All a question of degree

[Serial_Apologist]

Having thought about the rigours both my parents went through in the 1920s - my mother for her LRAM, Dad for his Maths Degree at London - and which were probably still expected when I was at school in the early 1960s - I have to wonder at the comparative ease with which I obtained my BsC as a "mature student" in the late 1990s, having done the 3-year HND in Landscape & Amenity Management at a provincial college and then merely passed Year 4 of the Horticulture Degree course. Although it's fun to include the letters after ones name on forms for this or that, it didn't count for anything in terms of job prospects in the end.

[Richard Barrett]

Actually (I may have told this one before) a few years ago I did have to request a copy of a certificate, namely my English Language O level, since it was a condition of my being accepted onto the PhD programme at Leeds University that I prove my proficiency in the English language. None of the publications in my bibliography, or the fact that English is obviously my native language and I already had a degree from another English university, or the fact that I'd been a professor at yet another English university for three years (and indeed also for one year a part time teacher at Bryn's alma mater (also in its pre-University days)) were enough to convince the box-tickers.

[french frank]

Who publicly displays their degree certificate? And why?

I guess it's one way of remembering where it is if you ever need it. I have no idea where mine are.

I discovered my Masters certificate with thick dollops of white paint sploshed over it. Not sure where I put it. A much larger, more impressive certificate, for having done a 3-month taught course at the Sorbonne during my first undergraduate year is … somewhere. I went to my graduation ceremony because I thought it obligatory but skipped two subsequent ones, and certainly didn't bother to acquire the appropriate robes. Nor is there a single photograph of me in mortarboard, gown and grasping the prescribed scroll in my hands as seems now to be the norm.

Things changes, universities change, regulations change … comparisons become progressively more difficult.

[vinteuil]

I went to my graduation ceremony because I thought it obligatory but skipped two subsequent ones...

... I went to both my ceremonies - but mainly bicoz the college provided a rather grand free slap-up lunch for the occasion. I think they expected that graduates wd subsequently become generous benefactors.

Ha!!

.

[ardcarp]

I was puzzled at the difficulties PPE caused the Government when so many of the cabinet had a degree in it.

Mrs A and I quipped about that at the time.

Who publicly displays their degree certificate? And why?

It's certainly not a very British thing to do. I think the lady mentioned in my OP had it up there more for amusement than anything else. I do notice however, that people are less bashful about putting up Music Diplomas (they used to call it 'getting your cap and gown' in times past), and as for kids' Grade 1, 2, 3, etc, they tend to be everywhere....until the kids' in question become embarrassed by them.

[LMcD]

... I went to both my ceremonies - but mainly bicoz the college provided a rather grand free slap-up lunch for the occasion. I think they expected that graduates wd subsequently become generous benefactors.

Ha!!

.

I've recently received 2 (very polite and nicely written) requests for money from Southampton University, from which I graduated in 1969. Nice of them to keep in touch!

[HighlandDougie]

I've recently received 2 (very polite and nicely written) requests for money from Southampton University, from which I graduated in 1969. Nice of them to keep in touch!

Having been the Registrar/University Secretary of two large British universities in my time (where Alumni and Fund-Raising were part of my respective empires), we would stop at virtually nothing in order to coax dosh from "alumni", although I always thought that the, "Can we help you in writing your will?", letters were a bit tacky. I wouldn't give my alma mater (Edinburgh) even a bawbee - it doesn't deserve it, as I know only too well.

[teamsaint]

Having been the Registrar/University Secretary of two large British universities in my time (where Alumni and Fund-Raising were part of my respective empires), we would stop at virtually nothing in order to coax dosh from "alumni", although I always thought that the, "Can we help you in writing your will?", letters were a bit tacky. I wouldn't give my alma mater (Edinburgh) even a bawbee - it doesn't deserve it, as I know only too well.

Southampton are, I have to say, particularly persistent. It started at the graduation ceremony when two of my kids graduated there.

[kernelbogey]

I've recently received 2 (very polite and nicely written) requests for money from Southampton University, from which I graduated in 1969. Nice of them to keep in touch!

I receive a phone call each year from an undergraduate (a different one each year!) studying my own degree subject at my College (one of the richest Colleges in the two ancient English universities!) with a very cleverly-designed spiel purporting to want to know how it was for me 'in my day'. Eventually we get to the nub of the matter which is them asking for a rolling standing order/annual gift/single donation - a downward sliding scale in response to my evasions, intended to close the deal with me. Entertaining as this is to begin with I have so far evaded any donation.

[Old Grumpy]

Who publicly displays their degree certificate? And why?

All professionals in cartoons always have degree certificate on their wall, much as all medical personnel, of any persuasion have an ENT mirror on their head!

[french frank]

Southampton are, I have to say, particularly persistent. It started at the graduation ceremony when two of my kids graduated there.

I would take the view if you don't ask, you don't get. It seems to be the generally accepted practice in modern fundraising.

[teamsaint]

I would take the view if you don't ask, you don't get. It seems to be the generally accepted practice in modern fundraising.

I get that. I work in sales.......


That said, I think the graduation ceremony was inappropriate, especially as there were many parents there who had paid out a very great deal of money to support their kids through their courses.
Leaving us all to enjoy the day would have been better, IMO.

[kernelbogey]

That said, I think the graduation ceremony was inappropriate, especially as there were many parents there who had paid out a very great deal of money to support their kids through their courses.

Universities have become marketing machines, I regret to say.

[french frank]

Leaving us all to enjoy the day would have been better, IMO.

Wouldn't dispute that, either, not for a moment.

But maybe while people are feeling happy and celebrating? Feeling they owe some sort of (non-financial!) debt to the old place?