Convocation

Convocation

Convocation's history:

Elements of UVic invitation ceremony back more than 400 years. Although modernized over the centuries and adapted to meet the changing times, a large part of the ceremony is rooted in the traditions of the early secular call.

Modern universities rooted in the past:

In the Middle Ages the church was responsible for higher education. Monasteries were the Center for Learning and monks were the scholars of society. Some monasteries run small schools for the sons of the wealthier locals to generate income, but mostly young men who want to get something more than a basic education to participate in a monastery. Of the 12th century, secular scholars began forming communities to pursue knowledge and truth, and ultimately these communities developed into independent universities in the prominent cathedral cities in Europe - the forerunners of today's universities. Many of the researchers who taught at these universities had been monks.

Call or collection of the best:

As universities grew, researchers wanted to honor students who had completed their education and welcome them to select and exclusive group of scholars. The word originally referred to the convening gatherings of clergy of Canterbury and York, but in 1577, Oxford University used it to describe the juxtaposition of the MA degree. Ever since, the students in the whole world is busy with an order of scholars in a call ceremony.

Ceremonial regalia:

Many of the rituals held in modern dial and the symbolic significance of the regalia is from a time before Oxford's first call.

The scarves or hats student wears over his shoulder represent hoods worn by monks. They were decorated with colors and symbols that identify what the wearer studied - medicine, law, theology or the liberal arts. Today hoods serve a similar function to identify the student's area of expertise.

UVic had an early connection to McGill University in Montreal, and later with UBC until it began to make UVic degrees in 1963. To recognize these early tapes BA degree wear a red hat, one of McGill's colors, and BSC degree wear gold and wear blue beds, UBC colors.

It is no symbolism attached to the traditional mortarboard. These strange hats now worn only on the call, was originally part of the student uniform. Today they are borne by applicants throughout the world.

Showing respect:

During the call ceremony, the students presented to the university chancellor, representing the traditional community of scholars. Students at UVic kneel The Hon. Robert Rogers, leader of the call, to symbolize their subordination to a higher order, and their access to society. MA and Ph.D. degrees do not kneel when they already admitted to the society as a student.

Unlike many large universities, representing the students into groups of faculty, UVic grandaunts presented individually to the Chancellor. At some universities, students are even given their degrees early, and arrive at a call with their degrees already in hand. Not so at UVic, UVic every degree will Moment of Glory, he or she so well deserves.