Information for Families & Guests

Stay Up to Date

Families may sign-up to receive email updates leading up to Commencement Weekend. We will use that information to also keep you updated on any changes or severe weather during Commencement weekend.

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• Download the W&M Mobile app and select W&M Grad for easy access to the schedule, parking, information about the main ceremony and more (available late April through Commencement Weekend).

Need information or have questions?

Commencement Schedule and General Information

Office of Student Affairs
757-221-1236
[[commencement, Commencement Planning Team]]

Regalia and General Graduation Merchandise

W&M Spirit Shop & Bookstore
757-221-1669

Tickets

Class of 2023 graduates will have an opportunity to request tickets during the Commencement registration period (February 24 - March 24). Graduating students received an email in February with the link to register and request tickets. Only graduating students may request tickets. Each graduate may initially request up to 6 guest tickets for the ceremony in Zable stadium. Graduates will also be able to indicate if they would like to request any additional tickets that may be available after registration has ended. We will confirm via email with all students who registered how many tickets they will receive.

Outdoor-Only vs. All-Weather Tickets

In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to Kaplan Arena. Due to limited seating capacity inside Kaplan, graduates will receive fewer guest tickets for the inside location. Only guests presenting all-weather tickets (valid in both Zable & Kaplan) will be permitted to enter Kaplan Arena. Guests with "outdoor only (Zable)" tickets will not be permitted to enter Kaplan Arena and are encouraged to view the ceremony via livestream.

Tickets are Electronic & Distributed to Graduates

Tickets are electronic and will be emailed to graduating students in mid-May. Graduates are responsible for sharing tickets with their guests. Guests may display tickets on their phone or print out their tickets to be scanned at the entry gate. If using a phone, please have the tickets open and ready for scanning when you reach the entry gate. Each ticket scans only once, so electronic tickets may not be duplicated. Children 2 and younger do not require a ticket.

Parking

• Parking is on a first come, first served basis. Allow plenty of time and please be very aware of pedestrians.
• The following parking lots are recommended for the main ceremonies:
  • Kaplan Arena Parking Lot
  • Compton Parking Lot
  • Parking Deck on Ukrop Way
• Find recommended parking for department ceremonies.
• For those without limited mobility, we recommend parking as close to your final ceremony location for the day as possible, in order to avoid traffic delays immediately following each ceremony.
• Guests with limited mobility who display either an ADA tag or limited mobility access pass (provided electronically to the graduating student) will be permitted to drop off at the limited mobility entrance to Zable Stadium (good weather) or Kaplan Arena (weather plan).
  • The driver will then be directed to park as close as possible to the stadium or arena.
  • Due to high traffic volume, there may not be enough spaces to park immediately adjacent to the stadium or Arena.
  • Our Parking Services staff will do their best to direct you to the most convenient lot.
  • For additional convenience, there will also be limited mobility golf cart shuttles available from certain parking areas throughout campus.
• Stadium Drive Parking Lot will be closed to general parking beginning at noon on Friday for main ceremony low mobility parking. Non handicap tagged vehicles are expected to clear the lot by 2:00 p.m.
• Inclement Weather Only: If the main ceremony is moved indoors to Kaplan Arena, but the student Walk Across Campus (pdf) is able to safely take place, traffic along Ukrop Way will be significantly slowed for up to 30 minutes beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m. Friday. 

Prohibited Items for Zable Stadium and Kaplan Arena

The prohibited items list is for the enjoyment and safety of Commencement guests. This list is subject to change as conditions warrant. 

• Backpacks (exceptions: diaper bags, string backpacks)
• Bags measuring larger than 1’ x 1’ x 1’
• Outside food & drink (except for factory sealed non-alcoholic beverages, no larger than one liter; juice boxes, factory sealed infant snacks, and baby food). 
• Camera tripods / monopods / selfie-sticks
• Firearms and other weapons
• Laptop computers
• Alcohol, use of any tobacco products, or illegal substances
• E-cigarettes and vapor apparatuses
• Noisemakers, laser pointers, balls, frisbees, inflatable objects
• Coolers, ice chests
• Pets
• Strollers (there will be a stroller parking tent near the entrance)
• Umbrellas
• Anything deemed unsafe by police or event staff

Entrances

Main Commencement ceremony - Friday, May 19

• Zable Stadium (pdf) 
• Kaplan Arena (pdf) (indoor severe weather plan)

Important Weather Plan Information

Only guests presenting all-weather tickets (valid in both Zable & Kaplan) will be permitted to enter Kaplan Arena in the event of severe weather. Due to limited seating capacity in Kaplan Arena, guests presenting an "outdoor only (Zable)" ticket will not be allowed entry inside Kaplan Arena and are encouraged to view the ceremony via livestream.

Seating

• Seating for guests is General Admission
  • Zable seating (pdf) 
  • Kaplan seating (pdf) (indoor severe weather plan)
• Children 2 and younger do not require a ticket
• Graduates will be seated on the stadium or arena floor
• Graduates participating in the ceremony do not require a ticket.

Accessibility Accommodations

• Wheelchair/limited mobility guests with a vehicle access pass or ADA tags will be able to drop-off at an access point (pdf) adjacent to the ceremony location
• Guests who can climb some steps will be ushered to lower rows of seating we have reserved and may sit with one companion.
• Guests who cannot climb stairs will be ushered to the limited mobility seating area on the floor and may sit with one companion.
• Guests in wheelchairs or scooters will be ushered to the limited mobility seating area on the floor and may sit with one companion.
• We will have American Sign Language interpreters at each ceremony. Guests requiring live ASL interpretation will receive a vehicle access pass in order to drop off at the access point.
• Live closed captioning will be available on the ceremony livestream.
• Diagrams showing locations of wheelchair and limited mobility seating areas:
  • Zable seating (pdf)
  • Kaplan seating (pdf) (indoor severe weather plan)

Ceremony Timeline

The ceremony begins with the student processional entering the arena.

• The main ceremony on Friday will last approximately two hours.

Other Viewing Options

Live-streaming of the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023 will be available.

Lodging (Special Rates)

Some area hotels and B&B's offer discounts to W&M guests and visitors. 

Announcements & Graduation Merchandise

Announcements

• Generic announcements are available in-store and online from the Spirit Shop & Bookstore
• Personalized announcements may be ordered online through Jostens.
  • Personalized announcement packages prices TBD (2022 packages started at $83.10)

Merchandise

• Diploma frames, class rings, and other graduation merchandise are available for purchase through the Spirit Shop & Bookstore 

Flowers for Your Grad

Flowers are available for pre-purchase online. All online orders will be available for pickup on site the day of the graduation.  To retrieve your order on Friday evening, please stop by the flower vendor booth located conveniently outside the stadium at the flagpoles before the ceremony begins. Flowers will be available Friday from 2pm-10pm. 

 To retrieve your orders on Saturday, please stop by the flower vendor booth located next to the TribeTrailer at Kaplan or the Sadler Terrace. Flowers will be available for pick up from 5am-7pm on Saturday.