, for a congregation At the
University of Cambridge, the term normally refers to congregations (meetings) of the
Regent House, the governing body of the university. Historically, such meetings voted on many matters –
Samuel Pepys records attending a congregation on 10 October 1662 to elect various officers of the university. Congregations are now principally held to confer degrees, that is, as
graduation ceremonies. At the
University of Oxford, congregation is the sovereign governing body of the university, rather than the meeting of that body. It has over 5,000 members, including all university academic staff as well as other senior university staff and members of college governing bodies. Its powers include amending the university's statutes and regulations, conferring degrees, electing various university officers and approving the appointment of the vice-chancellor. At
Durham University, degrees have been awarded at congregations of the university since 1938; prior to this they were conferred at meetings of
convocation, the assembly of the university's members. In addition to graduation ceremonies, the term is used for the ceremonial assembly of the university for the installation of the
chancellor of the university. Congregation is also used as the name of the graduation ceremony at other universities in England, including the
University of Birmingham, the
University of Warwick, the
University of Kent,
Northumbria University and
Newcastle University. In Canada, the term is also used by the
University of British Columbia. In Hong Kong, it is used by the
University of Hong Kong and
Hong Kong Metropolitan University. ==See also==