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General  Admission (Graduation Day)

Thursday 26 June 2008

Jai Natalie and Eve The Master Walied Kenrick and Ben

 more photos on the link at the bottom of the page...

Although by June you may have finished all your work and examinations, you still cannot graduate until you have been awarded a degree at an official ceremony known in Cambridge as a Congregation.  This takes place in the Senate House.

The Graduation ceremony is one of the oldest ceremonies in the University.  The confirment of each degree is an act of the University, approved by a Grace of the Regent House.

Who can Graduate?

Any member of Clare College who has successfully passed the appropriate examination and residence requirements.  This will include settling your College bill and returning all College, Faculty and University Library books, and not forgetting paying all overdue fines!!

What happens next?

By the start of the Easter Term 2008, the Tutorial Office will automatically contact those students that we expect will graduate in the summer. 

The Praelector, Mr Tim Brown will present you at the degree ceremony. He is also required by the University to vouch for your learning and for your morals.

Students graduating are known as 'Graduands'. Clare graduands will be presented by the Praelector on Thursday 26 June 2008.

     

Tickets

All Graduands will be allocated three guest tickets for the ceremony in the Senate House, and all graduands will receive their three tickets if this is what they have requested.  However, due to an overwhelming demand for extra tickets it will be necessary to allocate spare tickets by ballot.

Any spare tickets will be allocated:

  • to graduands who have more than two parents
  • to those who are going to great expense to fly their relatives over from abroad
  • by ballot system.

Please do not despair if you are not allocated more than three tickets; this really only applies to the ceremony in the Senate House. All guests are very welcome to attend the Graduation Eucharist, the drinks and canapés in Old Court, to watch graduands assemble in the Court for dress rehearsal, with the Praelector.

Late Lunch

A late buffet lunch will be provided in Hall and in the marquees in Old Court, from 3.30pm, or take your own picnic to the Gardens or Buttery. The cost of the lunch is £13.00 per head (wine will be available but is not included in the price).  Tickets should be purchased from Riccardo in the Catering Office up to 2.00pm, Monday to Friday 5 May - 13 June. The kitchens will be able to cater for up to 300, so tickets will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis.

Graduation (Lady Clare) Dinner

All graduands are invited to the Graduation Dinner, which will be held, at College expense, on the evening of Wednesday 25 June.

What happens on Graduation Day?

Graduands should arrive fully robed in the Fellows Garden no later than 10.30am.  The proposed timetable below will give you all the information you require.  Please contact Anna, Lesley or Shelley in the Tutorial Office if you have any queries.

Proposed Timetable

 Riccardo

Dress Rehearsal Gordon Wright Kitchen Staff Walk to Senate House

Don't forget to get your Graduation lunch tickets from the Catering Office

What will happen in the Ceremony?

Once you are in the Senate House and your name has been called Mr Tim Brown will hold you by your right hand and say:

"Dignissime domine, Domine Procancellarie et tota Academia praesento vobis hunc virum (hanc mulierem) quem (quam) scio tam moribus quam doctrina esse idoneum (idoneam) ad gradum assequendum (name of degree); idque tibi fide mea praesto totique Academiae."

"Most worthy Vice-Chancellor and the whole University, I present to you this man (this woman) whom I know to be suitable as much by character as by learning to proceed to the degree of (name of degree); for which I pledge my faith to you and to the whole University."

Your name will be called, you should step forward and kneel.  The Vice-Chancellor or her Deputy will clasp your hand and say:

"Auctoritate mihi commissa admitto te ad gradum (name of degree), in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sanctii."

"By the authority committed to me, I admit you to the degree of (name of degree) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

You will then rise, bow to the Vice-Chancellor (or her Deputy), and exit through the Doctor's door of the Senate-House to receive your degree certificate.

After the last graduand has been admitted, one of the Esquire Bedells calls the Congregation to order with the word 'Magistri' (Masters). All stand. The Vice-Chancellor (or her Deputy) dissolves the Congregation with the words 'Nos dissolvimus hanc congregationem' and leaves in procession led by the Esquire Bedells and followed by the Registrary, the Proctors, the Pro-Proctors and the University Marshal. Others present remain standing until the procession has passed out of the House and may then leave.

Don't worry, you will have the opportunity on Graduation Day to rehearse this procedure with Mr Tim Brown!

2 girls Back of Hood Head Porter Smiles Informal Photo

What do I wear?

It is very important that all graduands wear the correct academical dress when they are presented by the Praelector for a degree.  The Congregation itself is a very formal occasion and an appropriate standard of dress is expected.

Check Dress

 

There is a very strict dress code for Graduation and the Praelector oversees that you are dressed correctly.  It is so serious that if the Proctor considers you not to be dressed correctly he reserves the right to refuse you entry.  For minor infringements the Proctor will fine the Praelector!     

        

 

 

The University's academical costume consists of a gown and a hood.  Graduands taking their Cambridge degrees wear appropriate gowns and hoods. You should wear the appropriate gown for Clare College with a BA Hood.

Sharanjit

             

            • Master of Law: black and light cherry silk
            • Master of Engineering: black cloth lined with bronze silk
            • Master of Natural Science: black silk lined with pink and light blue silk
            • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine: mid cherry silk and more fur
            • Bachelor of Music: dark cherry satin and white fur
            • Bachelor of Arts: black cloth and white fur
            • Bachelor of Education: black cloth, blue silk and white fur
            • Bachelor of Theology for Ministry: black cloth, black silk and white fur.

 

 

 

Although the gown is quite straightforward to wear the hood is another matter, they tend to slide off the shoulders and may need to be pinned to the gown.  

   

Hood

Opening the Hood out is the first battle! Lay the Hood flat, take the neck band in one hand and hold it up as shown.  Fold the edge of the Hood back so as to show a few inches of fur.  Now slip the band over your head, so that the square panel (the cape) is lying against your back and the hood (the cowl) rest on it with the tail dangling.        

                           

Men: attach the button-loop to the second to top button on your shirt.  Ensure that the white bands you wear are over the tag of the Hood.

 

Women: attach the button-loop to your blouse, because of the weight of the Hood, this is likely to make your blouse ride up - it is strongly recommended that you invest in a traditional white shirt which will tuck in well, and not a fashion blouse.

Please note: The 'fur' used is now made of synthetic material.

National dress may NOT be worn. Other than for religious reasons, head-dress may also NOT be worn however, it may be carried.

  

Akima   

 Women

            
          • please do not pin anything without being instructed by the Praelector.
          • a black dress (which may have a white collar) or a black suit (skirt or trouser) with a plain white blouse ideally with a conventional collar and buttons that do up to the neck so it is easier to attach hood.
          • if possible, wear a black jacket with buttons as it is easier to attach hoods to jackets rather than blouses.
          • a black skirt or black trousers with a white blouse (black cardigans may be worn and should have buttons to the waist)
          • black shoes*
          • stockings or tights must be black and not patterned (no bare legs permitted)
          • heavy jewellery should NOT be worn.

           

       *shoes must be dress (court) shoes with a small (but not high) heel - sandals (or open toed           

         shoes) or boots will not be permitted

 

   Francis

   Men

            

          • a black, very dark grey or very dark blue suit*.  The suit must be

          dark enough not to contrast obviously with a black gown.

          • a plain, long sleeved, white shirt (pleated dress shirts are acceptable). Avoid button-down collared shirts but wear conventional collar shirts as opposed to wing collars if possible.
          • formal black shoes.  Sandals and boots are not permitted.
          • plain black, or very dark socks and not patterned.
          • white bow tie and bands
             

       *no heavy pin-stripes in the suit

 

Academical Dress Hire

You may hire or buy academical dress from any of the following Cambridge suppliers:

Ede & Ravenscroft
71-72 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RJ
Hire Orders: 01223 861854
Purchase Enquiries: 01223 350048

http://www.gownhire.co.uk

Ryder & Amies
22 King's Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SP
WWW: www.ryderamies.co.uk


A.E. Clothier
5a Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QY
WWW: www.aeclothier.co.uk

Photographs

In the Senate House

The University Photography & Illustration Service takes pictures of all graduands whilst the degree is being conferred. The University does not allow any other photography in the Senate House.

Hot off the press!

You will be able to purchase both the formal and/or informal Graduation photograph (taken in the Fellows Garden) in the Latimer Room at 3.30pm.  The photographs are £25 mounted, and £15 for a black or light wood frame. Unfortunately we are unable to accept credit cards. 

Formal Group Photo Backs of Hoods Anna da Costa

When must I vacate my room?

Graduands must vacate their room by noon on Friday 27 June.  Graduands' guests staying in Memorial Court must vacate by 09.30am on Friday 27 June.

Sreetharan Robyn Drinking Wine Lovebirds Mortarboard

More Photographs from Graduation 2007 and more....

  

Water Pistol

Ben and Amanda    

Kathryn

Choir Boys

James

David

Dmitri

Drinking Moet

Graham

Daniel

Larking Around

Esther

Cigar Smoking

Cool Shades

Informal line-up

Informal line-up no.2

Informal line-up no.3

The Praelector

Felicity Clement

Lovely smiles

Katharine

Thomas

Felicity

Dress Rehearsal

On the way....

 
    
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Last Updated 26/06/08

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