19 May 2021
Freedom of Information Request: Graduation plans for 2020 and 2021 cohorts
Dear Mr Ali
With reference to your request made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, dated
11 May 2021 I can confirm the University holds some, but not all, the information
requested.
Your request was, in general terms, for the fol owing information, which is set out in ful
detail below: whether in-person graduation ceremonies have been/wil be held.
Your request and our response:
I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am
entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I have an interest in how you have approached your graduation ceremonies during the
Coronavirus pandemic. Please could you answer the following:
1) For your students who graduated in 2020, have they had an in-person graduation
yet?
No, due to continuing restrictions on indoor events and multiple lockdowns
across the past year, the 2020 graduating cohort has not yet had an in-person
ceremony.
2) If no to question 1., are there plans to have an in-person graduation, when
restrictions have been lifted? If so, wil they be the same as previous cohorts (2019,
2018, etc.) and when are they currently planned for?
As restrictions on mass indoor gatherings are stil unclear, we wil be holding
celebratory events on our campus for our 2020 cohort in July. These events will
give graduates the opportunity to book gowns, professional photography and
celebrate with their family and friends in a COVID-secure outdoor setting. We are
also holding virtual ceremonies for those who cannot yet travel internationally
and are also investigating whether it wil be possible to deliver a traditional
ceremony for this cohort in 2022.
3) For your students who are due to graduate in 2021, wil they have an in-person
graduation? If no, what are your plans for these students?
The plans for the 2021 cohort largely depends on the success of the roadmap out
of lockdown and the government guidance on mass gatherings indoors. If
possible we wil host graduation ceremonies for the 2021 cohort later this year,
however if uncertainty stil remains we wil look to have smaller on campus
events and move a traditional ceremony to 2022. The safety of our graduates,
their families and our staff is imperative in our decision making.
If you are dissatisfied with how we have dealt with your request in the first instance you
may approach the University’s FOI complaints officer in writing, within two months of the
date of our response, and explaining what you would like us to review, as fol ows:
Ms Kim Smal
Head of Legal Services
Room GH103 Grove House
Froebel Col ege
Roehampton University
Roehampton Lane
LONDON
SW15 5PJ
Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome you have a right under s50 of the
Freedom of Information Act to appeal against the decision by contacting the Information
Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF, or
xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Any other future correspondence you may have with the University in relation to this
matter should be sent to the Freedom of Information Officer, Alison Bainbridge.
University of Roehampton is the trading title of Roehampton University, registered in England No: 5161359 Registered office: Grove
House, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PJ
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