Daughter unable to attend her graduation as no tickets left (second thread)

[mildlyfried]

My daughter cannot attend her graduation as major Uni only offers tickets on a 'first come first served' basis. We are very upset and think the Uni should have ensured there were enough ceremonies/capacity for every graduate. This is the second thread.

Other students at Lancaster were given an opportunity to register their interest and the ceremonies were arranged based on that information.
The OP is very quiet on what her daughter did in response to that email or the many follow up ones.

You should always check your AI. The only reference to "first come, first served" in QMUL's FAQs is in the section "How do I purchase extra tickets" (my emphasis).

Didn't she say that her child replied within the specified timeframe, albeit later than other students? If she missed the cut-off then I don't think she'd be on here posting about it.

I saw the thread on the Facebook page as well and was very suprised that everyone who wants to graduate in July at Lanacaster might not be able to if they weren't fast enough at responding.

My DC has Lancaster down as insurance place. I have warned him if he ends up there and graduates to reply straight away to any emails!!

I have just been looking my own graduation photos from over 30 years ago with my friends so I do understand how disappointing it must be.

whats his first choice?! Have you checked?

The OP is hazy on details and has ignored any questions about the many emails other students were sent.

It would appear so!

You definitely wouldn’t have made the same mistake as the DD as delaying response!

Just checked and they are guaranteed a ticket.

How can anybody be arsed with this on such a hot day. 😳

You should always check your AI. The only reference to "first come, first served" in QMUL's FAQs is in the section "How do I purchase extra tickets" (my emphasis).

And here (under the 'what deadlines should I be aware of?') I think.

FAQs - Queen Mary University of London

How can anybody be arsed with this on such a hot day.

TBF that's probably true of most of MN today!

Mumsnetting is pretty much only thing I can be arsed with today!

but in about 5 mins I have got to start preparing an early dinner for one of my teens and I’m dreading the oven!

I’m so hot all I can be arsed with, is asking people how they can be arsed with things today….🤣

I’m so hot all I can be arsed with, is asking people how they can be arsed with things today….🤣

😂

Sat in the cool mumsnetting is all i can manage!

The uni aren’t going to change from their original response to you simply because of a mumsnet thread.

They will continue to do what has worked every year in the past and expect their adult graduates after three years of being educated at the institution to be able to manage their admin effectively if a particular date is more important to them than the explicitly stated alternative date

Well, I guess we'll see what transpires.

Having said that, I did research the uni in question and it does say first come first served for graduation ceremonies. I would be really upset if my child missed out because they didn't get their reply in quick enough. And how quick is quick enough? It's like trying to get tickets for a popular gig or something - completely ridiculous for a grad ceremony after working hard to get your degree. As I said previously, every student should have the opportunity to go to a ceremony at the end of their course, not wait until later in the year or the following year (if you reply quickly enough for a later ceremony, otherwise you'd miss out on those too I'm guessing).

@iceberg52

This gives the details of what happens.

The OP was told this on the Facebook group before posting here.

Another parent of a former Lancaster Uni student.

Lancaster is an odd one, its grown massively so doesn't have a great hall that's really big enough for the current size of the uni. Its a campus that's far enough outside Lancaster itself to make moving the graduation ceremony into the city difficult. Besides that wouldn't then work with the refreshments which are done by the colleges.

QMUL doesn't use the words first come first served but instead states registration will close early if all available spaces are taken up. Same effect just different phrasing.

Thanks for that, however, it is still only a person's perspective and experience. They won't know everyone in the cohort, and it doesn't prove that the OP's version of events is right or wrong.
It does highlight that even if you do register your interest in Feb/March and aren't late replying the uni doesn't guarantee you'll get a place. As I said previously, I find the first come first served system completely ridiculous, every student should have a chance to go to a summer ceremony. It would be far simpler and fairer if the uni sent out a yes or no email as previously suggested, then it would be easier for them to work out numbers from there. It seems like a more logical way of doing things. The way it is currently administered looks as if they already have a numbers/ceremonies limit and there aren't enough places for the entire cohort, should they wish to go, hence the first come first served basis. That is why I think the OP has a fair point, even though her child didn't reply immediately (but within the timeframe). Also, as a minor hole pick, I don't believe any student has an inbox "rammed" with graduation related emails, that certainly isn't my experience anyway. Maybe 2 or 3.

But irrespective of the OP’s version

fact remains all instructions were explicitly stated on invite
the November ceremony alternative was made clear

all her mates read and responded
the dd didn’t until near to deadline by which point the first come first serve point came in to play.

These are adults. The DD will be embarking no doubt on a pretty brutal grad recruiting process in the current climate.

I find the first come first served system completely ridiculous, every student should have a chance to go to a summer ceremony. It would be far simpler and fairer if the uni sent out a yes or no email as previously suggested, then it would be easier for them to work out numbers from there. It seems like a more logical way of doing things. The way it is currently administered looks as if they already have a numbers/ceremonies limit and there aren't enough places for the entire cohort, should they wish to go, hence the first come first served basis. That is why I think the OP has a fair point, even though her child didn't reply immediately (but within the timeframe).

I totally agree with you @iceberg52

I agree that it’s a far from ideal system
BUT
it was made abundantly clear to the grads. Repeatedly.

Lot of unfair systems in the world. If something is important to you… you work with the system

In my experience of uni's (not this one) they don't repeatedly email, maybe 3 emails, so perhaps this uni is different.

Yes, there are unfair systems, but it doesn't mean we just have to accept them being unfair. Complain about them and attempt to have the unfair system altered to a fairer one by being vocal about it. That is what the OP is doing here, having missed out. Unfortunately, I doubt her child will get a place now, but I don't blame the OP for being upset and posting on here about it. First come first served at this uni should end, there are fairer and more inclusive ways to organise their graduation ceremonies going forward. The ceremonies should work/be organised around the student cohort numbers, not the other way round.

I have never heard anything like this.
you daughter has paid huge fees and they are happy to take fees of her and now no graduation.
Why don’t you try to raise this through media outlets such as Guardian or other such outlet. I think they would be interested.
Universities need public behind them more than ever before.
All students so look forward to this as their right of passage from University.
Please do something - a new low for Universities.