Convocation

FALL CONVOCATION 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Application to Attend Convocation (ATAC) Deadline is September 23, 2010.

Congratulations to everyone graduating this Fall!  Royal Roads University is proud of your achievements and we are excited to celebrate your success with your fellow graduands, family and friends.

Location
Convocation ceremonies will be held at the Royal Theatre in downtown Victoria. The Royal Theatre opened in 1913 as a privately built and operated roadhouse. It has seen many of the world’s great performers on its stage, including Sarah Bernhardt, Carlos Montoya, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Luciano Pavarotti. The Theatre’s address is 805 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC.
 

Ceremonies
 

Two ceremonies will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 9:30am and 1:30pm. The duration of each ceremony is approximately 1.5 hours.

We will confirm the programs within each ceremony the week of October 1, 2010 following the September 23, 2010 deadline for the Application to Attend Convocation. Please refer to this website for those updates.

Guest Seating
The Application to Attend Convocation (ATAC) form will allow each graduand attending convocation to request up to three (3) guest seats. Due to fire regulations of building capacity all guests including children will require a ticket to attend the ceremony (including those that can be seated on laps).

When requesting tickets, do not count yourself in the ticket numbers; your seat is already reserved.

Guest tickets will be mailed to the address listed on your ATAC. It will be your responsibility to distribute these tickets to your guests prior to the event. If you have not received your tickets by October 12, 2010 please contact us at convocation@royalroads.ca

Additional Guest Seating
We are expecting a full house however; if there is an opportunity for additional guest seating, tickets will be made available on October 1, 2010 at 8:00am PST. Requests for additional tickets must be made by the graduand through convocation@royalroads.ca no earlier than October 1, 2010 at 8:00am PST. A wait list will not be in effect. A maximum of two (2) additional seats will be available to any one graduand.

Live Webcast

This will be the first year that RRU has offered a live webcast available for those not able to attend convocation. Additional details and a link will be provided shortly.

Have extra tickets, or can no longer attend?

If you find that you are unable to use one or more of your tickets, please hand them in to the Box Office on the day of your ceremony or let us know at convocation@royalroads.ca what ticket numbers you will not use so we can allow others to attend.

Gowning Process
Graduands are required to wear RRU’s official regalia, including a black cap with tassel and a black gown. A degree hood is worn for degree recipients only. These items are reserved when you complete your ATAC form and must be returned after the ceremony.

Gowning Pickup: Graduands must arrive to the Royal Theatre downtown one hour prior to their ceremony start time for gowning, and then proceed to their seat. Gowning assistants will be on hand to assist you with pinning, fitting, etc.

Options for Gowning Return:  

At the Royal Theatre 

AM Ceremony before 11:45am

PM Ceremony before 3:45pm

At Royal Roads University Open House

To accommodate photo opportunities, you may return your gown at the RRU Open House (Hatley Castle 209) anytime between Noon and 6:00pm. Convocation regalia must be returned by 6:00pm to avoid a fee.

RRU does not sell academic hoods or gowns, but these can be purchased directly from our supplier, Gaspard & Sons www.gaspard.ca.

What to Wear
What to Expect at the Royal Theatre

Photography
During the ceremony, we will have professional photographers capturing photographs of each graduand as they cross the stage. Your guests are welcome to take photographs before or after the ceremony. The photographers will also have a studio available at the RRU Open House. Convocation gowning and regalia will be available at the open house for portrait photo’s. 

RRU Open House

Graduands and their guests are invited to the RRU Open House held in Hatley Castle between Noon and 6pm on the day of the ceremony. Light refreshments featuring tea, coffee, and desserts will be served.

Complimentary tours of the castle and gardens will be available to graduands and their families throughout the Open House. In addition, our affinity partners will be onsite featuring class rings and custom frames. A photography studio has also been arranged for portrait photos.

If you are unable to attend the RRU Open House but are interested in ordering a class ring or frame please refer to our affinity partner contact information below.

Class Rings and Frames

Diplomas
Diplomas will be available in Hatley Castle 212 during the Open House (Noon – 6pm). You must bring photo identification to pick up your diploma.  Diplomas not picked up during the Open House will be mailed to the address on file two to four weeks after convocation by the Registrar's Office.

Payment of Outstanding Fees/Fines
Graduand diplomas and transcripts will not be released to learners who have outstanding accounts with the university (e.g. tuition fees/fines, residence payments, etc.). Therefore, learners are urged to clear all outstanding accounts prior to convocation to ensure your documentation is available. Information regarding the balance of a learner's account or to settle outstanding fees may be obtained by e-mailing RRU-Learner-Accounts@royalroads.ca.

Accommodations
There are a number of downtown hotels offering special rates to graduands for Convocation including:

·         Inn at Laurel Point  Individual attendees may fill out the reservations form and email or fax back to the indicated contacts within the form. A special guest room rate of $109.00CAD per night is offered between October 23 through 27, 2010. Self Parking is available at $15.00 per night.

·         Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour Individual attendees may call the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour directly at 250-480-3800 (local) or toll-free in Canada and USA at 1-866-306-5451. Please advise delegates to inform reservations agents that they are with Royal Roads University. A special deluxe room rate of $109.00CAD per night is offered between October 22 through 30, 2010. This rate will only be available to book until October 4, 2010. Self Parking is available at $16.00 per night and complimentary in room internet.

·         Quality Inn Downtown Victoria – To make reservations please call 1-800-661-4115 and ask for the Royal Roads Convocation rate. A special standard room rate of $62.95CAD is available or a room with kitchenette at $72.95CAD per night from October 22-30^th, 2010. Parking is available on a first come first serve basis at $6 per night and complimentary wireless internet is provided as well as a computer in the lobby.

·         Chateau Victoria – Please contact the reservations department at 1-800-663-5891 or via email at reservations@chateauvictoria.com. A special standard guest room rate of $85.00CAD per night and one bedroom suites at $99.00CAD per night are offered from October 22-30^th, 2010. Please mention you are booking a room for the Royal Roads University Convocation or booking # 225170. Parking and internet are provided complimentary.

*All rates are quoted exclusive of taxes and are based on 2 adults per room.

Parking

·         Ceremony – Royal Theatre: Street parking as well as a number of parkades are available in the downtown core.

Parking /Hotel Map

·         Open House – Royal Roads University: Complimentary parking, including access for special needs is available on site at Royal Roads University. Local taxi service is also available.  Royal Roads is approximately 25 minutes by car from the Royal Theatre. Please click here for directions to RRU.

Special Assistance for Guests

The Royal Theatre is a wheelchair accessible facility.  There will be a drop-off location in front of the theatre for those requiring this accommodation.

Wheelchair accessibility is available on the main floor only. The Royal Theatre has 10 wheelchair locations which are located at the back of the main floor. Please confirm the need for wheelchair seating by October 12, 2010 at convocation@royalroads.ca

 Missing Your Diploma?
Those unable to attend the convocation ceremonies will receive their diploma in the weeks following from the Registrar's Office. If you do not receive your diploma, there are two reasons why this may have occurred:

1. You currently have outstanding fees on your record, which prevents any documentation being sent to you. Please contact Learner Accounts if you believe this may be the case; or
2. Your current address is not up to date in the student information database. If you have recently moved and have not provided information on your new address to the university, contact the Registrar's Office at 391-2600, ext 4862

 Questions?
Please contact the Convocation Coordinator at 250-391-2600, ext. 4188 or convocation@royalroads.ca

Notable Dates