Information for Families & Guests

We look forward to the arrival of families and guests in May to celebrate our graduates upon their Commencement! Read on for information to assist you with your planning.

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Stay Up to Date Want to stay up to date? Sign-up for updates here. We recommend that students and their families/supporters sign up to receive texts and emails for updates concerning weather plan, schedule changes, and emergency notifications. Like our Facebook page here! Download the W&M Mobile app and tap W&M Grad (content available in early May) Need information or have questions? Graduating students will automatically receive email announcements/instructions beginning in the fall and continuing to the days before Commencement. All emails are sent to the student's W&M account. Commencement Schedule and General Information: [[studentaffairs, Office of Student Affairs]] 757-221-1236 [[commencement, W&M Commencement Planning Team]] Office of University Events 757-221-1338 Regalia and General Graduation Merchandise: [[wmcloth, W&M Spirit Shop & Bookstore]] 757-221-1651
Ticketing Policy Ticket Registration Process: Class of 2025 graduates will have an opportunity to request tickets during the Commencement registration period (February 21 - March 21). Graduating students will receive an email in February with the registration link. Each graduate may initially request up to five (5) 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 notify requestors in mid-April if they will receive extra tickets. IMPORTANT Inclement Weather Statement: In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to Kaplan Arena. Due to limited seating capacity inside Kaplan, graduates will only receive three (3) guest tickets to the ceremony, regardless of requests for additional tickets. These three (3) are considered "All Weather Access." If a student requested three (3) or less guest tickets during the registration period, whatever number they requested will be considered "All Weather Access." If a student requested four (4) or more guest tickets during the registration period, only the first three (3) will be considered "All Weather Access." During an Inclement Weather Plan, guests/supporters must present a ticket reading "All Weather Access" in order to be admitted into the Arena. No exceptions will be made. Inclement Weather Plan will be announced as early as can be determined by Ceremony Staff, but no later than the Thursday evening before the ceremony. Families/Supporters unable to attend the ceremony in Kaplan due to this restriction will be able to watch the ceremony via livestream here. Ticket Distribution: Tickets are electronic and will be emailed to graduates in mid-May. They must then forward the tickets to their guests so that they may either print them out or display them on their phone when entering the stadium/arena. If using a phone everyone should have the tickets open and ready for scanning when they reach the entry gate. Each ticket will on scan once, so that electronic tickets may not be duplicated. Children aged 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 Recommended parking for department ceremonies will be provided. For those without limited mobility, we recommend parking as close as possible to your final ceremony location for the day, in order to avoid traffic delays which tend to follow immediately after 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). Please see the Colleges Accessibility Parking Site to review regulations, requirements, and to see a map of recommended parking locations. 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 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 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Prohibited Items & Clear-Bag Policy Due to the expected number of guests, a clear-bag policy will be in effect for the Main Commencement Ceremony that regulates the size and type of bag that may be brought into the ceremony venue. Clear bags fitting these regulations are available for purchase in the Spirit Shop Bookstore. Bags that are allowed include: Clear tote bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC that do not exceed 24″ x 12″ x 24″ One-gallon clear plastic zip-style bags Small purses or clutch bags that do not exceed 6.5″ x 4.5" Medical or diaper bags – diaper bags must be accompanied by a child Bags that are not permitted include: Backpacks Printed or tinted plastic bags Cinch or drawstring bags Fanny packs Camera or binocular cases Large purses or bags Additional prohibited items include: Outside food & drinks (except for factory sealed non-alcoholic beverages, no larger than one liter; juice boxes, factory sealed infant snacks, and baby food). Coolers/Ice chests/Containers Chairbacks with armrests Use of any tobacco products including E-cigarettes and vapor apparatuses Illegal Substances Balls/Frisbees Umbrellas Pets Signs larger than 24" x 36" Artificial noisemakers Laser pointers Use of drones Cameras with a lens greater than 4" Laptop computers Firearms and other weapons Anything deemed unsafe by police or event staff Regulation and Implementation: No re-entry to facility Clear bags are required. For more information click here. As a condition for admission, all patrons understand and agree to reasonable inspection of their person and possessions by representatives of the institution. Patrons engaging in disorderly conduct or interfering with the activity or refusing inspection or to dispose of prohibited items will be denied attendance. The foregoing is without prejudice to any other right or remedy to the institution.
Entrances Main Commencement ceremony - Friday, May 16, 2025 Zable Stadium (pdf) Kaplan Arena (pdf) (indoor severe weather plan) Important Weather Plan Information In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to Kaplan Arena. Due to limited seating capacity inside Kaplan, graduates will only receive three (3) guest tickets to the ceremony, regardless of requests for additional tickets. Inclement Weather Plan will be announced as early as can be determined by Ceremony Staff, but no later than the Thursday evening before the ceremony. No exceptions will be made. Families/Supporters unable to attend the ceremony in Kaplan due to this restriction will be able to watch the ceremony via livestream here.
Seating Seating for guests is General Admission Zable seating (pdf) Kaplan seating (pdf) (Inclement Weather Plan only) 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 the Main Ceremony and others upon request. Guests requiring live ASL interpretation will receive a vehicle access pass in order to drop off at the access point. Students must request ASL interpreters from their department heads for their individual degree ceremonies. 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 Click here to view the full ceremony schedule. The main ceremony on Friday will last approximately two hours from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Ceremony Livestream A livestream of the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 will be available by following the link here. (Will be posted before the ceremony begins.)
Lodging (Special Rates) Some local hotels, inns, and B&B's offer special discounts to W&M guests and visitors. Click here to go to the W&M Campus Travel website.
Announcements & Graduation Merchandise Announcements Personalized Announcements Packages may be ordered online through Jostens. Mini Package - $92.95 Basic Package - $130.20 Essential Package - $163.50 Deluxe Package - $293.70 (Most Popular) Merchandise Diploma frames, class rings, and other graduation merchandise are available for purchase through the Spirit Shop & Bookstore, here.
Flowers and Mementos for Your Grad Flowers are available for pre-purchase online. All online orders will be available for pickup inside the stadium after the gates open for the main ceremony. To retrieve your order on Friday evening, please stop by the flower vendor booth next to the Tribe Spirit Store concession stand. The flower vendor booth will be located on the Richmond Road & Alumni House corner inside the stadium. Flowers will be available for pick up Friday from 5:30 pm through the end of the ceremony. To retrieve your orders on Saturday, please stop by the flower vendor booth located next to the TribeTrailer Stand at the Sadler Terrace. Flowers will be available for pick up from 8am - 7pm on Saturday.

Need information or have questions?

Graduating students will automatically receive email announcements/instructions beginning in the fall and continuing to the days before Commencement. All emails are sent to the student's W&M account.