Health Sciences graduation ceremonies go virtual
- Wits University
Wits University has taken all graduation ceremonies online, following the President’s announcement on Monday night.
All the Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremonies that were scheduled to take place from 15 - 18 December 2020 are now being held virtually, followed by a separate online Hippocratic Oath Taking ceremony on Friday.
“We understand that many people are disappointed by our decision to cancel in-person graduations. We have explored multiple options, but if we went ahead with in-person graduations, we would be acting irresponsibly given the President’s request to avoid large gatherings,” explains Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib. We sympathise with the students who are graduating, and their families and friends, but given the historic moment in which we find ourselves, we cannot put more people at risk. As an institution, we have to act responsibly, within the law.”
Virtual Graduation Ceremony
The Health Sciences degrees will be conferred in a closed virtual graduation ceremony taking place on 17 December 2020. The video of this ceremony will be made available to graduands on 18 December 2020 via the following link www.wits.ac.za/graduations.
Hippocratic Oath Ceremony (online)
All 2020 Health Sciences graduands, including those graduating with BSc OT, BSc Physio, B Pharmacy, B Oral Health Sciences, B Dental Sciences, B Clinical Medical Practice and MBBCh degrees are required to participate in the Hippocratic Oath Taking Ceremony that will be hosted virtually by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Martin Veller, on Friday, 18 December at 10:00 via Zoom. Graduands are required to register for the event via a link that was sent to their respective student email addresses. After registering, these graduands will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This link is for these graduands only, and cannot be transferred to any other person.
“All the students mentioned in the categories above will be required to read the Hippocratic Oath during the ceremony with the Dean of the Faculty,” explains Sandra Benn, the Registrar of the Faculty of Health Sciences. “These graduands must have a copy of the oath on hand during the ceremony.” The oath is published on the Examinations and Graduations Office website: www.wits.ac.za/graduations and the Faculty website: www.wits.ac.za/health.
Collect your degree certificate
All degree certificates must be collected from the Phillip V Tobias Building from 11:00 on Friday, 18 December. For those who are unable to collect their certificates in person, the certificates will be couriered to the addresses on the student system. “Please remember to sign the Hippocratic Oath Book at the Faculty Office, when you collect your certificate,” adds Benn. “We are also exploring the possibilities of a stage-crossing ceremony in April 2021, and will share further details in the New Year.”
Health Sciences graduands can direct any enquiries to the Sandra Benn via (011) 717-2040 or Sandra.Benn@wits.ac.za.