July means graduation week, the point in the university calendar everyone looks forward to the most, chance to celebrate our students and their achievements. Graduation is a traditional but joyful ceremony taking place in the splendor of Carlisle Cathedral.
To celebrate our award ceremonies this month, we have devised 10 fascinating graduation facts...
1. For the past 30 years we have held graduation award ceremonies at Carlisle Cathedral. The tradition started with Cumbria Institute of the Arts, one of our legacy institutions, the very first ceremony took place on Saturday 5 November 1994.
2. Since 2008 over 28,000 students have walked across the dais, shaken hands with the Vice Chancellor or Chancellor and graduated in Carlisle Cathedral.
3. The University of Cumbria and Carlisle Cathedral are joined by a ‘Memorandum of Cooperation’. The university belongs to the ‘Cathedrals Group of Universities’, a group of 15 universities around the country first established as Church of England teacher training colleges and our Chancellor is the The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York.
4. Carlisle Cathedral is over 900 years old, starting life as a Norman Priory Church in 1122 during the reign of King Henry I (only 30 years after the first castle was established in the city). During this time the area was in constant conflict with Scotland, in 1133 it officially became a Cathedral, the perfect way for the King to impose his authority.
5. Any graduand or visitor to our beautiful Cathedral cannot have failed to notice the famous star ceiling, designed by Owen Jones and added to the Cathedral in 1856. Each panel consists of a sun and 16 stars, all except one, which only contains 15 stars, an intentional decision to show that ‘only God can create perfection’. Can you spot the panel with 15 stars? Don’t forget to look up!
6. For the past 12 years it has been a university tradition to hand out an Alumni Association pin badge to every graduate at our ceremonies. The pin badges are to be worn with pride as a sign of achievement. There are thousands of alumni pin badges in existence today spread across all corners of the globe.
7. An integral part of the graduation ceremony and a symbol of authority of the university is the Mace. Carried by the Mace bearer to start the graduand procession the Mace incorporates symbolism for the university, the county and the Cathedral. Designed and made by Ottewill Silversmiths and Jewellers for the university Inauguration in 2007.
8. The grand and powerful music heard during graduation ceremonies is played live on the organ. The magnificent Willis organ dates from 1856, has over 4,000 pipes and is one of the treasures of the Cathedral. Built by Henry Willis & Co, the company still make organs to this day.
9. There are seven different graduation hoods, all slightly different depending on the academic award of the wearer. All our graduation hoods are a vibrant green to represent our county except for our PhD hood which is blue. You will notice all our academic staff wear different coloured hoods, they wear the hoods from the university they each graduated from.
10. Graduation is a key event in the university calendar, a chance for the entire institution to celebrate the successes of our students. Planning our graduation is done by a team of three brilliant, super organised, full-time members of staff and supported during the ceremonies by over 30 different staff volunteers per day from many departments across the university.
Can you add to our list of graduation facts? What did you enjoy most about your own graduation day? Share your memories with us, alumni@cumbria.ac.uk