Thoughts on your child's graduation ceremony?

[TooHot2022]

Recently had DS's graduation ceremony at a Russell Group uni.
It was well-organised by the uni in a nice venue (not Southampton!!), the day ran smoothly, we took lovely photos and met some of his friends. All good.

However, DH & I later both remarked on a number of things we observed:

• lots of students looked like they'd made no effort to look even slightly smart/tidy.
• family/audience response was quite rowdy for some students - more like a football match
• A handful of students were disrespectful - almost ignoring the Chancellor then using their walk across stage to 'perform' in some way

We got the distinct impression that for many of them it was some sort of 'game' which they didn't value.

By way of contrast, all the international students were impeccably dressed, great interaction/ social skills with staff etc and seemed to be really valuing and enjoying the occasion.

I don't know, it just kind of made me feel a bit sad. Like British students don't really value our academic institutions, and yet international students can't get enough of them?!

Was it a COVID delayed graduation? I went to my DS's delayed graduation and it was a lovely day but most of them had actually left Uni a year before and probably didn't feel the significance of the occasion given the passage of time since receiving their degree. Quite a few of his class cohort didn't attend.

I think there is a different attitude from international students and their families towards education in general at all stages.

Please tell me that nobody whooped or cheered when their DC’s name got called out.
I really hate it when that happens - really cringe-worthy. Both of my DCs would disown me if I did that to them!

I had my MSc graduation ceremony last week, delayed from 2021 because of Covid. My undergraduate graduation ceremony was in 2001. I found it very different. Lots of whooping and cheering rather than the sedate clapping 20 years ago. Lots of students dressed quite casually under their gowns - trainers/converse with dresses, jeans etc.

I did wonder whether it was because it was a delayed ceremony (everyone there should have graduated in either 2020 or 2021).

What’s wrong with Southampton?

DDs graduation was very respectful on the whole. The only whoops and cheers were from some of their peers who sneaked up to the gallery. All in very good taste and highly entertaining.

Can't particularly comment on the moment it came for my own DD to get her scroll because I was so stressed about videoing it I forgot to press record. So I wasn't there in the moment and those not present didn't get to see it either. Also was not popular when DD asked me to take one photo, just one, of her and DD2 in front of the 2022 decoration, I managed to get the 2 but was just so overwhelmed with actually getting them both in a single picture I missed the brief.
So alas we have to wait until the official video is released.
Managed to get the obligatory grad professional photo but mid ordered so now have an almost life sized photo of DD, the 'smaller' ones in the pack are big enough!!

Hopefully I've learnt my lesson and the next graduation will be more successful, or at least they'll leave it to daddy 😂

And I'll be more prepared for the hour and a half of continuous clapping, wasn't prepared for that, my hands were sore

My sons was on Friday and it was a wonderful day, everyone looked immaculately turned out, they all ‘doffed their cap’ and the pride was clear to see from students and parents.

He was not at a RG Uni, ‘just’ a normal uni in a northern city but still a huge achievement.

My dds delayed graduation ceremony was held at Bristol university last week and it was nice to watch. The students were well dressed and there was a fair amount of whooping and cheering.

Ede and Ravenscroft have a near monopoly on gown and mortar board hire for U.K. universities and must be laughing all the way to the bank.

My DD refused to attend hers (for a number of valid reasons but despite that I feel bereft) so I have missed out there.

Taking note re photos and clapping for DS2 in two years' time :D

I went to my own graduation in wears. Also sat in the audience.

Load of crap.

*wearing jeans.

Just thank your lucky stars you don't go to them twice a year as I do 🤣

Both my DDs uni’s had strict dress codes for graduation. And nobody was slovenly or whooping!
It’s a shame if the sense of occasion and history are spoiled by people not taking it seriously or getting into the spirit of it. I still get goose pimples at the sound of Gaudeamus Igitur - it takes me back to my own graduation from medical school over 40 years ago, as well as the DDs’ ceremonies. It wouldn’t have had half the gravitas if full of slouching students in jeans and trainers, and whooping parents!

thetab.com/uk/2022/07/21/russell-group-southampton-university-isnt-reading-out-grads-names-at-graduation-ceremonies-this-week-263285

I'm afraid there was some of that, yes.

It seemed more appropriate at least when it was fellow students whooping the Post Grads who were perhaps their supervisors etc!

Was it Sussex? There is a post on linked in of the walking across the stage

And at least two transwomen students seemed to think it was a good opportunity to pretend to be catwalk models.
It wasn't. They just looked very stupid and immature.

Not a delayed Covid graduation, no, was Class of 2022.

Not Sussex either.

It’s a ridiculous charade, I didn’t go to either of mine, or my DCs. But having said that I wouldn’t go a spoil it by making a show of myself.

That's a barbed and spiteful comment from you, OP.

I ignored your 'Russell Group' snobbery earlier but seems your true self is shining through.

Is that you Hyacinth?

At ours the graduates families are positively encouraged to whoop and cheer.

Slightly cringy yes - but quite a proportion are first in family to go to university and their families are rightly dead proud of that achievement and want to celebrate.

Oh ok. Two friends graduated from there on Friday and they had an amazing time. I’ve seen photos and everyone looks great and the football stadium looks like fun.

DS2 is having a delayed COVID graduation at the end of August which (in his cohort) seems to be very much a students rather than parents focused event, so we aren’t going (and are not greatly fussed as it’s great for him to meet up with friends he didn’t see enough of in the last year or so of his degree - especially since many of them are international). I suspect the dress code for them all will be very smart. The department is paying for the robes (!).

Ds had his delayed graduation from University of Dundee 3 weeks ago. It was a fantastic experience and all the students were in great form and the students wearing their national dress (and kilts ) looked extremely smart ...in fact the Dean explained he wanted us to whoop and cheer their peers after what they'd all been through during Covid
Ceremony was very well executed and yes @Babdoc , I too got v emotional when Gaudeamus Igitur was played .
Had a lovely garden party afterwards, including champagne and a ceilidh!