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

If she applied before the deadline and the university hadn't made it clear that they needed to be quick because spaces were limited, then I think it was reasonable for her to assume that there would be sufficient capacity for all graduating students.

This is poor form from the university and I would advise your daughter to consider putting in a complaint. This may not fix things for her in the short term, but it would at least get the university to review their processes for other students in future.

That’s shit OP, and I wouldn’t blame you for making it public knowledge.

Considering the debt that today’s students are expected to have, a simple graduation ceremony isn’t much to expect. The cheek of them then expecting payment for posting the certificate makes it worse. One of my dc chose not to go to the graduation ceremony but their certificate was posted without charge.

Thanks. I would like to kick up a stink about this but they won't talk to me as I am a parent. This is very crafty

University students are usually adults so it's right that the university deals with them directly and not with parents.

Your daughter can kick up a stink if she wants to, though, and you can support her in doing this if necessary.

Are your DDs friends graduating as a subject cohort ?

I think that's really poor on the part of the university. Students should be able to graduate with everyone else on their course. My daughter's uni says it guarantees every student plus 2 guests a place which seems much more reasonable. They probably accepted more people onto the course(s) than previously but should then make sure they hold the ceremonies somewhere that can fit them all.

That is awful. Uni's should have enough spaces for every student to graduate with their peers.

Yes she wants to graduate with her friends.They all did the course together

Yes it's really awful and they clearly don't care much about the student experience. It's all money. They will save money not doing more graduation ceremonies.This is a Uni that prides itself as being in the top ten in the UK

Which one? No point in protecting them in hiding this behaviour.

Most people enjoy celebrating their own and their loved ones achievements.

When my DS graduated last year he had to book quite a long time in advance. I presume they then scheduled the ceremonies according to how many from each course had said they intended to come. It does seem unfair if she applied within required time, especially if they weren't warned that it was effectively first come first served.

I didn't hear of anyone who replied on time at DS's University being told that they couldn't attend but one of his friends missed the deadline. He was given the option of an Autumn graduation or graduating in absentia.
There will be limits to the number of people allowed due to fire regulations etc so it won't be simple to just add another student, who will presumably also want guests to attend too. The University must know how many students typically want to attend though - I wonder if this is a particularly big group or something? I guess if they end up with just slightly more than capacity it may be too difficult/ expensive to put on another whole session. I noticed at my DS's graduation there were a few students graduating in something completely unrelated to the majority so I presume they were either on courses with very small numbers or were "overflow" from another session who had been fitted into an available gap. It must be a huge logistical challenge so I do have some sympathy with the University, but they should have made it clear to the students that this could happen.

That's outrageous. 😡

My daughter didn’t want to do her graduation ceremony and then changed her mind last minute by which time it was too late to apply for tickets. She hired robes and turned up on the day had photos done, watched her friends graduate from the big screens in one of the entertainment venues and then we had a nice meal. It was a lovely day just without the ceremony, perhaps she could do that and then do the ceremony on November if she really wants to?

Lancaster University. Has anyone heard of this happening at any other Universities?

Thank you Teachermum and everyone else for your support. We will make the best of it

That’s shocking after paying all that money.

Are you absolutely certain she passed the necessary exams? Tread carefully if not.

Oh no—that’s on my DC’s list (the business school). Thanks for sharing.

I work at a University (my team work with the Graduation team) and this doesn't happen. The only reason for a student moving from summer to winter Graduation is if they miss the deadline to apply.

Students are invited to register and sent multiple reminder emails/text before we close the registration portal. Are you sure she didn't miss the deadline but can't bring herself to tell you? Seems odd if all the friends on her cohort have a place.

Never heard of it where I work. It's poor.

From Lancaster University's website:

Registration

Lancaster University has a bespoke ceremony management system through which we communicate with eligible students. In our communications, we always include your student number to reassure you that the communication is genuine.

Please note that capacity in the Great Hall is limited. We strongly advise graduands to register as soon as possible after they receive a graduation invitation. Graduand spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the capacity in the Hall has been reached. If you are placed on a waiting list for your ceremony, we will contact you directly regarding alternative options available to you. Please refer to the section 'When will I graduate' for details about which qualifications are awarded at our ceremonies.

I am sympathetic but I am guessing she did not heed the advice.

I think there is more to this tale...

This-I would clarify all the facts first.

Her friends applied before her. They got places.She did apply late but was within the deadline. I saw the email from the department. They are unsympathetic.