All you need to know about graduating

GRADUATIONS All you need to know about graduating Examinations and Graduation Office (EGO) www.wits.ac.za/graduations/

Examinations and Graduation Office contact details: Elizabeth King (011 717 1281) elizabeth.king@wits.ac.za Elizabeth Mogotsi (011 717 1272) elizabeth.mogotsi@wits.ac.za Wits University, 2nd Floor Solomon Mahlangu House, Braamfontein Campus East, Jorrisen Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2000 www.wits.ac.za/graduations/

WELL DONE!

You are about to become a Wits graduate.

Here is how to go about graduating (and doing the walk of fame) from start to finish.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2)

Three steps to begin the Graduation process

7)

How are the disabled accommodated during Graduation Ceremonies?

3)

Seven steps to follow on the day of Graduation

9)

What happens on stage during the Graduation Ceremony?

5)

What do my guests need to know?

11)

What happens if I miss the Graduation Ceremony?

1

THREE STEPS TO BEGIN THE GRADUATION PROCESS S

OWING

STEP 01

IN

G

FE E

E DU R E OVF E E S O W Pay all your

outstanding fees

Pay all fees, fines, interest and dues no less than 30 days prior to graduation. Only local students owing R15 000 or less can sign an Acknowledgement of Debt at the Fees Office.

STEP 02

Check your graduation status with your faculty office

Once all your fees have been paid, check with your faculty office that your name has been added to a graduation list, on www.wits.ac.za/graduations/

STEP 03

Check your faculty ceremony date

Faculty allocates students to a ceremony date. A final list of graduands will appear on the website three weeks prior to the graduation.

SHOULD YOU BE UNABLE TO ATTEND YOUR GRADUATION, PLEASE INFORM YOUR FACULTY TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE, AND OBTAIN A NEW GRADUATION DATE.

2

SEVEN STEPS TO FOLLOW ON THE DAY OF THE GRADUATION 1.

4.

ATTIRE

Three hours before the start of the ceremony, go to Robert Sobukwe, Room RS228, and

This is a dignified event.

Therefore as a sign of respect, conservative formal dress is a requirement.

2.

GOWN, NAME CARD & GUEST TICKETS

1) hire your gown/hood (see below) 2) collect your name card 3) collect two guest tickets per graduand.

PARKING

HIRE YOUR GRADUATION ATTIRE Guests may park in allocated areas on campus. Signposts will direct you to the Great Hall.

1) ONLINE, IN ADVANCE OF THE CEREMONY –

fill in the House of Graduates online order form on www.wits.ac.za/graduations/

2) ON THE DAY OF THE CEREMONY –

bring a filled in copy of the House of Graduates

order form with you together with physical proof

3.

of online payment, or payment can be made on

ARRIVAL TIME

the day in cash or by debit/credit card. Prices

can be found on the House of Graduates online order form.

Arrive at the Great Hall 90 minutes before the start of the Graduation ceremony.

3) HIRE YOUR GOWN FROM Room RS228, Robert Sobukwe Building, Braamfontein Campus East.

3

SEVEN STEPS TO FOLLOW ON THE DAY OF THE GRADUATION 5.

7.

PHOTOS

Have photos taken by the officially appointed photographer, Gordon Harris, in the Exams Hall, Robert Sobukwe Building, Braamfontein Campus East.

1) Find your allocated seat number on the seating plan in the foyer of the Great Hall 2) Wear your gown 3) Keep your name card with you at all times 4) Enter the Great Hall 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony 5) Be seated in your allocated seat.

Remember to wear your gown for the photos.

6.

SEATING

VENUE

Get your timing right on the day of graduation Three hours before the ceremony, hire your graduation attire (see step 4).

Proceed to the Great Hall, Braamfontein Campus East.

One and a half hours before the ceremony, arrive at the Great Hall.

Thirty minutes before the start of the ceremony, be seated in the Great Hall.

GRADUATION CEREMONY TIMES March Graduation Times:

July and December Graduation Times:

• 13:30 Graduation Ceremony

• 14:30 Graduation Ceremony

• 09:30 Graduation Ceremony • 17:00 Graduation Ceremony

(No PhD Graduation Ceremonies)

• 09:30 Graduation Ceremony

(PhD Graduation Ceremonies take place during July and December)

4

Graduation

ceremonies last approximately 2½ hours

WHAT DO MY GUESTS NEED TO KNOW?

THE DO’S

PARKING

Open visitors parking will be available at Braamfontein Campuses East and West.

Once parked, follow the signs to the Great Hall.

GUESTS Only two guests are allowed per graduand

GUESTS TICKETS

GUEST SEATING

TIME

Guests to keep their tickets with them at all times

Guest seats are not reserved in the Great Hall

Guests to be seated in the Great Hall, 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony

5

WHAT DO MY GUESTS NEED TO KNOW?

& THE DON’TS CHILDREN (<7 yrs)

LATECOMERS

BEHAVIOUR

Children under the age

Latecomers and additional guests

Rudeness will

of seven are not permitted

into the Great Hall to attend

may watch the ceremony on live-stream or

the ceremony

in the overflow venue

NOISE

FLASH PHOTOS

Whistles, vuvuzelas and

Flash photography

will be confiscated

during the ceremony

noise emitting items

is not allowed

6

not tolerated

HOW ARE THE DISABLED ACCOMMODATED?

Disabled Parking and Wheelchair access

Sign-Language Interpreting

Telecoil System

The Great Hall is fitted with an induction loop system for the direct transmission of announcements over the public address system.

Persons with hearing aids with a T-switch ďŹ tted need to switch to the Telecoil system prior to the ceremony.

7

HOW ARE THE DISABLED ACCOMMODATED?

REMEMBER TO MAKE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS with the Examinations and Graduation Office (EGO) Elizabeth King (011 717 1281) Elizabeth Mogotsi (011 717 1272)

elizabeth.king@wits.ac.za elizabeth.mogotsi@wits.ac.za

8

START

DURING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY 1

2

3

4

5

6

1) Wear your gown 2) Keep your name card with you 3) Check that you are seated in the seat allocated to you 1) Fill in the official photographer’s card 2) Hand the card to the photographer’s assistant 3) Fill in the questionnaire on your seat

The Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor will call upon the Dean to present degrees

Ascend the stage stairs to start your walk of fame!

The Dean 1) Hand your name card to the Dean 2) Face the photographer for a picture

The Chancellor’s/VC’s table The Vice-Chancellor will cap you

WHAT HAPPENS ON STAGE? 9

DURING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY 7

President of the Convocation The President of the Convocation will hood you

8

Photographer The official photographer will take a picture of you being hooded

9

Faculty table Collect your certificate

10

11

1) Re-enter the Great Hall 2) Return to your allocated seat and stay seated until the ceremony ends Refreshments and Photographs The official photographer will take pictures of your and your family in the Exams Hall of the Robert Sobukwe Building, Braamfontein Campus East. Stay for refreshments.

WHAT HAPPENS ON STAGE? 10 10

FINISH

12

1) Descend the stage stairs 2) Exit the Great Hall 3) Have your photograph taken by the official photographer

WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS GRADUATION?

Collect your certificate within 12 months of graduating

Collect your certificate from the Examinations and Graduation Office (EGO) within twelve months of graduating.

Health Sciences certificates are issued from the PV Tobias Building, Wits Faculty of Health Sciences, Parktown.

Certificates not collected are destroyed

A nominee may collect your certificate on your behalf

Certificates not collected within twelve months of graduating will be destroyed.

You may nominate someone in writing to collect your certificate on your behalf, from the EGO Office after the Graduation Ceremony.

You will be liable for the cost of a new certificate.

Certificates are no longer posted

Your written request must include: - your full name - your ID number.

The nominee must produce their ID when collecting the certificate.

11

ENJOY YOUR GRADUATION DAY

Witsies Forever www.wits.ac.za/graduations/