#UofTGrad18: University of Toronto gets ready for spring convocation

More than 18,500 students – Canada’s next generation of leaders – are preparing to graduate this year from the University of Toronto, the country’s top internationally ranked university.

Of the Class of 2018, more than 14,200 students from all three campuses – downtown Toronto, U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga – will take part in spring convocation, with almost 12,000 attending the 29 ceremonies that run from June 7 to June 21.

The graduating students will be supported by more than 34,000 family and friends who have ordered tickets to watch their loved ones cross the stage and receive their diplomas at Convocation Hall.

Read more about Convocation 2018

At spring convocation this year, graduating students will be joined by 11 honorary degree recipients who have demonstrated tremendous impact in their professions, including poet Dionne Brand, the former poet laureate of Toronto; Janis Chodas, an engineer and leader at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who is an advocate for gender equality; and Dominic Barton, global managing partner at McKinsey & Company and a trusted adviser to the Canadian government.

“On behalf of the entire University of Toronto, I would like to offer warmest congratulations to the Class of 2018,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments inside and outside the classroom, and we look forward to celebrating this great milestone with you and your families and friends.”  

Over the next three weeks, join us as we celebrate the Class of 2018. Share your moment using #UofTGrad18. 

Quick facts on U of T spring convocation 2018:

• First graduating classes of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education’s Master of Professional Kinesiology program 
• 59-year age range between the oldest graduate, who is 77 years old, and the youngest, who is 18
• More than 75 different types of hoods, symbolizing different degrees worn by graduates and academic officials
• 14,200 expected graduates, with almost 12,000 in attendance
• Over 34,000 guest tickets
• 29 individual ceremonies held over 11 days (2 more ceremonies than last year)
• 15 honorary degree recipients: Loretta Rogers (June 7); Dominic Barton and Ilse Treurnicht (June 12); Richard Nunn (June 14); William C. Graham (June 15); Mark Carney and Cindy Blackstock (June 18); Janis Chodas (June 19); Geoffrey Matus and Dionne Brand (June 20); Michael Dan (June 21). As part of the fall convocation, William (Bill) Downe, Elena Kagan, George Myhal and Beverly “Buffy” Sainte-Marie will also receive honorary degrees.
• 41 trained volunteer readers reading out the names of almost 12,000 attending graduates
• 14,000-plus rental academic gowns worn by students, faculty and staff
• 8 marshals dressed in scarlet gowns to help students line up properly for ceremony
• 12 weeks spent preparing the 14,200 diplomas for the Class of 2018, from labelling and stuffing envelopes to triple-checking names and degrees are correct
• 500,000-plus U of T alumni worldwide

Fall convocation for the Class of 2018 will be held in November, with dates confirmed closer to the time.