To expect to graduate?

[surreygirl1987]

I spent almost 6 years working on my PhD. I was supposed to graduate last summer, but it was during that intense heatwave (the hottest day in fact) when a 'national emergency' had been declared, and the University said we could defer our graduation to the December ceremony to avoid travelling. For context, it's almost 200 miles from my home to the university. I deferred as would have been madness to travel (I posted on here st the time for advice actually).

The December graduation ceremony dates were published quite a bit later. My ceremony was put as mid-week. As I teach full-time in a school, I couldn't attend (would have had to have had more than 1 day off for it due to the distance). I emailed the university a few weeks ago asking if I could graduate next summer instead (I phoned up first and was told yes that's fine, but to email this email address). I have purchased my hood, and paid for photography (for last summer but they said they'd honour it due to the heatwave circumstances).

I have just had a reply (ironically on the day my graduation should have taken place) refusing that request, saying I've basically missed my chance to graduate.

My question is, AIBU to challenge this? I know it's just a ceremony, and I didn't even attend my Masters one, but I've put almost 6 years into this doctorate and am genuinely proud of having completed it. Does anyone on here work in this area of a university, and can you advise if there's anything I can do to be allowed to attend the summer graduation ceremony?

Or, if you think I'm being unreasonable for asking to graduate then, feel free to say. At the moment I think I should be allowed to graduate next summer, but I'm happy to be persuaded otherwise. Thanks.

Yes, I think you'd be unreasonable to pursue this. They offered you an alternative ceremony date but you couldn't go. That's life. Otherwise where do they draw the line? How many times should someone get to rearrange their graduation?

I had to graduate in absentia for my PhD too. I still feel a bit sad about it, many years on.

Also graduated in absentia for my PhD! I would give it one more try if you really want to graduate in person, but tbh I think you have probably missed it - the original wasn't cancelled and they offered an alternative, so it does seem that there was a reasonable chance to attend.

All you can do is ask again. It makes no difference whether we all thinking YABU or not.

You got a PhD! You deserve a graduation! I can't see what harm it causes the university? It's bloody mean spirited actually. Ask again!

Another Ph.D. "in absentia" here.

Who is to say there won't be another reason come summer why you won't attend?

Come on, you've had 2 chances now....

Thanks for all the replies - quite a mix, but definitely food for thought.

*Who is to say there won't be another reason come summer why you won't attend?

Come on, you've had 2 chances now....*

The summer wouldn't be an issue as I know I'm not at work, and can work around it, much like I could a weekday wedding. I didn't anticipate a 'national emergency' and the hottest day 'ever' and I suspect that is unlikely to happen on the same day again! The summer graduation issue was not up to me - the university actually advised us not to travel (as did the government if you recall) and only a small handful of local people turned up (certainly not from 200 miles away!)... I wouldn't call it a 'chance'.

I actually deliberately submitted my graduation request after a certain date to make sure I was included in the summer ceremony rather than the previous year's December one, knowing that I could definitely attend in the summer and may not he able to in December.

I guess I just don't really see the issue - why can't I graduate next summer?

You could've gone to the December one but it sounds like you just didn't want to - it's not the university's fault that you live 200 miles away.

Six years doing a PhD, hell yes you should be able to go to a graduation ceremony if you wish! I’d say they should have offered ‘like for like’ not next one happening. What would happen for anyone doing a PGCE? Expected to truant en masse?

is there any chance that your PhD supervisor could intervene? It’s often a big deal for them too when a student graduates unless they are ancient, they won’t have had hundreds of PhD’s graduate. I know my supervisor would have been as upset as me if I hadn’t got to go.

They have to put a limit on it somewhere. Can't have people rocking up 10 years later wanting a ceremony. They gave you a deferred date. It ie likely many people will have moved into employment and been unable to attend but they never promised a weekend graduation date.

So you've had three opportunities to graduate really- a December one you chose to miss, summer one- heatwave and then this deferred December one. I think over a year is enough time.

The university will have a complaints procedure, use it to challenge the decision.

School s generally give somebody for graduation. Did you even ask?

University are a bit mean. Details of the dates were given late. Then they gave you info that was was misleading - they should have said - now or never early and clearly.

However - if you knew you could be teaching I guess they could say that you should have asked for dates early - stating you are a teacher (unable to take leave between …).

She’s a teacher - how is that not wanting to go?

I did too. I’m still sad about it.

School s generally give somebody for graduation. Did you even ask?

Do you mean they generally give time off? Yes. I could have had a day - my school is pretty good about that. But I'd never have made it in one day - it's an almost 400 mile round trip! My husband would also have needed time off his job to manage childcare (we have two pre-schoolers).

It's not the university's fault you're a teacher they can't bend it for everyone who can't do a weekday

I did too. I’m still sad about it.

In sorry to hear that. I guess it's worth me asking again so I know I've had no regrets.

I'd have another try with an email to the graduations office copied to the head of your dept.

If you can't graduate, hire the gown and take nice photos around the campus yourself. I often see people doing that at the uni where I work.

If you can't make it when it's scheduled, you can't make it. If it's so important to be there, you'll need to ask for leave. I've graduated three times but never walked across that stage.

So you've had three opportunities to graduate really- a December one you chose to miss

No - as I said, I made sure the initial December one was never an option. I didn't want to risk not being able to attend.

As others have said, I do think they have to draw a line somewhere orherwise they’ll have people graduating 5 years after their course. Sorry but I’m also not buying that you couldn’t get there in a day off- unless you live in the outer Hebrides- surely you could have travelled there the evening before straight after teaching and then come back on the day after the ceremony. It sounds to me like you much preferred the idea of the summer ceremony and were banking on being allowed that one then shocked when they said no. It’s definitely worth writing another letter throwing yourself on their mercy and asking for one more chance but I don’t think they’re being unreasonable- you seem to have been given 2 chances (the December ones) to graduate.

But you were eligible for it? I get that you never signed up for it but were you allowed to attend it if you chose it?