Editing Convocation (section)

==University use==
[[Image:Convocation Banner.jpg|thumb|right|A college convocation banner in [[India]]]]
[[Image:Convocation House 2, Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb| Interior of [[Convocation House]], Oxford, the meeting place of the university's convocation]] 

At universities, "convocation" can refer (particularly in North America) to a university's graduation ceremony<ref name=CED>{{cite web|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/convocation|title=Convocation| work=Cambridge English Dictionary|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref><ref name=Dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/convocation|title=Convocation|website=Dictionary.com|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> or, more generally, to any formal assembly of the university (similar to [[congregation (university)|congregation]] in some British universities).<ref name=Dict/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convocation|title=Convocation|work=Merriam Webster Dictionary|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> At Harvard<ref>{{Cite web |title=Convocation |url=https://dso.college.harvard.edu/convocation-ceremony |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=dso.college.harvard.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gay, Khurana Welcome Harvard College Class of 2027 at Convocation Punctuated by Protest {{!}} News {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/9/5/class-of-2027-convocation/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}</ref> and Columbia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Escobar |first=Valeria |title=Convocation 2019: Sundown marks beginning of the Columbia journey for 1,406 first-years |url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2019/08/27/convocation-2019-sundown-marks-beginning-of-the-columbia-journey-for-1406-first-years/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Columbia Daily Spectator}}</ref> universities it is the name used for the [[matriculation]] ceremony that formally welcomes new students at the start of the academic year.

At some universities in the UK and other countries, convocation refers to the body of the members of the university that meets to make official decisions.<ref name=CED/> In the [[University of Oxford]], convocation was originally the main governing body of the university, consisting of all doctors and masters of the university, but it now comprises all graduates of the university and its only remaining functions are to elect the chancellor of the university and the [[Professor of Poetry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oua.ox.ac.uk/enquiries/congandconvfive.html|title=University Archives:A history of Congregation and Convocation, 5. The mid 20th century|work=ox.ac.uk|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oua.ox.ac.uk/enquiries/congandconvseven.html|title=University Archives|work=ox.ac.uk|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref> (The equivalent body at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] is the senate.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=entlN4EEPUYC&pg=PA119|title=A History of the University in Europe: Volume 3, Universities in the ...|isbn=9781139453028|last1=Rüegg|first1=Walter|date=16 September 2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press }}</ref>)

At [[Durham University]], convocation was established as the assembly of members of the university by the university's fundamental statue in 1835.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89094395191;view=1up;seq=471|title=The British magazine and monthly register of religious ... v.8 1835. - Full View - HathiTrust Digital Library - HathiTrust Digital Library|work=HathiTrust|issue=v |pages=36 v |access-date=19 November 2015|last1=Maitland |first1=Samuel Roffey |last2=Rose |first2=Hugh James }}</ref> Women were admitted to convocation from 1913.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stmaryscollegesociety.co.uk/history/|title=History of the College|work=St Mary's College Society|date=7 January 2012 |access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref> Durham's degrees were awarded at meetings of convocation until 1938, when this power was transferred to the [[academic senate|senate]] and awards were instead made at [[congregation (university)|congregations]] of the university.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://libguides.durham.ac.uk/c.php?g=684731&p=4896623|title=Archives and Special Collections: Durham University Records: Information|at= Congregations|website=Durham University|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> {{As of|2024|post=,}} it consists of the chancellor, the vice-chancellor and warden, the deputy vice-chancellor and provost, the pro-vice-chancellors, graduates of the university who have registered as members of convocation, and other officers of the university appointed by the university's council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/governance-documentation/statutes-ordinances-and-regulations/statutes-and-ordinances/9-convocation/|title=Ordinance 9 Convocation|access-date=14 March 2025|website=Durham University}}</ref> It appoints the [[Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of the university, most recently  [[Fiona Hill (presidential advisor)|Fiona Hill]] on 28 November 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/university.calendar/volumei/statutes/|title=University Calendar : University Statutes - Durham University|work=dur.ac.uk|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2022/11/us-presidential-adviser-fiona-hill-announced-as-new-chancellor/|title=US Presidential adviser Fiona Hill announced as new Chancellor|date=28 November 2022}}</ref> and receives the annual report of the university.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/governance-documentation/statutes-and-regulations/university-statutes/#d.en.1608522|title=Statutes|at=16. Convocation|access-date=1 November 2024|website=Durham University}}</ref> 

In the [[University of London]], convocation, between its establishment in 1858 and its abolition in 2003, consisted of the university's graduates who were involved in the university's governance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london.ac.uk/alumni-supporters/alumni/convocation-project|title=The Convocation Project|website=University of London|access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

In New Zealand, universities have ''courts of convocation'' by which all graduates elect representatives to the institutions' governing bodies.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1963/0007/latest/whole.html |title=Massey University Act 1963 No 7 (as at 29 November 2010), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation  |work=legislation.govt.nz |year=2011 |quote=Court of Convocation |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1963/0008/latest/whole.html |title=University of Waikato Act 1963 No 8 (as at 29 November 2010), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation |work=legislation.govt.nz |year=2011 |quote=Court of Convocation |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0051/latest/whole.html |title=Victoria University of Wellington Act 1961 No 51 (as at 29 November 2010), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation |work=legislation.govt.nz |year=2011 |quote=University District and Court of Convocation |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0052/latest/whole.html |title=Lincoln University Act 1961 No 52 (as at 29 November 2010), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation|work=legislation.govt.nz |year=2011 |quote=Court of Convocation |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0050/latest/whole.html |title=University of Auckland Act 1961 No 50 (as at 29 November 2010), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation|work=legislation.govt.nz |year=2011 |quote=University District and Court of Convocation |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0049/latest/whole.html |title=University of Canterbury Act 1961 No 49 (as at 29 November 2010), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation  |work=legislation.govt.nz |year=2011 |quote=University District and Court of Convocation |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref>