Since 1950, when Memorial held its first convocation, thousands of students and more than 500 honorary graduates have crossed the stage to receive their degrees. Our convocation — defined as a gathering of the university community — has grown from the practices and traditions of older universities, such as the University of Oxford. Today's convocations are a distinctly Memorial University experience for all who attend, be they distinguished guests, faculty, honorary graduates or our graduating students who are, as they should be, the focus of the events.

Special Convocation

Memorial University will confer honorary degrees upon Inuit Elder and respected healer, artist and educator G. Jean Crane and upon Inuit Elder and renowned artist, author and educator Nellie May Winters in a special convocation to be held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.

Dr. Susan Dyer Knight, chancellor, and Dr. Vianne Timmons, OC, president and vice-chancellor, will preside over the ceremony.

Due to public health restrictions, the event will be held in hybrid format, with a limited number of people invited to be on site. Other guests and the general public are invited to watch the event via webcast at www.mun.ca. 

More information on the special convocation is available on the Gazette. 

Important Update on Fall Convocation 2020

Given the current COVID-19 public health restrictions in this province limiting organized events, Memorial University did not hold in-person Fall convocation ceremonies on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020.

Since an opportunity to walk across the stage and accept a hard-earned degree is the culmination of years of hard work for many students, the Fall Convocation ceremonies will be rescheduled to a later date when public health requirements permit for those graduates who wish to participate. New dates will be determined based on venue availability in St. John’s and Corner Brook; details will be released when they are available.

However, the university awarded degrees, certificates and diplomas during an in-absentia convocation on Thursday, Oct. 22. This means that students who had applied to graduate in the fall and had met all the university’s requirements were awarded their credentials. Memorial held its first in-absentia graduation in February. Read more about the in-absentia convocation process or find answers to your convocation questions on Memorial's COVID-19 website.

Everyone was invited to tune in on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 29, to enjoy Hats Off! a Facebook Live virtual event celebrating Memorial's fall class of 2020!

Hosted by entertainer and alumna Sheila Williams (B.Mus.Ed.’06), Hats Off! featured remarks from President Vianne Timmons and Professor Emeritus Don McKay and appearances and shout outs from graduating students and alumni, along with musical performances by alumni Sherman Downey and The Once.

More details are available at www.mun.ca/convocation/celebration. 

Spring Convocation 2020 

Given the extraordinary circumstances related to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Memorial University postponed Spring Convocation 2020 ceremonies that were scheduled for May 14 in Corner Brook and May 26-29 in St. John’s.

While the in-person convocation ceremonies were postponed, students will have an opportunity to attend a future convocation ceremony when public health requirements permit. Details will be released when they are available.

FUTURE CONVOCATION DATES

The following convocation dates have been scheduled for Memorial University.