Convocation

Convocation is a formal assembly of people summoned for a specific purpose. The term comes from Latin convocare, meaning to call together. In general usage, a convocation is any ceremonial gathering or the act of summoning a group for discussion, governance, or worship.

In higher education, convocation has a specialized meaning. It is commonly the ceremonial assembly of a university or college to mark an occasion such as the start of an academic term or the conferral of degrees. The event may be attended by the university’s leadership, faculty, graduates, and guests, and may include processions and speeches. In some institutions, convocation also refers to the body comprised of graduates or alumni with certain governance or voting rights; in others, the term is used for the formal opening of the academic year. It is distinct from commencement in places where both terms are used; commencement often emphasizes degree conferral, while convocation emphasizes ceremony and community.

In ecclesiastical usage, a convocation is a formal meeting of clergy or a governing assembly within a church, such as a diocese or province. In some Anglican traditions, convocations function as legislative or constitutional bodies within the church structure.

Other uses include general calls to assemble for a council or synod. The word remains common in formal, ceremonial, or administrative contexts, though its precise meaning varies by institution and tradition.