Convocation Day For Graduates WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE AT THE TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE AND WHERE SHOULD I GO? Graduates are required to arrive at the Tribute Communities Centre (see map) one hour prior to their ceremony to register, gown and line up for the procession into the seating area. The registration area is located on the lower level when entering through Gate 1. Event staff and signage will be available to guide graduates to the appropriate locations. Please note: Please allow sufficient time for parking. Graduates who arrive 30 minutes or more after the scheduled arrival time will not be permitted to participate in the Convocation ceremony. WHERE CAN I PARK? There are approximately 2,900 parking spaces available in downtown Oshawa. The City of Oshawa offers event parking for a flat rate of $5.00 at Parkade 3 (located on Mary Street between King and Bond Streets) and Lot 16 (on Athol between Celina and Albert Streets). On-street parking is also available and is free on weekends as well as after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. In addition, there are private parking lots surrounding the Tribute Communities Centre. These lots are not affiliated with the venue and charge fluctuating rates. Guests who choose to park in these private lots are advised to follow any posted rules or regulations set by the property owners. For more information on Downtown Parking options, and to view a parking map, please visit the City of Oshawa website. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? Convocation is a formal occasion, and graduates are expected to dress appropriately for the event. Graduation regalia – including a black gown and either a stole or hood – will be provided for graduates to wear during the ceremony. Please note: The gowning area will not be secured, and we cannot guarantee the safety of your personal belongings. We strongly recommend that you do NOT bring purses, bags, or valuables with you to the gowning area. Please make alternate arrangements to leave these items with your guests for the duration of the ceremony. CAN I USE MY CHOSEN NAME AT CONVOCATION? A chosen name is the name you prefer to use, but is not your legal name. Updating your chosen name will not change the legal name used on official documents such as credentials or transcripts. If you would like your chosen name to be displayed and announced as you cross the stage at Convocation, you can update it during the registration process. For questions or additional support, please contact us at convocation@durhamcollege.ca. HOW LONG WILL THE CEREMONY BE? The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. Should it run longer, we kindly ask graduates and guests to remain seated and be respectful until the conclusion of the event. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CEREMONY? After the ceremony, you will have approximately 20 minutes to take photos with your classmates and family. Please ensure your gown is returned promptly to the gowning area once you have finished taking photos. After returning your gown, you will be directed to the designated location to receive your credential. Please note: If you already received your credential at the time that you completed your program, you will not receive another copy at Convocation. Students graduating in Fall or Winter who wish to receive their credential prior to convocation will be notified when it is available for pick-up. AM I REQUIRED TO RETURN MY GRADUATION REGALIA (GOWN, STOLE, AND/OR HOOD) FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY? All graduation regalia must be returned within 20 minutes following the ceremony. A $200 fee will be charged for any regalia that is not returned or is damaged. HOW WILL I OBTAIN MY CREDENTIAL? Students attending the in-person convocation ceremonies will receive their credential at the event. Students who choose not to attend can pick up their credential in-person, seven business days after the final convocation ceremony, or request to have it mailed (additional fee applies) by completing and submitting the Credential Mailing Request Form. For key dates and deadlines, please refer to the Important Dates page. WHAT IF I HAVE OUTSTANDING FEES? Students with outstanding fees will not be able to return to the college or access official grades, transcripts, or credentials until all financial obligations are met. WHEN CAN I RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT WITH MY GRADUATED STATUS? Requests for official transcripts can be submitted through MyCreds™ upon graduation, or in advance by selecting the "hold until after graduation" option on the request form. Each official transcript cost $16.00, plus HST, payable via direct debit or credit card through MyCreds. Please note: If you have any outstanding fees or fines, transcript services will not be provided. For full details, visit the Transcript Request page. For Guests WILL CONVOCATION CEREMONIES BE LIVESTREAMED? All ceremonies will be live streamed and accessible online at www.durhamcollege.ca/convocation IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF GUESTS? Each graduate may invite up to five guests to attend Convocation. We understand this may be disappointing for some and appreciate your understanding. To ensure everyone can take part in celebrating this special occasion, Durham College is pleased to offer a livestreaming of all Convocation ceremonies. You can tune in by visiting www.durhamcollege.ca/convocation on the day of the event. The livestream will begin 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. DO GUESTS NEED AN INVITATION? Invitations are not required for entry to the ceremony. MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY ARE ARRIVING SEPARATELY. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE THEY SIT TOGETHER? Guests should arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the ceremony begins and coordinate a designated meeting point in advance. There is ample seating available for all guests, and parking can be found at several public lots surrounding the Tribute Communities Centre. For detailed parking information, please visit: https://www.tributecommunitiescentre.com/plan-your-visit/directions-parking ONE OF MY GUESTS USES A WHEELCHAIR. IS THE TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE? The Tribute Communities Centre is fully wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking is available on the west side of the facility, and an elevator provides access to the second-floor seating area. Guests with mobility needs may be dropped off at the front entrance to use the elevator located at Gate 1. If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility for your guests, please contact us at convocation@durhamcollege.ca. WHAT CAN I BRING INTO THE TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE? To view a list of prohibited items at the Tribute Communities Centre, please access their A-Z Guide and scroll down to the prohibited items section. ARE PRIVATE SUITES AVAILABLE TO RENT AT THE TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE FOR GUESTS TO WATCH THE CEREMONY? A limited number of private suites are available for rent at the Tribute Communities Centre, offering an elevated experience for guests. Suites are available at an additional cost and provide premium amenities and exclusive views. To learn more, or to reserve a suite, please contact: William Balfour Director of Marketing and Sales William.Balfour@oakviewgroup.com 905-448-1578 Alumni Information WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALUMNI? There are many benefits to being a DC Graduate – and now they’re easier than ever to access with DC Alumni Connect, the official mobile app for Durham College alumni. With DC Alumni Connect, graduates can: Explore over 90 exclusive perks in food, fashion, travel, and entertainment Stay in the loop with alumni-only contests and events Access their digital alumni card to unlock offers while shopping, dining, or traveling Download DC Alumni Connect through the Apple App Store or Google Play to start enjoying the rewards of staying connected!