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 don't even have that excuse that my son hasn't got a place for his graduation ceremony because he didn't apply to attend his graduation.
I do feel sad that I wont be attending the ceremony this July and feel a little cheated as a parent who fully supported him over the past 4 years. He is the only 1 out of my 3 children who completed their degree course & awarded their degree. I have to accept his decision that he doesn't want to attend ( too late to change mind now as cut off was June 15th ), but it is a bit upsetting 😢

Could it be that she did not register her intent to attend in time? For example at our Uni the ceremony is July 21st, and students had a deadline of 17th April by which to register graduation intention. I do know it's strict, and that could be why she has been put on a list for cancellations. However, booking your robe and colours also has a deadline, so i have no idea how that works if you do obtain a cancellation.

I graduated as a mature student and we were limited to two tickets but I've never heard of not being able to go to your own graduation. Very sad.

Very poor of the university! If she applied before the deadline and there was no warning I would cause an absolute stink. Working hard and paying a fortune for there to be no graduation at the end of this is plain stupid and shows a lack of care and planning.

This is awful, I feel for you all x It's -usually - such a lovely day for everyone and appalling that some students have to miss out. I hope your DD gets something sorted - and Congratulations to her!

When someone suggested she should get offered a place before offering students who have a place extra guest places. If they did offer this would she still want to attend if it meant she couldn't invite any guests? Perhaps she would as she would still be there with her friends, and you could still go to the venue and watch on the screen, but perhaps something to bear in mind.

This is totally wrong. I have never heard of this happening in all my decades as a university lecturer and manager. I think they need shaming over this.

As she applied before the deadline that sounds absolutely awful and I’d be naming and shaming ! If they haven’t got room to celebrate their students ‘ graduations they obviously need another venue, an extra day or to take on less students!! I’d be livid at this. Practically you could get in touch and see if some people have declined ( which they surely will) and/ or threaten to kick up a stink. I suspect for any students in a quandary between two uni placements this would be a pretty big deciding factor as it shows a lack of respect and consideration for their student body.

Oh I see the evening can't be arsed actually reading the entire thread crew have clocked in.

Shouldn't it be the university's practice to have certain number of graduation ceremonies for all students?

Doesn't actually explain how you know all about the e mails they receive and timing of them. It's pretty weird given they would be in their 20s by the time they graduate.

Okay that information would be useful when they are 17 or 18 but surely by graduation time parents aren't discussing those things with each other.

It is a day of celebration. It should be a day of picnics with strawberries and champagne, then the boring bit, followed by dinner somewhere nice with family. The graduate deserves all the attention on this special day and they definitely should not be denied it. More days should be put on. It’s not as if the numbers are a surprise to the university.

It’s exactly that.

Failure to respond to what would have been multiple emails to confirm the intention to attend.

But despite many posters pointing out the facts that the OP has failed to mention here we are with the university getting a an undeserved slating having just read the first (disingenuous and free from crucial information) post.

was she meant to apply for something and didn’t. Tickets for family are something you apply for. The dates come out to students of their graduation but don’t know of they have to do something. Sounds weird. They normally get a date for their subject graduation. Can you contact the uni as somethings gone wrong there?

Because we talked to him at the time and he forwarded some emails on?

FFS.

Can you get photos with a scroll and get them to post the certificate. She can be with all her friends on the day, and you can take her for lunch etc.

What’s wrong with November?

I'm so sorry it's awful when it's not yoyr choice.

I didn't bother with my bachelors graduation even though Princess Anne handed our the certs, but for my Masters I broke my neck getting there, lol.

Hire the gown etc, get prof photos done and have a big celebration at home.

All her friends and classmates are Graduating in July. It will be awful to be the only one of the group having to wait 4-5 months. It’s not unreasonable that the University ensures that there’s enough spaces in July.

Read the thread. She CAN go to her graduation. They have offered her a November date if a space doesn’t become available.

It’s entirely her fault for not responding to the 3 emails that she would have received.

It’s not exactly that! She applied before the deadline.

It’s obvious that some people don’t understand the work and sacrifices kids and their parents make to attend uni. Comments like “what’s wrong with November” just show ignorance about how special graduation is for some students. It’s a celebration, not only your family, but with course mates too. Celebrating by yourself whilst the others celebrate on a previous occasion, absolutely takes away from the specialness and importance of the day.

Perhaps she should have responded quicker to the several email reminders!

Unbelievable that the University thinks this is an acceptable way to treat students and their families. I cannot believe any other country does this. It is really disrespectful and obviously a built-in flaw in their system that there will automatically be those not allowed to attend the ceremonies. So there's no way to book larger premises or longer lasting ceremonies? It simply doesn't make sense to me unless it's a cost cutting exercise but basically it just shows scant respect for students and their families and isn't "customer focused". Is it a case of less staff being available on graduation dates due to their having already started their vacations??

November grads are usually much smaller affairs - at least for the majority of Unis which have summer grads. The two are not comparable.

OP says her DC applied before the deadline. Someone has cocked up massively as this could be a publicity nightmare for the institution.