Graduation Ceremony

Graduation Ceremony

18 - 20 July 2011

Survey overview

Number of respondents: 334
Expectednumberofrespondents:2078
Response rate: 16.1%
Launch date: 12 Aug 2011
Close date: 09 Sep 2011

Section 1: About you:

1. At what level did you study?
Undergraduate (BSc; BA; BEng; LLB; MEng; MPharm; MChem; MSci; FdSc; FdA; FdEng; Foundation Year): / / 63.4% / 208
Postgraduate (MSc; MA; MBA; PGCert; PGDip; GDL; MPhil; DPharm; PhD): / / 36.6% / 120
2. Your department/school:
School of Health Studies: / / 15.7% / 52
School of Life Sciences: / / 22.7% / 75
School of Engineering, Design and Technology: / / 7.6% / 25
School of Computing, Informatics and Media: / / 10.6% / 35
School of Lifelong Education and Development: / / 4.2% / 14
School of Management: / / 21.8% / 72
School of Social and International Studies: / / 17.5% / 58
3. Gender
Male: / / 42.6% / 140
Female: / / 57.4% / 189

Section 2: Your Ceremony

4. Which graduation ceremony did you register on:
18th July 2011: / / 31.4% / 103
19th July 2011: / / 33.5% / 110
20th July 2011: / / 35.1% / 115
5. Ceremony time:
10:15: / / 26.7% / 87
11:00: / / 4.6% / 15
13:45: / / 20.9% / 68
14:15: / / 15.0% / 49
16:15: / / 32.8% / 107

Section 3: Graduation

6. Was the time of year the ceremony was held convenient for you?
Yes: / / 91.0% / 292
No: / / 9.0% / 29
6.a. Which of the following months would have been most convenient for you to attend?
January: / / 0.0% / 0
February: / / 0.0% / 0
March: / / 0.0% / 0
April: / / 0.0% / 0
May: / / 6.9% / 2
June: / / 24.1% / 7
July: / / 10.3% / 3
August: / / 6.9% / 2
September: / / 13.8% / 4
October: / / 6.9% / 2
November: / / 6.9% / 2
December: / / 24.1% / 7
7. Please rate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding the ceremony:
7.a. The ceremony was well organised
Strongly agree: / / 32.3% / 107
Agree: / / 52.6% / 174
Disagree: / / 11.8% / 39
Strongly disagree: / / 3.3% / 11
7.b. It had the appropriate level of formality to it
Strongly agree: / / 36.2% / 116
Agree: / / 54.4% / 174
Disagree: / / 6.6% / 21
Strongly disagree: / / 2.8% / 9
8. The length of the graduation ceremony was:
Too short: / / 4.2% / 14
Just right: / / 82.4% / 272
Too long: / / 13.3% / 44
9. The number of students at the graduation ceremony were:
Too few: / / 5.7% / 19
Just right: / / 74.4% / 247
Too many: / / 19.9% / 66
10. Please rate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding the address delivered by the Chancellor or Vice Chancellor
10.a. It was interesting
Strongly agree: / / 25.1% / 83
Agree: / / 65.0% / 215
Disagree: / / 7.6% / 25
Strongly disagree: / / 2.4% / 8
10.b. It was relevant to my subject
Strongly agree: / / 14.6% / 47
Agree: / / 54.8% / 176
Disagree: / / 25.9% / 83
Strongly disagree: / / 4.7% / 15
11. The address delivered by the Vice Chancellor was:
Too short: / / 3.1% / 10
Just right: / / 85.3% / 273
Too long: / / 11.6% / 37
12. How would you rate the following in terms of value for money?
12.a. Guest Ceremony Ticket (up to 2 free tickets)
Very poor value: / / 5.4% / 18
Quite poor value: / / 12.7% / 42
Good value: / / 42.6% / 141
Very good value: / / 39.3% / 130
12.b. Additional guest tickets (£10 per ticket)
Very poor value: / / 21.2% / 66
Quite poor value: / / 34.6% / 108
Good value: / / 36.2% / 113
Very good value: / / 8.0% / 25
12.c. Gown hire service
Very poor value: / / 14.4% / 47
Quite poor value: / / 30.1% / 98
Good value: / / 46.3% / 151
Very good value: / / 9.2% / 30
12.d. Photography services
Very poor value: / / 18.9% / 60
Quite poor value: / / 31.8% / 101
Good value: / / 42.5% / 135
Very good value: / / 6.9% / 22
12.e. Graduation DVD
Very poor value: / / 13.7% / 40
Quite poor value: / / 31.2% / 91
Good value: / / 47.6% / 139
Very good value: / / 7.5% / 22
12.f. Graduation booklet
Very poor value: / / 9.4% / 28
Quite poor value: / / 23.2% / 69
Good value: / / 52.7% / 157
Very good value: / / 14.8% / 44
12.g. Certificate tubes
Very poor value: / / 13.9% / 40
Quite poor value: / / 28.2% / 81
Good value: / / 48.8% / 140
Very good value: / / 9.1% / 26
12.h. University of Bradford merchandise
Very poor value: / / 11.8% / 34
Quite poor value: / / 25.3% / 73
Good value: / / 54.9% / 158
Very good value: / / 8.0% / 23
13. Please use the space below to make any general comments about Graduations:
1. The fact that the graduation ceremony was deayed from Dec 2010 was unavoidable. However the graduation booklet was not updated to reflect the order of ceremony in July. I appreciate that UB would have incurred a great deal of extra expense in reprinting the booklet. However, Registry could have produced anA4 sheet for the ceremony held on 18 July giving the order in which the different Schools would have beeen presented. 2 The presence of so many very small children in the Hall who cannot be expected to remain silent during the hour long proceedings distracted from the formality of the occasion. Surely, a rule can be established that children under the age of X will not be admitted. Guests with small children could be seated in the Lesser Hall to see the ceremony on video link. 3. The decision to allow guests without tickets into the Hall to sit behind the Graduands was a severe error of judgement. Many of these were not dressed for the occasion unlike guests who had tickets.
2 tickets was not enough !!
All students should have their caps on while on stage, and they should move their tassel to the other side of the cap after they receive awards. Also, all students should officially be gathered at one place to throw their graduation caps in the air because that is a BIG part in everyone's lives, something BIG to remember the graduation day for the rest of their lives.
As i had not been to the main campus for a long time it would have helped to have had some staff to ask were to go
As I had to travel a long distance to get to the university (and I was a distance learning student), arriving at an appropriate time to register, get gowned up etc would have meant leaving very early in the morning. As such, I had to organise a day off work, travel down the evening before and pay for hotel accomodation. Just starting that hour or two later would have been better.
As the photgraphs taken were digital th option of selecting from the ones taken would have been nice. I have 3 copies of one terrible photo and no option of seeing the others that were taken.
Better organisation needed for registration
Could have organised a group picture , and allow more time as managing guest and getting everything done as e only person who knows e school could b done better
Don't cram so many students into the ceremony that you can not have your family there, you work hard & pay all those fees & most of your family have to watch on a screen! Not good enough & spoilt the day a little.
Due to being cancelled because of the weather, my graduation ceremony was added onto the end of a ceremony day, resulting in it commencing late, being rushed and lack of time afterwards for photos. It almost ruined my one and only graduation ceremony.
Enjoyed meeting Imran Khan his speech was inspirational as was other people speech. Was good to meet everyone from my course. Felt important on this day, and that i had really achieved something in life to be proud of, and i can be an inspiration to my children who were there at the ceremony.
Enjoyed the day, it was very well organised, disappointed there were no refreshments afterwards.
Gown allocation would ahve been better with a "fast track" route for those attending the earlier ceremonies.
Gown hire charges are very high,specially photographs even gown rates are expensive.
Gown hire very expensive (a day's wages for a couple of hours) and you don't even get to wear the hat! Gown not ironed. Getting dressed in sports hall not great - got drenched on way back to Richmond.
Gown hire was a rip-off.
Gown hire was day light ripper. 44£ for nearly two hours,too high. I would have opted for profressional photography if it was 10£ which seems reasonable for one photo,which wasn't the case. Bring in more suppliers for gown and photography, in this recessionary period more the competition ,better the value. Ceremony was organised professionally though there was 30 min delay to really start. Also, the gownhire was kept somewhere far from graduation ceremony halls, and with rain and wind it was a nightmare to travel to & fro.
Graduation Booklet - didnt know they were at the event
guest tickets should be cheaper, so should the hiring of the gown and the photograghy
I am a member of staff so the comments I have made so far reflect the fact that I am not a new graduate ie the VCs speech was interesting but not relevant. I didn't have photographs taken or buy any merchandise.
I am not sure if I missed it, but I walked down to the Richmond Building only to have to head back up to the gym to get my gown. Better signposting would help?
I did not receive any additional guest tickets even though I was in the front of the line for registration. I think additional guest tickets should be booked by the graduand online along with the free tickets.
I enjoyed it, there was a good atmosphere in the hall. I thought it was the right length of time not too long or short.
I expected to have a good picture by professionals but they did it so quick as they didnt care that was only once opportunity to take pics with gown for us. That was really dissaapointed. As for gown, you should have told us that we better wear something with buttons like suites otherwise some ladies didnot look good because their gown were not fixed anyewhere.
I felt gown hire was expensive especially as hat was for show only. I didn't use any of the other services but was disappointed not to receive a free graduation booklet.
I felt that the event was very unorganised, I had reserved seats for my mother and sister, my husband was waiting with m children for them to arrive, however, he was ushered in. When my mother and sister arrived, they had travelled some distance and my mother had mobility problems, my husband who had our 6 month old baby to deal with at the time also, said to the lady that had seated him if my mother could be seated and he was happy to go outside however, he was refused point blank. I was already seated and was unable to do anything and my mother and sister had to try and find somewhere, which eventually they were seated upstairs. The whole event was overcrowded and not suitable for the elderly or children, which is a dissapointment as the occasion is one where you would like to have them involved.
I have already fed back to the University in a letter regarding important issues and my experience.
I nearly missed my graduation as no one informed me I could graduate this took away a lot of the excitement for me
i satisfied with all the process in ceremony
i spent more than 5 minutes awaiting to be called.
I think it is ridiculous that people could only bring 2 guests each, as the majority of people would want at least 3 guests there. Therefore, there were too mant students graduating. Also, I think it would be easier if the graduation tickets were just sent out rather than making hundreds of students all queue at the same time on a day that should be spent with family and friends.
I think the rental of the gown and photography space should be splitted, i.e. in different locations. The place was looking very busy and too many people in one small place. I believe Bradford could come up with better idea of organizing it.
i think there should be some of gift from the university like a memory shield type free for the graduates.
I was not impressed with the similarity of gowns with the undergraduates and the masters degree holders
I was so dissapointed that Imran was unable to attend the 4.15 graduation as i had been so looking forward to it and expecting it for months! We only found out when we were in the actual hall. The champage reception was a nice idea but my elderly family and friends found it a bit difficult moving up and round the univesity rooms! I didnt know there would be things like graduation frames at the ceremony. Its a shame because i would have liked one. I didn t know I could purchase a graduation booklet either.
I was told you could not purchase any further tickets. I am dissapointed, if only I had knew my family could have attended. I was told you can only bring what tickets you are allocated. If you can buy additional guest tickets we should be made known well in advance.
I was very disaapointed at how fast the names of the graduates was being called out the ceremony felt rushed compared to sheffield university graduation. The hall was too crowded and only two members of my family could get into the hall as no spare tickets were available. I feel the school of life sciences morning ceremony should have been split into two ceremonies to allow for all of this to be rectified.
I worked 4 years very hard for my PhD - but on the day of my graduation I was told that "it was frogotten" to send emails to all PhD students to attend the photo session of the school of life science = hence I do not have the most important picture what should have remembered me my life on Bradford. No one ever appologised for this. = WHAT A SHAME
I would of liked to have been able to buy more tickets to bring guests to the ceremony.
Imran khan wasnt there for our ceremony although he managed to attend the other ceremonies...i feel that either he should have attended all or none of them
In future ,i suggested the photograph to take pictures and produce them within one hour. I would like to take my photos with me after the graduation
It was a very good well organised event. We really enjoyed it.
It was a waste of money making us hire morter boards when we never got to wear them, being told not to wear them during or before the ceremony but there wasn't a point when we were told to put them on so they stayed dorment.
IT WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE AND GOWN HIRING COMPANY DID NOT KNOW WHICH HOODS WERE BENG OR MENG, SOME PEOPLE WORE MSC HOODS WHO WERE BENG STUDENTS.
It was quite interesting.My guest and i enjoyed the keynote address by the Chancellor
It was six month late so there was not many people and we didn't really get our certificates as we already had them. Instead we got a letter!
it was well organized
It would be less stressful of additional guest tickets were allocated in advance before the day so that relatives were able to either travel or not travel accordingly, also changes in ceremony times could have been communicated sooner
it would have been helpful if the robes had accessories such as safety pins to hold them in place as i found myself struggling to keep the robe from pulling back up to my neck. This spoils the whole outlook.
It would have been perfect if we were at least informed why the ceremony started late. We just sat there wondering when it was going to start. People should not be allowed to whistle and shout from the public gallery. Those are the only two things that spoilt it for me.
It would have been very good if the ceremony would have started on time and refreshment would have been offered for the guests.
Its after 28days without our graduation pictures, this is not what they promised.
its very good,i enjoyed a lot......
Merchandise was quite expensive,
More merchandise would have been good. I remember belt buckles a few years ago. They looked cool and I would have definitely bought one if I could. The gown hire in uncompetitive and a complete racket. Competition between two or more companies would likely make the ceremony more accessible. One of my friends could not afford to go because of the cost of the gowns.
Mr Khan texting during the ceremony was ill mannered and offensive.
My gown was damaged and I felt unprofessional when I had to go up on stage because the collar section that went over my gown was broken. I looked untidy when I went on stage and afterwads
My guests could not even got a ticket because of the limited amount tickets were available, there should have been adequate tickets for all the guests. Small kids and the babies spoiled the ceremony, they should not have been there.
My husband and fathers' VIP ticket had been taken by another family and they were waiting a while to be seated and teh seats they were offered instead were not acceptable. I was not aware that you could pay £10 for additional seats my mother and daughter were left in the atrium as I was told it was first come first served for the seating in the small hall.
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Need to have times for graduands to get breaks for food and drin
no additional guest tickets available
no extra tickets were available and photography was quiet expensive. However the graduation was a very good event, well organized. A special day for myself and family.
no instructions for extra guests - chaos for me on the day.
No seating spaces for guests at the ceromony or sml hall. So not good for guests who hav travelled far to be told no spaces available. Should be tols before hand if spaces are available or tickets booked before hand.