2018 Fall Commencement

University Ceremony

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

Procession begins at 10:30 a.m. in Cassell Coliseum. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. and all candidates should be on site by 10 a.m.
(There are no guest limits or ticket requirements for this ceremony.)

Diplomas

Undergraduate diplomas will be mailed to the address provided by the student on Hokie Spa. Be sure to update your diploma address by clicking on Degree Menu, and then Add/Update Diploma Address. Diplomas are mailed approximately twelve weeks after the ceremony. For additional details, contact the Registrar’s Office at 540-231-6252 or visit the website. 

Participation

Associate and bachelor’s candidates planning to participate in the procession should report to Cassell Coliseum on the Beamer Way side of the building. Signs will be posted to direct candidates to their college’s staging area. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. and all candidates should be on site by 10 a.m.

Candidates will be given a card on which to print his or her name as he/she wants it announced while crossing the stage. Just prior to crossing the stage, the candidate will hand it to the person reading names. The card will also be used by the photographer to identify each candidate so that proofs may be mailed or emailed to the correct address.

Faculty participation is encouraged. Please report to Cassell Coliseum by 10:15 a.m. and follow the signs to the staging area.

Guest Seating and Parking

All university parking lots will be open to the public and visitor passes will not be required. However, parking in the immediate vicinity of Cassell Coliseum will be limited. Families and guests are urged to arrive in time to be seated by 10:30 a.m.

Graduate School Ceremony

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

Procession begins at 2:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum (There are no guest limits or ticket requirements for this ceremony.)

Master’s degrees, certificates, education specialist, and doctoral degrees will be conferred at the Graduate School ceremony. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours.

Diplomas

Doctoral diplomas are presented at the fall ceremony. Master’s degree, certificate, and education specialist diplomas are mailed in February to the address candidates are asked to provide to the Graduate School.

Participation

All graduate degree candidates must confirm their plans to attend Commencement by December 1, 2018. Questions pertaining to eligibility to participate should be directed to the Graduate School at 540-231-8636. For complete details, you may visit the Graduate School’s website.

All graduate degree candidates should report to Cassell Coliseum on the Beamer Way side of the building. Signs will be posted to direct candidates to their specific staging area. Check-in begins at 1:15 p.m. and all candidates should be on site by 2:15 p.m.

Doctoral candidates who will have met all requirements for graduation by December 7, 2018, are eligible to participate in Commencement.

Major professors who will be participating in the hooding ceremony should report to the ground level of Cassell Coliseum by 2:15 p.m. Please check in upon arrival so that your name may be read as you hood your student.

Faculty participation is encouraged. Please report to Cassell Coliseum by 2:15 p.m. and follow the signs to the staging area.

Guest Seating and Parking

All university parking lots will be open to the public and visitor passes will not be required. However, parking in the immediate vicinity of Cassell Coliseum will be limited. Families and guests are urged to arrive in time to be seated by 2:30 p.m.