Augustana Campus Convocation
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Apply to graduate
In order to be eligible for convocation, you must apply to graduate on Bear Tracks under Graduation in Academic Records. You are required to apply for graduation even if you don't plan to attend your convocation ceremony.
Bear Tracks will be available for undergraduate students to apply for graduation:
- March 15 to September 1 for Fall Convocation
- October 1 to February 1 for Spring Convocation
Verify your personal info
You must verify your Convocation name, degree program and mailing address regardless of your attendance status through the Graduation Status page in Bear Tracks.
Ensure that your full name is displayed in the Parchment Name field, as this name will be printed on your parchment. The name on your parchment should match the name on your student record and on legal documents such as your birth certificate or passport. If a name change is required please submit a Name Change form and add "For Convocation Purposes" to the top of the form.
Due to publishing deadlines for the Convocation program, students who do not update their convocation information at least one month prior to the start of Convocation may not have corrections to their information published in the program.
Know the ceremony date & time
Augustana's Spring Convocation will be Thursday, June 5, 2025 @ 2:30 p.m. MST
Convocation attendance (RSVP)
If you plan on attending Convocation
Reserve your seat! Go to the Graduation Status page in Bear Tracks to indicate that you will attend. You may change your selection in the future if your plans change.
If you are not attending Convocation
Please let us know if you will not be able to attend Convocation. Go to the Graduation Status page in Bear Tracks to indicate that you will not be attending. You may change your selection in the future if your plans change.
Pay any outstanding fees/fines
Parchments and other official documentation will not be released to students who have outstanding accounts with the University of Alberta. Therefore, you are urged to clear all outstanding accounts at least two weeks prior to Convocation to ensure that your parchment is available.
Please note that this includes library fines, parking fines, and charges for unreturned keys.
You can view your account details in Bear Tracks.
Check your address
Update your mailing address in the Profile page in Bear Tracks. International students should ensure that their postal code is included and their telephone number is updated on the Contact Information page.
Reserve apparel and Convocation Packet
Augustana students reserve their apparel directly from Gaspard's Augustana Convocation web page. Note you must update your attendance in Bear Tracks prior to reserving apparel to indicate your plan to attend the ceremony if you have not already done so.
Academic apparel must be worn by all graduands participating in the ceremony and should be reserved from the link above at least three weeks prior to your Convocation date. Your academic apparel consists of:
- Gown
- Hood (in the ceremonial colour for the student's degree)
- Mortarboard / graduation hat (yours to keep)
After the online apparel reservation site has closed (usually three weeks before the start of the ceremonies), academic apparel may still be obtained by contacting Student Academic Services as soon as possible prior to the ceremony.
The Convocation Packet includes your parchment, name card and instructions for the ceremony.
Your Apparel and packet can be picked up in the Faith and Life Building Room 1-305 starting at 12 p.m. MST on June 5, 2025. The gown and hood must be returned to the gowning room after convocation, no later than 5:30 p.m. MST.
Attending Convocation
Students, friends, family and other guests can plan to attend the convocation events on Augustana Campus.
Guest tickets
Guest tickets are reserved for graduands who advise us of their intention to attend the ceremony. There is no cost associated with guest tickets.
For the Spring convocation ceremonies, graduands are eligible for two guest tickets. Guest tickets are in addition to the graduand's ticket. Graduands may obtain their allotted numbers of tickets from the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre Box Office starting in early April (specific date to be announced closer to the event).
Can I get extra guest tickets?
Extra tickets may become available as graduands take less than their maximum alotted tickets. Grads may contact the Box Office to request up to two additional tickets for the Cargill Theatre on a 'first-come, first-served' basis starting in late April (specific date to be announced closer to the event).
Grads wanting more than two additional tickets, or grads wanting tickets once all Cargill seats have been claimed, will be offered a ticket for seating in the Mayer Hall for a 'simulcast' of the ceremony. Please note that a live stream of the ceremony will also be available. The link will be available closer to the ceremony date.
Parking
Parking is available in all Augustana parking areas on Convocation Sunday (please adhere to posted Parking Restriction signs). Barrier-free spaces are available on the east side of the Faith and Life entrance.
Please plan for extra time to get to Convocation. Campus will be busy with many other students and their families heading to Convocation.
Accessibility Arrangements
If you or any of your guests require special seating (i.e. wheelchair seating) please contact the Augustana Student Academic Services Office.
Convocation Itinerary (June 5, 2025)
- A festive worship celebration with Holy Communion. The offering at the worship service is designated to support Augustana Chaplaincy Annual Fund. Cheques may be made payable to University of Alberta and marked Augustana Chaplaincy Annual Fund. For more information, click here.
12 p.m. - Pick up apparel and Convocation packet (graduands)
12 - 2 p.m. - Convocation Celebrations in the Quad (weather permitting)
- Centennial Bell Ringing, Photo Opportunities and Community Celebrations
- Graduands and guests are to be seated in the Cargill Theatre at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
- Time subject to change as the group photo will immediately follow the Convocation Ceremony.
- A great opportunity for photos and a chance to introduce your family to Augustana Campus and the Augustana community!
Grad Class Activities
Bell Ringing Ceremony
In 2012, Augustana Campus unveiled Augustana: Beyond a Certain Phrase, the Royden Mills sculpture that occupies the middle of the Quad and commemorates the first century of education here at Augustana. The intention was always that the sculpture to be more than campus beautification: the artist crafted a large wooden hammer that can be used to strike the bell on the sculpture, sending a tone that travels to every corner of campus and beyond.
Augustana created several traditions around the ringing of the bell, one of which is that every graduating Augustana student is invited to ring the bell on or near their last day of classes. Graduating students are encouraged to watch for messaging close to the end of classes in the Winter term for specific information about the annual bell ringing opportunity.
Individual Graduation Photos
Graduands may make private arrangements with a photographer for graduation photographs prior to, or following the actual ceremony. Convocation regalia may be borrowed from the Augustana Student Academic Services office for photographs. There is no charge for a student to borrow graduation apparel for individual portrait sessions. It is expected that the apparel will be returned safely and in good condition; failure to meet this condition will result in charges being applied to the student's university account for cleaning, repair and/or replacement.
Questions?
Find out more information about all of the University of Alberta’s Convocation ceremonies
Questions?
Questions about:
- Spelling of names
- Titles of degrees
- Times and dates of the ceremony
- Attendance
- Academic Apparel rentals
- Convocation status
- Augustana events
Contact Student Academic Services
Questions about:
- Payment of fees
- Convocation ceremonies and activities on North Campus