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Schedule of Events

Class of 2024 Commencement Weekend & Event Traditions

Weather Plans
In the event of light rain, the Walk Across Campus and main ceremony will continue as planned. In the case of severe weather, the Walk Across Campus will be canceled and the main ceremony will be moved to Kaplan Arena for designated guests only. Weather plans for department ceremonies will vary — view the schedule for weather locations.

The Class of 2024 Commencement schedule is also available in the following formats:

Friday, April 26, 2024
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. — Grad Student Bell Ringing

Location: Wren Building

Friday, May 3, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. — Last Day of Class Bell Ringing

Location: Wren Building

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. — Hail & Farewell Pre-Commencement Celebration

Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Brinkley Commons

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. — Senior Class Dance

Location: Sunken Garden Tent
Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake

Thursday, May 16, 2024
12:30 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Programs Graduation Ceremony and Reception

Location: Wren Building, Great Hall

2:00 p.m. — Phi Beta Kappa Initiation and Reception

Location: Sunken Garden Tent
Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

4:30 p.m. — Neuroscience Commencement Reception

Location: Integrated Science Center III, Auditorium Room 1221

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. — ROTC Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium & Lobby

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. — Khatalampay: Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern Ceremony and Reception

Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

9:30 p.m. — Candlelight Ceremony

Location: Wren Building, Yard (CW Side)
Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center 

Friday, May 17, 2024
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. — Lavender Graduation Ceremony

Location: Sunken Garden Tent
Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — Ceremonia Raices: LatinX Graduation Ceremony

Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium

1:00 - 3:30 p.m. — Hulon Willis Alumni Association & Lemon Project Donning of the Kente Ceremony

Location: Sunken Garden Tent
Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center

1:00 p.m. — American Studies - Blow Memorial Hall

Location: Blow Memorial Hall, Grimsley Boardroom 

3:00 p.m. — Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Reception

Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Atrium 

3:00 p.m. — Spiritual Celebration for the Graduates

Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium

3:30 p.m. — School of Business Undergrad Open House

Location: Mason School of Business

3:30 p.m. — Integrative Conservation

Location: Integrated Science Center III,  Auditorium Room 1221

3:30 p.m. — Computational & Applied Mathematics & Statistics 

Location: Comey Recital Hall, Room 142

3:30 p.m. - St Andrews Joint Degree Programme Reception

Location: Alumni House, Leadership Hall & Ukrop Terrace

4:00 p.m. - School of Education Doctoral Cording Ceremony

Location: School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. — Main Ceremony (All Degrees)

Location: Zable Stadium
Weather Location: Kaplan Arena

  • 5:30 p.m. — Gates to Zable Stadium open for guests (tickets required)
  • 6:15 p.m. — Walk Across Campus (Wren Building)
  • 6:45 p.m. — Candidates for degrees line up (Sadler Terrace)
  • 6:50 p.m. — All guests are asked to be seated
  • 7:00 p.m. — Academic procession begins (degree candidates, faculty, and official party enter)
  • Approx. 9:00 p.m. — Ceremony ends
Saturday, May 18, 2024
School & Departmental Ceremonies or Receptions (no tickets required)
9:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
 2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.