Staff and students help Ryerson get 7,700 diplomas into graduates’ hands
Student staff help Ryerson prepare 7,700 diplomas for delivery to new graduates during the second week of July. Photos by Alia Youssef.
Students may not know just how much care and attention to detail is needed to print and review the diplomas that represent their earned degrees.
“It’s not just a piece of paper,” says Registrar Charmaine Hack.
From the technicians that clean specialized printers, to the experts that buy the highest quality stock of paper, to the many sets of eyes that check spelling and alignment thousands of times, the goal is to have the perfect diploma for every student. And it’s all done on campus.
With COVID-19, the logistical challenges became even greater. With the help of 20 student and staff volunteers during the week of July 13, however, Ryerson pulled off printing, packaging and sending by courier 7,700 diplomas for this year’s graduates.
Dustin Ma (Fourth Year, Computer Science) says being given the responsibility of handling degrees was a rewarding experience.
After working with Environmental Health and Safety to minimize risks for volunteers, the Curriculum Advising & Grad Audit team in the Registrar’s Office enlisted the help of Duplicating and Printing Services to print as well as Shipping and Receiving to courier the thousands of award documents for this year’s graduating students.
“I volunteered for this because I am a graduating student myself. I was excited and wanted to help my fellow graduates get their degrees as soon as possible. The process took about three working days to complete,” says Abina Ganeshamoorthy.
In total, the team assembled and packaged 7,700 individual envelopes, which include a special letter of congratulations from ChancellorJanice Fukakusa and President Mohamed Lachemi.
I volunteered for this because I am a graduating student myself. I was excited and wanted to help my fellow graduates get their degrees as soon as possible. – Abina Ganeshamoorthy, TRSM ’20.
Along with the printed diplomas, new graduates also receive a special letter from Chancellor Janice Fukakusa and President Mohamed Lachemi via courier.
Ryerson is one of the first universities in Canada to award students their award certificates in both parchment and digital formats. In addition to the traditional printed diplomas, graduates this year also received secure and verified digital certificates, bringing the best of worlds to today’s graduates.
The extra hurdles this year made this year’s certificates even more special, according to Hack.
“This effort came from the heart. Regardless of the pandemic, students deserve to have their degrees in hand,” she says.
“We have a lot of capacity to do great things when people share a vision,” Hack adds.
Vice-Provost, Students Jen McMillen reviews certificates to be printed and couriered to graduates. McMillen thanks Celia Chu, Administrative & Finance Coordinator, for making her the face mask seen in this photo.
“This effort came from the heart. Regardless of the pandemic, students deserve to have their degrees in hand. – Charmaine Hack, Registrar