Graduation

Details taken from the Graduation 2003 and may vary from year to year

	Pronunciation		Timetable of Events
	Registration		Robing
	Photography		Refreshments
	Certificates		Programmes and Directories
	Videos		Ceremony Contacts

THE CEREMONY
International Convention Centre, Birmingham

The ceremony will take place in the Symphony Hall. All guests and graduates are asked to have taken .their seats in the Symphony Hall at least 30 minutes before the ceremony begins.

Graduates will be seated en bloc with your fellow graduates in the Stalls. You will be seated in ceremony presentation order, according to the award you are to receive. Your guests will be seated elsewhere in the Symphony Hall and will need to show their tickets to enter the Hall.

The ceremony will commence with the academic procession of the University's Senior Officers, , preceded by honoured guests, members of the University Council and Senate, and The Open University in the West Midland's Associate Lecturers. Once the procession is assembled on stage, the ceremony's Presiding Officer will declare the congregation open. There will then follow the conferment of an honorary degree to a distinguished academic or public figure.

Immediately after the conferment the presentation of graduates to the University's Senior Officer will begin. This starts with the highest academic awards and proceeds in descending order. Recipients of research degrees (PhD, MPhil, BPhil) are followed by those who have graduated with a taught higher degree (DClin, EdD, MA, MBA, MEd, MSc). Those who have gained first degrees will then be presented. The order of this will be, MEng, MMath, BA First-class honours, BA other honours, BA, LLB First-class honours, LLB other honours, BSc First-class honours, BSc other honours, BSc. All degrees in named subjects are honours degrees awarded as BA or BSc, and graduates in all these awards will be presented in alphabetical order of surname in accordance with the class achieved. The full detail of the subject studied will not be read out but is included with the class achieved on the award certificate and in the Directory of Graduates.

The presentation concludes with those who have gained the Diploma of Higher Education (Social Work).
Please make sure you sit where directed by members of the Regional Staff, who will also ensure that you know when to leave your seat to be presented. As the presentation involves ascending and descending a short flight of stairs at either side of the platform, please let us know in advance, if you have not already done so, if this will pose a problem. Please note that both sets of stairs have handrails.
At the appropriate point in the ceremony, a marshal will signal when your row is to stand and file to the steps at the side of the stage. Please ensure that you have your presentation card with you and that you hand it to the marshal at the top of the stairs.
After presentation please return to your row. (Please note that graduates in rows BB-L, seats 1-8, will return to their original row but not to their original seats. Therefore any personal belongings should NOT be left on your seat.

The ceremony will close with the return of the procession; the graduates join the end of the procession to recess from the Hall. Guests should remain seated until the procession has left the body of the Hall.

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Pronunciation
If your name has an unusual pronunciation that you would like to clarify for your on-stage presentation, please telephone the Regional Centre on 01214261661 as soon as possible to ensure that the Graduate Presenter pronounces your name correctly.

Timetable of Events
Ceremony 1 at at 10:45

Ceremony 2 at 15:00

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Registration
Graduates and guests should arrive early for the ceremony and no later than 9.45 to allow time for registration, robing, photographs and finding your seats. On arrival graduates should report to the Registration Desk, across to the left of the Mall from the Centenary Square entrance, where you will be given a presentation card bearing your name and seat number.

Graduates will be seated in the stalls, in the central and right hand area as you face the stage. Graduates should enter via the doors situated immediately adjacent to the Registration Desk. Seats for guests are unreserved in the Circle (Level 4), the Choir Stalls (Level 4), the Upper Circle (Level 5). and the Grand Tier (Level SA). Lifts are available to all levels.

Seating for guests in the Stalls (Level 3) will be reserved and tickets have been allocated, with priority given to those graduates who have already indicated to the University that members of their party experience mobility problems, etc. Please do not use the Level 3 seating area unless you have been allocated the relevant ticket(s) that will indicate row and seat number.

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Robing
Robes will be available for collection from 08:30 in the Robing Room situated in HALL 6 (Level 3) at the far end of the Mall. Regional Office staff will be on hand to help you find your way around the complex.

As over 400 graduates are to be robed, it would be appreciated if as many people as possible arrived before 09:15. You will be given your robes only on presentation of your Robe Hire Ticket.

The official academic dress of The Open University consists of gown and hood. You will notice that mortar boards are not provided. Mortar boards do not form part of the official academic dress, and are by convention not worn or carried at our degree ceremonies.

Upon receiving your robes you are asked to move swiftly away from the robe collection point. Instructions on how to put on your robes will be displayed, as well as enclosed in this information pack. Mirrors will also be accessible and supplies of safety-pins will be available by the display boards.

ALL ROBES MUST BE RETURNED BY 13.30.

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Photography
The only official photographers are Ede and Ravenscroft Photography Ltd. The photographers will be available from 08:30 until 13:30 (scrolls are provided). Please allow plenty of time and be prepared to wait.

The best time to have your photograph taken is between 8:30 and 10:00. It is also possible to have photographs taken after the ceremony, however please note that graduates for the afternoon ceremony will be arriving from 10:45 and will also be queuing for photographs.

Individual and family photographs are available. Sample sets of photographs will be on display. A photograph will automatically be taken (whenever possible) of each graduate as they receive their award. Copies of this distinctive photograph are also available size 7"x5". To save queuing and time on the day we recommend that you order and pay in advance. If you choose to pay on the day, you will be asked to pay by cash, cheque, Visa, American Express or Access.

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Refreshments
Refreshments comprising tea, coffee or orange juice and a Danish pastry will be served throughout the day on Level 4, only on production of a refreshment ticket.

Certificates
Certificates will be given to graduates on registration.

Programmes and Directories
All graduates and guests will be given a programme describing the ceremony. Graduates will also receive a copy of the 2003 Directory of Graduates. This souvenir publication provides congratulatory messages from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, provides a brief insight into the University's history and formal rules on conventions of ceremony and congregations, and details of all Honorary degrees awarded in 2003. A special insert also provides a list of all graduates being presented for their degree at the ceremony
.
The support of Beneficial Bank and Ede and Ravenscroft Photography Ltd has allowed every graduate attending a ceremony to receive a copy free of charge.

Further copies will be on sale at £5.00 on the day and £6.00 by post from the Awards and Ceremonies Centre. Alternatively, you may purchase a Graduate Directory incorporating a full list of all degrees awarded in 2003, which is available by post from the Awards and Ceremonies Centre for £10.00 in Autumn 2003.

Videos
The filming of home videos is permitted during the ceremony.

Ceremony Contacts
If you have any problems on the day of the ceremony, please ring the International Convention Centre on 0121 200 2000 and ask for The Open University.

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