caused the delay?

If you have been waiting for the parchment for weeks, possible reasons for the delay could be:

1. You still have a balance on your student account. The Office of the Registrar will not release any documents (letters, transcripts, degrees, certificates) for students who have an account balance. You can view any outstanding balance under the Financial Summary in your Student Portal. To clear your account balance, you can make a payment directly on the Student Portal. For any account-related questions, please contact [email protected].
2. You did not provide an accurate mailing address. Please email [email protected] to correct your mailing address.
3. You have moved to a different address but did not inform the Office of the Registrar. Please email [email protected] to update your mailing address and update it on your Student Portal on your own.

The mailing address you provided is a PO box. Please note that we shipped all parchments via Purolator. Purolator does not deliver to PO boxes. Please email [email protected] to update your address.

 

Where can I find the photos that were taken at the convocation?

Photos that were taken at the ceremony will be shared on the Algoma University Facebook page.

 

How can I stay connected to Algoma University?

Graduates from Algoma University join a family of over 10,000 Alumni across the globe! Learn more here: https://algomau.ca/alumni/.