Timely preparation can prevent additional costs and stress during the graduation process this year.
Here you are, nearing the end of your time at Brock. It’s been three, four, six or more years of hard work, and now it’s finally going to pay off: graduation is just around the corner. It’s a relief, surely, but students can’t slack off just yet.
Indeed, graduating is not certain unless students take the necessary steps to ensure it is possible and to initiate the process.
With midterms approaching, students may be inclined to put off these tasks until a less busy time. However, now is the best time for several reasons, including saving some money and avoiding unnecessary stress later in the term.
First and foremost, graduating students should book an appointment with their academic advisor to ensure they’ve met all their degree requirements in this final term, including whatever credits are needed for any minors.
Students can check their Degree Audit Worksheets in the Brock DB student portal by clicking “Degree Audit” in the Navigation Menu on the left, then “daudWorksheet” in the drop-down, then the corresponding Segment and finally “Current Working Copy” in the “Please select a worksheet” drop-down. If the worksheet seems out of date, unclick the “Print Friendly Version” checkbox and click the newly appeared “Reload Worksheet” button.
The Degree Audit Worksheet can be incredibly helpful for organizing your courses into their respective categories, but nothing beats the wisdom of an academic advisor.
Once students are certain they can graduate, they can submit their “Intent to Graduate” form via the corresponding button in the “Student Self Serve” menu of the “Applicant & Student Self Serve” portal or the “GraduationApp” button in the Brock DB student portal.
Submitting your “Intent to Graduate” is quite simple: the most challenging part will likely be providing the phonetic spelling of your name, but Brock’s provided a useful link right in the form to make this easier. The other most challenging part will likely be shelling out the $65 fee that all students must pay to graduate, but after Feb. 1 this fee jumps to $80.
Students can apply to graduate in spring 2025 or fall 2025, the latter providing an opportunity for students who need a few more credits over the spring and summer terms. Once this process is complete, students can check the status and details of their application in the same “GraduationApp” section.
If this application is denied, students will receive an explanation in the form of an email. At that point, they can defer their intent to a later ceremony, like fall 2025. If the application is approved, details regarding the date and time of your convocation ceremony will appear in the coming months. Double majors will need to check their “Program Status” and see the first listed major to determine which ceremony they should attend, but this can be switched by contacting records@brocku.ca.
But this isn’t the end of the process.
Students will need to ensure no outstanding fees remain on their student account — visible via the “FinanceHistory” button in the Brock DB portal — lest they be denied their diploma.
Once students are confirmed to graduate, they can book graduation photos through the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU) and Studio Nostalgia. Students can register online with their student number, email, faculty and other basic information. Students can then log in and book an appointment; they must bring a $35 sitting fee to their appointments (cash or contactless card) and know their student number. Graduation photo packages cost anywhere from $47 (for one wallet sheet) to $420 (for a large package of different photos).
When it finally comes time for the convocation, students should plan to arrive 60 to 90 minutes before the ceremony begins to arrive in time for the graduand procession and to pick up a free gown and hood in the Bob Davis Gymnasium — these items do not need to be reserved, nor is there any associated rental fee as long as it is returned on time after the ceremony (souvenir hoods, gowns and other souvenirs are available for purchase at the Campus Store). Students will need to bring a piece of photo ID and leave any valuables behind.
All students may bring two guests to the ceremony, but they can request additional seating via the Additional Guest Request form under extraordinary circumstances. Anyone else who wishes to watch the ceremony can do so via the convocation livestream in the overflow room, and guests who require accommodations can fill out the Accommodations Request Form — both this and the prior form will become active closer to the ceremony. More information about accessibility and guest information can be found on the Brock website.
Students who don’t wish to or cannot attend the convocation in person have a few options for receiving their diploma, including pick-up or mail-out, and should check out this link for further details.
Students who’ve worked towards completing their Campus-Wide Co-Curriculum, which provides graduates with a special distinction upon graduation, will want to ensure every task and domain is completed before convocation to ensure their hard work has paid off.
All in all, ensuring your graduation is a relatively simple process, but it shouldn’t be left until the last minute, lest you become bogged down with exams and final assignments and forget to undergo this crucial process. Moreover, if you apply to graduate before Feb. 1, you save $15!
And students may need that $15 once they graduate, especially for students who have student loans that can accumulate interest, but also just generally for the rest of post-university life.