Graduands and guests with additional health requirements
Preparation for the day for graduands and guests with additional health requirements
(Additional health requirement/disability/blue badge holders and special arrangements)
Please see below for information on:
- What constitutes an additional health requirement (for either graduand or guest) at graduation
- Other special arrangements – no handshake
- How to contact the Graduation Team in relation to any of these issues
- Parking for additional health requirement/disability/blue badge holders
What constitutes an additional health requirement (health concern for either graduand or guest) at graduation
An additional health requirement during the graduation period could be when either you or your guests:
- Feel that a little extra help may be needed (for example going up and down steep stairs in the auditorium)
- Feel that the staff at the University should be aware of a particular requirement (for example a health condition such as epilepsy)
Please note: The requirement of extra tickets is not considered an additional requirement. Further family and friends are welcome in the extra venues that offer live link plasma screens to share in your memorable day – please refer to the Tickets section on this website.
Additional health requirements may include:
- Mobility difficulty
- Wheelchair user
- Visual impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Mental health issues
- Guide/assistance dog user
- Pregnancy
- Temporary disability (i.e. broken leg)
- Unseen health condition (i.e. diabetes)
Other special arrangements – other than health related:
The Graduation Team would like you to inform them of:
1. No Hand Shake from the Presiding Officer during the ceremony
For certain cultural and/or health reasons some Graduands opt not to receive a handshake from the Presiding Officer (normally the Chancellor/Vice Chancellor/DVC/Pro-Chancellor) during their ceremony.
If you would NOT like to receive a hand shake then please email your request to: gradar@soton.ac.uk by the application deadline 31 October.
2. Your name not published
For certain reasons you may not wish your name to be published in the graduation ceremonial programme. In this case you will need to graduate ‘in–absentia’ – that is to not attend graduation.
In this way you will not have your name published in the graduation ceremonial programme and you will have your award certificate posted to you. Please inform the Graduation Team of your decision before the application deadline date, 31 October, on: Gradapps@soton.ac.uk
NB all graduand names are passed to the Marketing Department for inclusion on the year of XXXX t-shirt and in the local newspaper The Daily Echo. If you do not wish your name to be included on this t-shirt please email Marketing direct at: unigifts@soton.ac.uk
How do I inform the Graduation Team of any additional health requirements or special arrangements?
You are asked to inform the Graduation Team via your application to attend graduation form. You will be asked to provide your name, student id, details of who in your party has the additional health requirements, a brief explanation of what the requirement is, and what you would like done to cater for this requirement (specific seating, wheelchair space, parking permit).
The Graduation Team will then contact you to make the necessary arrangements. To contact the Graduation Team concerning these additional arrangements please email: gradar@soton.ac.uk
Preparation for the day for persons with additional health requirements:
There are several services available to provide student support leading up to graduation, please visit: www.soton.ac.uk/studentsupport
Wheelchair hire:
If you or your guests require a wheelchair to hire for the day, please contact the Graduation Team and we will put you in touch with a local hire company.
Parking permits/blue badge holders:
The Graduation Team may be able to provide graduands and their guests with parking permits if they have additional health requirements/disability/blue badge holders such as mobility difficulties, are wheelchair users or have a health condition. This will allow you to park as close as possible to the ceremonial hall on the day of your ceremony. If you require a parking permit please email your request to gradar@soton.ac.uk with a brief explanation as to why you require the permit. If you are a blue badge holder please let the Graduation Team know as we would like to provide you with a graduation parking permit to accompany your own blue badge. This enables us to monitor the amount of parking required on each day. The deadline for the Graduation Team to be able to accommodate additional health arrangements is 31 October.
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