The Convocation Ceremony is scheduled to occur live and in person on Eastman Quadrangle. Should inclement weather preclude this from taking place, the Ceremony will be streamed live here.

Convocation signals the start of your academic career at the University of Rochester. It provides the opportunity for President Sarah Mangelsdorf, the Board of Trustees, Dean of the College Jeffrey Runner, Dean of Admissions Robert Alexander, Dean of Students Matthew Burns, the Students’ Association President, and the rest of the faculty and staff to formally welcome new students to the College.

Convocation Program

Music by the University of Rochester Pep Band

Processional of the Platform Party

Welcome and Introductions

Waleed Nadeem, Class of 2023, Orientation Leader

Jeffrey Runner, Dean of the College in Arts, Sciences and Engineering

Remarks

Sarah Mangelsdorf, President of the University

Lance Drummond, Member of the Board of Trustees and Member of the Class of 1985S

Syed Sabeet Raza Kazmi, President of the Students’ Association

Robert Alexander, Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Enrollment Management

Matthew Burns, Dean of Students

Singing of The Genesee

At the close of today’s ceremony, the Class of 2025 and new transfer students will stand to sing The Genesee together lead by University of Rochester Acapella singers from Trebellious, Vocal Point, PASApella, Ramblers, YellowJackets and After Hours.

Motto

Meliora was chosen as our motto in 1850, and translates to "ever better" or "do better." Embedded in the word are the vision and values we share:

Meliora—We strive to be ever better, for everyone.

Equity—We commit to diversity, inclusion, and access.

Leadership—We take initiative and share responsibility for exemplifying excellence.

Integrity—We conduct ourselves with honesty, dedication, and fairness.

Openness—We embrace freedom of ideas, inquiry, and expression.

Respect—We value our differences, our environment, and our individual and collective contributions.

Accountability—We are responsible for making our community ever better, through our actions, our words, and our dealings with others.

Mission Statement

LEARN, DISCOVER, HEAL, CREATE—AND MAKE THE WORLD EVER BETTER

Created under the leadership of former Provost Ralph Kuncl and Associate Provost Kathleen Moore, the 10-word statement was revealed to the campus community in May 2011. “A mission statement is not a statement about the future, but rather about what is enduring,” Kuncl explained. “It encapsulates and articulates the purposes, characteristics, and values of an institution, the core purposes and the actions that derive from them. It should explain what drives us, and what it is we are trying to create.”

Class Roll

First-year students sign the class roll during their first day on campus to symbolically join the University of Rochester community and commit to the principles proclaimed by our motto, mission, vision, and values. The class rolls are preserved in the University Archives in Rush Rhees Library and then displayed during Commencement Week, class reunions, and by request of class members. This year, the class roll will be signed during the spring semester.