Making the Most of Your Convocation

Embarking on the exhilarating journey towards convocation? Congratulations!  

When it comes to celebrating the culmination of your academic endeavors, 'the devil is in the details' as they say: all the little things can add up to make a big difference. Fear not! As you prepare to stride across the stage, we can help ensure you attend to every detail meticulously. From wardrobe essentials to logistical must-haves, we've curated the ultimate checklist to streamline your convocation preparations, leaving you free to savor every moment of this monumental occasion.

Preplanning

• Graduates need to arrive 90-minutes before their ceremony. Plan how long it will take you to get to the venue, find parking and get inside. 
  • London Ceremonies:  Canada Life Place, 99 Dundas Street, London (parking near Canada Life Place) 
  • St. Thomas Ceremony: Joe Thorton Community Centre, 75 Caso Xing, St. Thomas
• Plan your wardrobe. It’s a special occasion, so wear something nice. Business casual to business dress is fairly common. You will be wearing a gown and stole (scarf) or hood, so consider what will be most comfortable to wear underneath. Some have told us a full suit was a bit too warm, while others said their summer dress left them a bit chilled.  
• Plan what you’re bringing with you. 
  • London Ceremoies: Graduates and guests must adhere to Canada Life Place Bag Policy.  
• Think about how you want to celebrate after the ceremony? Will you head to campus for some photos?  Would you like to have lunch or dinner with your loved ones? 
  • London Ceremonies: Tourism London and Downtown London offer great dining ideas and information for booking reservations. 
  • St. Thomas Ceremony: Railyway City Tourism has local listings for food and beverage.
• Guests consider pre-ordering flowers (London | St. Thomas) or shop online from our selection of diploma frames and other convocation gift items. 

Arriving

Graduates:

• Say goodbye to your guests for now (you’ll see them again after the ceremony) 
  • London: enter the building at Gate 4. *note: no re-entry
  • St. Thomas: follow posted signage
• Head to the registration table to collect your name card – and check to make sure everything is correct on the card.  
• Pick up your gown before entering the staging area. If you haven't pre-ordered your gown you can rent on site for $65.
• Line up with others in your program (our marshalls can help)
• Once you have your card and know where your program is lined up.
• Carefully follow instructions from any of our Fanshawe staff, faculty and ambassadors.

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Guests  

• Say good bye to your graduate(s) and enter the building 
  • London: Guests can enter at Gate 1. *note: no re-entry
  • St. Thomas: Guest can follow posted signage. 
• Before taking your seat to pick-up flowers, explore diploma frames or alumni swag with retail services or make use of the washrooms.
• Plan to be in your seat 15 minutes before the ceremony, to ensure a clear path for the graduate and platform procession.
• Get comfortable and get your camera ready to record your graduate’s big moment!  

Taking it all in

• Approximately 10 minutes before the ceremony, graduates will begin the procession into the ceremony. Take in the moment and remember to smile; a lot of people will be taking your photo, and Fanshawe’s social media team will capture as many moments as possible.
• Take in the amazing remarks from the platform party and the honorary diploma recipient.  
• Watch your fellow graduates cross the stage and prepare for your turn. Check your stole/hood is still in place (we’ll help with that too). Watch your step and make your way across the stage. Enjoy the moment, be excited, smile, wave, pump a fist, whatever feels right.  
• Return to your seat and continue to respectfully acknowledge your fellow graduates.
• Listen to the closing remarks and prepare to celebrate as you exit the arena. Remember to smile and have fun, since lots of cameras will be on you!

Following your ceremony 

• As you head out onto the concourse, it will be busy. Graduates are encouraged to collect their credentials. 
  • London: Credentials will be available at from Gate 4 (where name cards were collected)
  • St. Thomas: Credentials will be available back in the staging area. 
• Grads and their guests can then take advantage of backdrops to take pictures with classmates, family and loved ones. 
• New this year, graduates and their guests can also head out side with their gowns to get some air and take some photos - please note once graduates and guests leave the building, they will not be allowed re-entry. 
• Graduates are asked to return their gown and stole/hood within 1 hour of the conclusion of their ceremony. 
  • London: Gowns can be returned at Gate 4 or Gate 5 
  • St. Thomas: Gowns can be returned in the staging area.
    • Please note: if your gown is not returned, your card on file with Gaspard may be charged.

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Sharing everything on social!  

• Make use of Fanshawe’s Convocation gifs!
• Tag @fanshawecollege and @fanshawealumni
• Tag your academic school’s account
• Ceremony 1 :@FanshaweKinlin
• Ceremony 2: @FanshaweKinlin
• Ceremony 3:  @FanshaweIT,  @fanshaweLdnSouth,  
• Ceremony 4:  @FanshaweTech 
• Ceremony 5: @DesignFanshawe, @FanshaweSMDA
• Ceremony 6: @FanshaweTourism, @FanshaweSLLS
• Ceremony 7: @FanshaweHealthSci, @FanshaweSoPS
• Ceremony 8: @FanshaweCommunityStudies, , @NursingFanshawe
• St. Thomas Ceremony: @FanshaweStT
• Hashtags #FanshaweGrad25 #FanshaweForever

After Convocation

• Welcome to the Fanshawe College Alumni Association! You're officially one of our hundreds of thousands of successful alumni now! Sign-up for your Fanshawe Alumni Perks!  
• Follow Fanshawe Alumni on Facebook, X and Instagram

• Share your accomplishment on LinkedIn!  
• Take advantage of your 10% discount for continuing education courses and microcredentials.
• Make use of Employment and Student Entrepreneurial Services as you look for that first job post grad.  
• Most importantly, remember you are a part of Fanshawe Forever!