Convocation ceremonies will be held at the Tribute Communities Centre, located at 99 Athol Street East, Oshawa, ON, L1H 1J8 (see map).

Durham College (DC) recognizes the dignity and worth of every campus community member and guest attending Convocation. We are committed to upholding attendees' rights to an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence, and expect all attendees to contribute to this atmosphere. All members of the college community share responsibility for helping to maintain a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment, in alignment with applicable legislation, including the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

To help you and your guests prepare, please carefully review these related policies ahead of time:

Related policies:

• Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response
• Sexual Violence Prevention and Response
• Wearing of a Kirpan

A full list of Durham College policies is available online.

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.

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 after 6:00 p.m.

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.

Convocation is a formal occasion. Graduation regalia – including a black gown and either a stole or hood – will be provided for graduates to wear during the ceremony. Exceptions include Indigenous graduates who may wear traditional regalia, as well as active military personnel who may wear their dress uniform.

In keeping with Durham College’s commitment to a respectful and inclusive Convocation experience, cultural, creed-based, or ceremonial attire and items may be worn provided they comply with applicable college policies, health and safety requirements, and venue regulations. For more information, please refer to the FAQ above: How does DC facilitate a respectful and inclusive convocation experience?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Students attending Convocation 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.  Credentials will be available on MyCreds™ an email will be sent to all students once this service is available.

For key dates and deadlines, please refer to the Important Dates page.

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.

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.