Convocation Ambassador
Convocation would not be possible at Trent without the 100+ staff, faculty, retirees, alumni and students that help out. You make the day run smoothly and provide that personal interaction that makes it such a special and memorable event for the graduates and their guests. The Convocation ceremonies are typically only 1-1.5 hours long and there are two shifts: morning from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, and afternoon from 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm. The in-person training session is scheduled on May 30th at 2:30 pm at Stohn Hall in the Student Centre. If you missed the orientation session, please refer to the presentation.
There are a number of ways to assist:
- Gowning: At Student Centre, provide and pin the hoods for the students to wear at the ceremonies.
- Student Marshalling: At Student Centre, line the students up by degree and alphabetically and ensure they have a water bottle.
- West Bank Ushering: Outside Bata or in the gym, greet guests and answer questions. In warm weather encourage guests to have water, a hat or go into air conditioning.
- Student Centre Ushering: Direct students to gowning and degree and alumni gift pick up, and assist families with photo ops in front of backdrops.
- Accessible Seating: Assist guests to the accessible seating area on the bridge/Champlain level of the University Court in good weather, or in front of audience chairs in the Gym in case of poor weather.
Ambassadors are provided with lunch when they help for a full day, and a thank you event after convocation.
Please email convocation@trentu.ca if you have any questions. The convocation team appreciates everyone who is able to help!
Faculty & Staff
Participate in the Academic Procession
Convocation is an extremely significant event in the lives of many Trent students and their families. The students are always happy and proud to see and be congratulated by their professors on stage and introduced to their families after the ceremonies. Your presence strengthens the bond with them as they become alumni.
We ask that faculty who are planning to be in the academic procession please RSVP.
Academic regalia is a tradition that Trent would like to honour for members of the procession, as such the Provost's office is generously covering rental costs for faculty who do not already own their regalia. If you need to rent regalia, please order through the Harcourts website. Rented regalia can be picked up in the gowning rooms: faculty gowning in the Tribute Communities Centre (Durham) and the AJM Smith Room (Peterborough), 1st floor Bata Library. Trent regalia will be available for those whose highest degree is from Trent.
Once gowned, gather for the academic procession outside Champlain College, or in the hallway of the Tribute Communities Centre half an hour before the start of the ceremony. A faculty marshal will line you up. In Peterborough, if there is inclement weather and the ceremony is being held in the Gym, gown and then gather for the academic procession in the lobby of the Athletics Centre.
If you don't wish to take part in the academic procession, simply attend the ceremonies of your choice. If you would like to sit in Reserved Seating to cheer on your students, please contact convocation@trentu.ca
Ceremonies are scheduled by program and usually only last 1 - 1.5 hours.
Regalia
Students are provided with Trent regalia for the ceremonies, to be returned after.
For any faculty that would like to purchase new regalia to represent your highest degree, please contact Harcourts or Gaspard.
Faculty or senior staff that would like to participate in the academic procession are asked to be in regalia. If you do not own it, you can rent it through Harcourts. If your degree is from Trent, or you have further questions please email convocation@trentu.ca.
The convocation office is selling some vintage Trent regalia that can no longer be used for the convocation ceremonies. Supplies are extremely limited but include gowns of varying materials and shades of green, and some arts, science, business, education and a few master or arts or master of science hoods. The items are not in pristine condition. Gowns are $20 if picked up, $40 to ship. Hoods are $10 if picked up, $20 to ship. Payment is only by cash or cheque - we cannot accept any cards. Please contact convocation@trentu.ca if you are interested.