Daughter unable to attend her graduation ceremony as it is full. Advice please

[mildlyfried]

My daughter has just finished a three year Bsc (hons) at a major University. She has been advised that she cannot attend her graduation ceremony as it is full and she is on a waiting list. All the other ceremonies are at capacity too. She has been told that if a place does not become available then she can either try to graduate in November without her friends or have her certificate posted to her for a £10 fee.

To say we are upset and disappointed is an understatement. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I did not think a University would do this and would make sure they had enough graduation days/dates for all their students. The students have paid tens of thousands in fees and slogged for three years to be denied the chance to get their degree in a ceremony with their family watching.

Is there anyone out there with any advice? maybe someone who works at a University? I'm tempted to go to the local paper and tell the story so other students know what to expect at this University. Students should be told when they are choosing the University that they are not guaranteed a graduation.

Thanks for reading

I would go along wearing the gown etc on the same day as my friends. I would have the pre- ceremony group photos taken then turn up extra early at the entrance with them & say I will Pay for a ticket now if it would be possible to add me to the list today along with my parents if there are extra spaces.They could have people cancelling on the day or the day before etc for various reasons. Meanwhile keep fighting to attend on the day you want.

FFS at Lancaster you don't just get to choose the day that you want. I realise I'm just shouting into the void at this stage......

What a silly response. She applied within the deadline. What’s the point if a deadline if it’s first come first served?

It's rubbish OP and I understand why you're upset but honestly it is what it is. They aren't denying her her actual qualification. Tbh graduation ceremonies are pretty dull. She isn't missing that much. Get the certificate now if she needs it for job applications then attend in November if she feels that she needs the pics etc. She can surely still go out with her friends and celebrate after the ceremony?

I think it is disgraceful tbh
They take on students who pay for the university experience only to be told that the university only have limited spaces for graduation

Which isn’t the same! I know you and I are going to go around in circles on this and you’re clearly and effective negotiator by just repeating the same thing over and over again, so I will stop after this, but for the last time of asking, do you honestly, sincerely believe that November is a credible alternative? Really?

Okay, so from the timetable posted above, the problem seems to be that Lancaster graduations are done 'by-college-by-faculty'. Obviously each year there will be variations in the number of students who are (e.g.) Grizedale College in the Faculty of Science and Technology (as unlike Durham, Lancaster does not stratify college membership by Faculty, but by student preference at accommodation allocation) so it's probably just unfortunate that her College-Faculty combination is oversubscribed this year.

They have several ceremonies per day on different days.
Each graduand is reserved and offered a specific day and time slot.

As I just posted, a year group could be many thousands of students. I just looked up Lancaster - and they enroll 18,600 per year!!!

Those demanding that “they all graduate together” are mistaking a university with £££ signs in their eyes for a school. As it is the day’s ceremonies will be on a rolling basis - funnelled in and funnelled out quick sharp.

I did RTT I don't believe her and a contact of mine at Lancaster says this is highly unlikely so something else is going on here. If not, I'd make a formal complaint.

I had this with The Open University (as did many others from my cohort). All the spaces were filled as soon as they were opened for booking. They said I can go to any other one but they don’t tell you when booking opens so how would I know now I’m no longer studying with them. They were spectacularly unhelpful. It really took the shine off my result so I understand how your daughter feels. Mine was a photography degree and a few friends/relatives travelled to see my work when it was up for an award so I thought of dressing up and going for a meal with them instead (not arranged it yet though).

Back in 1996 our graduation ceremony was at Wembley Conference Centre for soace reasons.

I did a postgrad at Surrey. Loved it. Its so beautiful. I cant remember going to my graduation though. Was it at Guildford Cathedral?

Yes I understand thanks but where does the poster say her daughter was told there was a limited capacity before applying? If she had known that surely she would have applied sooner? I would have thought it’s a given that a university would have enough spaces for all students to graduate.

This happened to me an I was offered the next graduation date ceremony. However, I was late in registration for the original graduation date (but I did have personal circumstances)
I appealed as high as I could and managed to get in. Maybe try that?

Who TF wants to finish exams in May or June, then have their ceremony in…November? Exactly.

As I just posted, a year group could be many thousands of students. I just looked up Lancaster - and they enroll 18,600 per year

That must be bollocks, I think they have less than that in total, it's normally about 6000 a year.

Here’s a link to one of last years graduation ceremonies. There are others available on YouTube.

You can see how packed they are!
https://www.youtube.com/live/pjeNHdlN-Yk?is=R4XoCV1sCtavoF-b

I do think that is bad, they should accommodate anyone that wants to go.

That said, I didn’t go to mine and don’t regret it. I was at a foreign uni so wouldn’t have had family there so couldn’t be bothered with it. I still have my degree and I went to the after parties on the night, when everyone sent their parents away, lol

You’re good at this, it’s like trying to reason with a toddler 😂

Of course there’s a way round it, the university put on more ceremonies over more days. It will cost them more, but that’s what they should do. I’ve spent days helping staff graduation ceremonies, working backwards and forwards between 2 venues with back to back ceremonies but that’s what we had to do as we didn’t have a larger venue. That university has now moved off campus to a bigger venue.

That is so shit! What bad management on the part of the university. There should be space for every graduating student and at least two guests. If not they need to book the space for longer and put on additional days or look at an alternative venue if it can't hold the numbers required.

Lancaster University needs to ensure there is place for every graduate on each course plus 2 guests. Simple. If students miss the deadline it usually means that extra guest tickets can be allocated. This was not the case here and theyve got it badly wrong.

OP, are your DD's friends in the same college as her?

Never heard of this a student not being able to attend their graduation. No room for guests is a common issue but there’s no good excuse imo to have not accounted for the graduates to be there.

Is it just your daughter or are there others in this situation? I would absolutely complain and demand a better explanation. Sometimes they try it and rely on you not saying anything.