Preparations are in full swing for Virtual Fall Convocation, and College staff and faculty members are encouraged to help make this special milestone one to remember for NC’s upcoming Class of 2020 graduates.

The highly anticipated event will be held on Friday, October 30, with two ceremonies to be live-streamed from the Welland Campus at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and viewed by graduates and their families from around the world.

Here are three key ways staff and faculty can get involved in the interactive, virtual celebrations and help make this important event a success.

Send well wishes to graduates

Staff and faculty who have worked closely with our graduates are invited to submit video messages of congratulations. These messages will be woven into the live convocation ceremonies.

A cellphone may be used to record and upload your video or, if preferred, record with a camera and upload files from your computer.

Tips for recording your video:

• Ensure the camera is horizontal.
• Subjects should fill the frame and be close to the camera.
• Consider using earbuds with a microphone on them when filming for better sound.
• Light should be bright and even.
• Try to not film in a windy or noisy area.
• Feel free to submit more than one video for consideration.

Once your video file is ready to upload from your phone or computer, click this link: and choose the files you wish to send.

The deadline to submit video messages of congratulations is Wednesday, October 21.

Encourage student participation

Reach out to graduates by email or social media and encourage them to participate in their scheduled ceremonies and their program area’s zoom viewing parties. The College is working hard to create a memorable experience for the graduates to celebrate their accomplishments in the moment, despite the circumstances presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Staff and faculty are encouraged to support the College community by promoting the event as much as possible.

Post and share content on social media

Post and share messages via social media that encourage participation in the virtual ceremonies and/or share memories from the academic year. Content posted with the hashtag #NCGrad2020 will appear on the College’s convocation tagboard; and likes, comments and reactions during the ceremonies will be visible on the live stream. Stay connected with NC’s social channels for ongoing updates.

Visit the Virtual Convocation website

For more details, visit niagaracollege.ca/virtualcovocation.