In October, UWI St Augustine is buzzing with the excitement of graduation. But what goes into executing the annual ceremonies, a highly anticipated and successful string of events?

The campus hosts six graduation ceremonies over a three-day period. It is the most graduation ceremonies held by any one UWI campus. Senior Assistant Registrar in the Office of the St Augustine Campus Registrar, Student Affairs Examinations Division, Ms Nardia Thomas-Allain, said almost 3,000 students attended graduation ceremonies at the campus this year.

"Though 2,856 graduands attended the ceremony,” she says, “the average graduating class is between 3,500 and 3,800. Graduands who do not attend the ceremony are still conferred as graduates once certificates, degrees, and diplomas are printed."

Ms Thomas-Allain went on to say the graduation ceremonies’ success is due to several departments across the region and within each campus. She highlighted the hard work of the Examinations Division along with the Registrar and Marketing and Communication offices of both The UWI and the St Augustine campus. They began planning in February 2023 to make this year's graduation exercise a success.

On the selection of theme for this year, she said, "As The UWI proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary in the 2022-2023 academic year, it seemed only fitting for that to be this year's graduation theme across the region."

The UWI’s regional graduation planning committee selects themes by taking a look at what is being celebrated at the different campuses and throughout the region. This guides the University Marketing and Communications Office in selecting an appropriate theme.

The graduation ceremonies are held in October to accommodate students who wish to pursue courses offered during the third semester to keep on track or fast track their programmes.

When it comes to accommodating persons with disabilities, graduands are given the option during the application process to request special accommodation for themselves or their guests which the planning committee, with the help of various departments and collaborators, do the utmost to provide to make the ceremony a celebratory success for all graduates.