Ever since I first became a University Lecturer I have tried to attend the graduation ceremonies for the groups of students I have taught. Over the years I think there have only been one or two years when I was unable to do so. I remember the 3-hour long ceremonies at Sheffield's City Hall before the present venue, the Octagon Centre, was built - and the way in which the very last person to cross the stage always got one of the biggest bursts of applause.
The first ceremonies I attended as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor were in December 2004. Although I had taken up position on the Executive Board on 1 May that year my predecessor attended that year's summer degree ceremonies. Today I have attended what is likely to be my last ceremony as an 'Officer' of the University. How many have there been in the meantime? Well, in my early days as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor under the previous Vice-Chancellor, Bob Boucher, PVCs were expected to attend every ceremony - and by and large we did. That meant 21 a year - 15 in the summer and 6 in the winter session. And at that time all ceremonies were presided over by either the Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor. It was only one December - possibly 2006 - when Bob was ill and asked that his ceremonies be taken by someone else. Thus it was that I presided as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at a degree ceremony - I believe the first to do so in recent times. Since then almost all Pro-Vice-Chancellors have presided at one or more ceremonies - although the bulk are still taken by the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor or, more recently, me as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. It is a responsibility - speaking to a captive audience of around 1000 in the hall, plus more (now) watching on a livestream. But that also gives a platform for some important messages, and I've never been afraid to try to use it for something meaningful.
Many people probably think that degree ceremonies are unchanging in their traditions. Not so. Here are some changes that have taken place since 2004.
Some of the most memorable ceremonies have actually been those that were not in the public eye of the Octagon Centre - that for a dying medical student, another carried out to award a PhD in a hospice in June 2013, the ceremonies for the parents of deceased students. And I have been involved in other interesting ceremonies in a tin hut in St Lucia, in hotels in Trinidad, Shanghai and Beijing, in Guernsey, and in the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
Octagon Centre degree congregations are, I think, my favourite events in the University - the celebration and culmination of achievement, and a day that brings the whole university community together. I am going to miss being so centrally involved.
The first ceremonies I attended as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor were in December 2004. Although I had taken up position on the Executive Board on 1 May that year my predecessor attended that year's summer degree ceremonies. Today I have attended what is likely to be my last ceremony as an 'Officer' of the University. How many have there been in the meantime? Well, in my early days as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor under the previous Vice-Chancellor, Bob Boucher, PVCs were expected to attend every ceremony - and by and large we did. That meant 21 a year - 15 in the summer and 6 in the winter session. And at that time all ceremonies were presided over by either the Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor. It was only one December - possibly 2006 - when Bob was ill and asked that his ceremonies be taken by someone else. Thus it was that I presided as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at a degree ceremony - I believe the first to do so in recent times. Since then almost all Pro-Vice-Chancellors have presided at one or more ceremonies - although the bulk are still taken by the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor or, more recently, me as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. It is a responsibility - speaking to a captive audience of around 1000 in the hall, plus more (now) watching on a livestream. But that also gives a platform for some important messages, and I've never been afraid to try to use it for something meaningful.
Many people probably think that degree ceremonies are unchanging in their traditions. Not so. Here are some changes that have taken place since 2004.
- The Octagon floor just used to be bare for ceremonies. Now it is carpeted. We got the chance to take on some blue carpet after the BBC held its 'Sports Personality of the Year' show in Sheffield a few years ago, and we then realized how much better the hall looked with a carpet installed. We also dress the walls with banners in a way we used not to.
- At one time the organ was played throughout the period when guests were taking their seating. Now we have a saxophone group (after a period with a wind band).
- An innovation brought in a few years ago was the introduction of a short film about student life in the university during the preceding year.
- Back in 2004 honorary graduates were not invited to say anything. What a waste that was! The congregation heard accolades being read about Sean Bean, Trevor Pinnock, Ranulph Fiennes and many others without them speaking a word in response. The first person to be invited to say anything was Eddie Izzard. More recently it has become standard for us to offer a response to the honorary graduand, and most take that opportunity and use it very well.
- In 2004 we used a very tinny organ to accompany the ceremonies: we now invest in a much better and more powerful model.
- Another innovation has been the way in which we now have all the new graduates walk out in procession behind the academic party - symbolizing their new position as life-long members of the university. (It also helps to clear the hall more quickly!)
- Finally (and of relevance today) we have changed the higher degree ceremonies to do two per day instead of three per day.
Some of the most memorable ceremonies have actually been those that were not in the public eye of the Octagon Centre - that for a dying medical student, another carried out to award a PhD in a hospice in June 2013, the ceremonies for the parents of deceased students. And I have been involved in other interesting ceremonies in a tin hut in St Lucia, in hotels in Trinidad, Shanghai and Beijing, in Guernsey, and in the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
Octagon Centre degree congregations are, I think, my favourite events in the University - the celebration and culmination of achievement, and a day that brings the whole university community together. I am going to miss being so centrally involved.
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