Frequently Asked Questions

• Where can I get a hotel reservation for Commencement weekend and how early should I make the reservation?
• Who is eligible to participate in the May Commencement ceremony?
• What is the appropriate dress for the weekend's events?
• What happens to outside events if it rains?
• What time do students have to be out of the residence halls?
• What is the significance of the colors on academic gowns and hoods?

Schedule & Tickets FAQ

Diplomas, Awards & Honors FAQ

Do you have another question? Contact the [[studentaffairs, Office of Student Affairs]] by email or phone (757-221-1236).

Where can I get a hotel reservation for Commencement weekend and how early should I make the reservation?

We recommend that you make hotel reservations as early as possible - some of the more popular hotels are full a year in advance for Commencement Weekend. For more information on accommodations in the Williamsburg Area, contact the Williamsburg Hotel and Motel Association at 1-800-999-4485.

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Who is eligible to particiapte in the May Commencement ceremony?

The College of William and Mary has only one formal Commencement ceremony in the spring of each year. The following degree candidates are automatically included in the May Commencement ceremony:

• Undergraduates who completed or will complete their degree requirements in January, May, or August of this year
• MBA and MA Ed (C&I) graduate students who completed or will complete their degree requirements in January, May, or August of this year
• Graduate students in all other programs who completed or will complete their degree requirements in August of last year, or January or May of this year

Students in these groups are eligible to pick up tickets and their names will be included in the formal Commencement program. Those who completed degrees in the August or January preceding this year's Commencement are sent specific information in the spring about securing tickets and notifying their departments about their plans to be on campus for the May ceremonies.

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What is the appropriate dress for the weekend's events?

Family members and guests

• Dress comfortably for the weekend, taking the weather conditions into account.  There are no formal expectations for what guests should wear during the weekend.
• Most guests tend to dress up more (what might be worn to a religious service, for example) for the Baccalaureate Service and the main Commencement ceremony.
• The air conditioning will be on in William and Mary Hall and the arena can get quite chilly!  We recommend that you dress in layers or bring a sweater.

Graduating students

• With the exception of the officers of the Senior Class, academic regalia is not worn to the Baccalaureate Service.
• Caps and gowns (but NOT hoods) should be worn to the Candlelight Ceremony at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night in the Wren Yard.
• Caps, gowns and hoods should be worn for the "Walk Across Campus" on Sunday in the Wren Yard and, of course, at Commencement itself. The tassel is worn on the right side of the mortar board (cap) until you are awarded your degree.
• Mortar boards (caps) may not have objects or inappropriate messages attached.
• Graduates may want to dress in layers for events in William and Mary Hall in case the arena is uncomfortably cool.

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What happens to outside events if it rains?

If a Commencement weekend event might be affected by inclement weather, a rain plan location (or a notice of cancellation) will be listed in the official schedule of events. Should we be required to implement any of our rain plans for the weekend, an announcement to that effect will be left on the Special Events Hotline, 757-221-3868.

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What time do students have to be out of the residence halls?

Graduating seniors must turn in their residence hall keys by 12:00 noon on the Monday following Commencement. If you have any additional questions about moving out of the halls, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 757-221-4314.

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What is the significance of the colors on academic gowns and hoods?

The ceremonial robes worn in the Academic Procession speak by their shapes and their colors of the breadth and intricate structure of the academic world. Against the basic black of caps and gowns, the colors of diverse universities and academic fields stand in relief. The gowns themselves are of different shapes - note especially the sleeves - for bachelors, masters and doctors. The typical American cap is flat, with a tassel draped over its front edge, but some universities in the United States use caps which are softly peaked or rounded and stiff. Hoods, too, differ in shape for each of the traditional degrees. The lining of the hood announces by its color the university conferring the degree - note the green, gold and silver of William and Mary. The edge of the hood as well as the chevrons and piping of the gown mark the field of study according to the following color scheme. Those fields italicized below reflect degrees which will be conferred at the College's Commencement ceremony.