Brock University’s Fall Convocation ceremony will be held online this year, as Brock follows public health recommendations that caution against large, in-person events and continues a prudent and safety-first approach as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

In addition to the virtual celebration, graduands will also be invited to an in-person event once the University is able to safely hold a ceremony.

The Fall ceremony will be modeled on June’s highly successful Spring 2020 Convocation, where more than 2,400 Brock graduands received a personalized online ceremony and a customized Convocation package mailed to their homes.

“While we are disappointed we are not able to gather together in person, the Brock approach to online convocation is highly-personalized and we hope that it will be a fitting way for students to mark their successful time at the University,” says Lynn Wells, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “We know this decision may be very disappointing for our students who have worked so hard to earn their opportunity to walk across the stage and celebrate with their friends and families. Brock is doing all it can to make the virtual convocation experience as personalized and fulfilling as possible until it’s safe for us to gather together to celebrate in person.”

The 108th Brock Convocation will include customized messages and features for each graduand.

All guests will see video messages from President Gervan Fearon, Wells and Brock’s new Chancellor Hilary Pearson. In addition, each student will be welcomed by name and experience a portal tailored specifically to them.

For example, an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences would see a welcome greeting from Dean Peter Tiidus and Brock University Students’ Union President Asad Jalib, whereas a Goodman School of Business graduate student would see a welcome from Dean Andrew Gaudes, Graduate Studies Dean Suzanne Curtain and Graduate Students’ Association President Christopher Yendt.

During Spring Convocation, tens of thousands of students, family members and friends visited the customized portal pages. Visitors came from over 40 countries and spent considerable amounts of time interacting with the content.