Yorkville University may not be a traditional bricks and mortar university, but the school’s celebration of its graduates takes on all the pomp and circumstance befitting its students and their accomplishments.
“Our students work very hard to achieve their bachelor or master’s degree and we feel strongly that achievement deserves to be celebrated with a formal ceremony” said Dr. Rick Davey, the President of Yorkville University. “We take great pride in sharing the experience, along with families and friends. There’s nothing better than seeing our students walk across the stage to receive the degree they have earned.”
Although Yorkville University’s programs are offered entirely online, the convocation ceremony, held once every two years, takes the form of a traditional convocation. Students come from all over the country to dawn cap and gown and celebrate their accomplishments.
“It will be just like they went to a physical school,” explained Kady McDonnell, who is the lead in planning the 2015 Yorkville University convocation ceremony.
The convocation ceremony, which takes place on Friday, June 26 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, will feature an address by Dr. Davey, an address from a valedictorian from each program, as well as a keynote speech by a special guest who is yet to be announced.
McDonnell explained this is the first year that the ceremony will include participants from three of Yorkville’s degree programs: the Master of Education in Adult Education (MEd), the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP).
“We encourage everyone to come because it is a great opportunity,” McDonnell said. “Especially when you don’t see your fellow students face-to-face, it is nice to meet people who have accomplished what you have.”
In years past, McDonnell explained, students who attended the graduation ceremony said they felt as though it cemented the fact they had finished the program and brought the experience to a memorable close.
“I think some students assume since it is an online program there won’t be a ceremony at the end,” McDonnell said. “Students were really pleasantly surprised that they were able to come and they really enjoyed it.”
McDonnell explained that the convocation celebrations also give students who have communicated a great deal online the opportunity to finally meet one another.
“Graduates were really were happy to be able to put faces to names,” McDonnell said. “And they were able to meet some of the professors they have been working with.”
Yorkville University’s graduation ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. at the Delta Fredericton in downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick. Following the ceremony there will be an opportunity for graduates to join in a gathering with family and friends at a restaurant in downtown Fredericton.
Anyone who has graduated from Yorkville University in the past two years is eligible to attend as well as MACP students who are currently in their practicum, BBA students who are in their final course or MEd students who are doing their action research project or writing their final assignment.
Students who plan to attend Yorkville University’s 2015 graduation ceremony are asked to RSVP before March 27 by filling out the form available on web campus. Students can also email McDonnell for the form at [email protected]
McDonnell said there has been a great response from students so far and she expects this ceremony to be the largest graduation ceremony in the University’s history. But, for those who are unable to attend Yorkville University will live-stream the ceremony on the internet. A link to the live stream will be posted closer to the date.
