The Pinning Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that connects generations of past, present, and future nurses as they step out to begin their nursing careers. This ceremony, which is separate from your Convocation Ceremony, allows us to welcome the newest graduates into the Nursing profession. This is an opportunity for you to celebrate your accomplishments with your peers and the Faculty, including your instructors and course leads.
The Faculty of Nursing pin at the University of Alberta is a proud symbol of achievement, professionalism, and service. Presented during this ceremony, it signifies each graduate’s entry into the nursing profession and celebrates the knowledge, compassion, and integrity gained throughout their nursing education at the University of Alberta.
The Undergraduate Office hosts three pinning ceremonies throughout the year, and your attendance is based on the time of year you are completing your program.
April Ceremony -- students completing their program in Winter Term, convocating in June.
August Ceremony -- students completing their program in the Spring/Summer Terms, convocating in November.
December Ceremony -- students completing their program in the Fall term, convocating in March.
Two to three months before your ceremony -- the Undergraduate Office will email students a "Save The Date" with information for their ceremony. These "Save The Date's" will also be posted in the NURS 485/NURS 425 Canvas sites.
If you see the posting in Canvas but have not received an email from the Undergraduate Office, that specific ceremony may not be for you. If you have additional courses to complete in additional terms, you will attend a later ceremony.
For example, students in the After Degree program will finish their final courses in the Spring/Summer terms. This means that they are not completing the program in April, and as such would not attend the April ceremony. They finish in August, and would attend the August ceremony.
If you are unable to attend the Pinning Ceremony, we ask that you still RSVP as we use your response to gather confirmation on your mailing address. Any students who are unable to attend the ceremony will have their pin mailed to them.
One week before the ceremony -- you will be sent a FAQ document with specific information about your ceremony including any relevant procedural information, recommended arrival time, seating information, and more.
Day of the ceremony -- signs will be posted around ECHA directing students to the ceremony and reception locations. Be sure to arrive early so that you don't miss any key information or photo opportunities.
Note: The Pinning Ceremony is an opportunity for you to celebrate your accomplishments with your peers and your instructors. Due to the number of guests in attendance (students and Faculty members) and fire code regulations within ECHA, there is extremely limited space for the event. We CANNOT accommodate additional family members, partners, friends, etc. Thank you for respecting this. Family and other guests are encouraged to attend the Convocation Ceremony.