Page 7 - Royal Roads University Thirty Third Convocation
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COnVOCATiOn
Universities are rich in tradition and ceremony, and nowhere is this more apparent than at convocation, where the university community comes together to confer degrees upon new graduates. To signal the opening of the convocation at Royal Roads University, the maces are carried into the ceremony and placed on the stage.
Many early European universities originated within the church in the medieval period, and this is reflected in convocation’s strong ecclesiastical connection. The chancellor presides over convocation, and draws his title from the person who was the head of the theological faculty of these early universities. As the head of the Chancery, the chancellor had the responsibility of examining students prior to their receiving degrees.
Over the ages, the role of the chancellor has changed. Today, the Royal Roads chancellor, who also chairs the Board of Governors, is the person empowered by the provincial government to confer degrees and oversee the direction of the university.
Universities have undergone dramatic changes during the past 900 years. Today, as universities break down barriers of background, income and geography to welcome lifelong students to education, the convocation ceremony reminds us of the strong traditions that reach back to the very different world of medieval learning. In the 21st century, lifelong students require universities to keep pace with the changing times, and Royal Roads University is proud to be a leader in this new generation.
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