GRADUANDS Meaning and
Definition
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The term "graduands" refers to individuals who are about to receive an academic degree or diploma, having completed the requirements for graduation but not yet officially graduated. The word is primarily used in the context of higher education and specifically refers to students in their final stages of study.
Graduands are students who have successfully fulfilled all the academic obligations, such as completing the required courses, passing examinations, and meeting any other prerequisites specified by their educational institution. They have reached the final stage of their academic journey and are preparing to receive their degree or diploma at a graduation ceremony.
The term "graduands" is commonly used to distinguish students who have completed their coursework from those who have already been officially conferred with their degrees. Once the graduation ceremony takes place and the degrees are conferred, these individuals will then be referred to as "graduates." Until that moment, they are considered graduands.
During the graduation ceremony, graduands typically wear academic regalia, such as gowns, hoods, or caps, as per the traditions and customs of their educational institution. They are formally recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments, and their names may be read aloud as they walk across the stage to receive their degrees.
In summary, graduands are students who have successfully completed the requirements for graduation but have not yet formally received their degrees or diplomas.
Etymology of GRADUANDS
The word "graduand" is derived from the verb "graduate" followed by the suffix "-and".
The term "graduate" comes from the Latin word "gradus", which means "step" or "degree". In the late 15th century, it was used in English to indicate the action of taking a degree at a university, and later, it evolved to refer to the recipient of a degree.
The suffix "-and" is added to verbs to indicate someone who is engaged in the action described by the verb. In this case, the graduate is the one who is graduating or in the process of completing their degree. Thus, the term "graduand" refers to a person who is about to graduate or is in the process of becoming a graduate.
