Information for Graduating Students

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Registration & Tickets 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. Students 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.
Main Ceremony Instructions Ceremony Date: Friday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. Ceremony Location: Zable Stadium Inclement Weather Location: Kaplan Arena What you may bring: Phone Camera (not in a bag, use of flash is not permitted) Only Registered Service Animals will be permitted to attend Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and companion animals are not permitted What you MAY NOT bring: Bags of any kind (handbags, purses, backpack, fanny packs, etc.) Please leave this in your car/room or with your guests Remember, there is a clear-bag policy in effect for guests. Please make sure your guests review the list of prohibited items for Zable Stadium and Kaplan Arena. Bottles of any kind You will receive a program and a bottle of water at your seat There are refill stations inside the stadium if you need more water Any bottles brought to the ceremony will be confiscated before you are allowed into the stadium/arena. These will not be returned after the ceremony. Umbrellas (even if its raining) Banners, signs, posters, or anything else that could be held up and impede the visibility of those behind you. Weapons or drugs of any kind or anything related to weapon or drug paraphernalia Anything determined not appropriate at the time by Ceremony Staff Dress Code: Full Regalia is required to be worn by graduating students to participate in the ceremony! While we don't have any strict "rules" per se, we do have a strongly recommended dress code: Students must be fully clothed beneath their robes Business casual is recommended, but not required Students should keep in mind that this is a momentous occasion when selecting an outfit Ideally, the outfit should not show beneath the hem of the robe, above the collar, or at the end of the sleeves Students should also keep in mind it will most likely be very hot/humid that day, so natural materials like cotton/linen are recommended Students may require a "dress code" check before entering the stadium to confirm nothing inappropriate is being worn. How it Works: Walk Across Campus: The walk will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m. If you would like to participate in the Walk Across Campus (pdf), gather at the back of the Wren Building (Sunken Garden side) on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The walk will cross the Crim Dell bridge and end at the Sadler Terrace where you will be directed to a line-up location. If the Inclement weather plan is called, the Walk Across Campus will be canceled and you should proceed directly to Kaplan Arena and arrive by 5:30 p.m. Line up: Once you arrive at Zable or Kaplan (severe weather), you will be directed to your line-up location (pdf) by staff volunteers. If you DO NOT plan to participate in the Walk Across Campus, you will need to meet at the Sadler Terrace or Kaplan Arena (severe weather) by 5:15 p.m. You will receive further instructions about where to be and when. Seating: Degree candidates will be seated on the field of Zable (pdf) or, in the case of severe weather, on the floor/stands of Kaplan (pdf). Graduate degree candidates will sit with their schools. Bachelor's candidates are not required to sit with their major. Diplomas: Diplomas will be mailed in the weeks following degree conferral to the mailing address on record, or the dedicated diploma mailing address provided. Degree candidates do not cross the stage or have their names read at Friday evening's ceremony. On Saturday, at your departmental event, you will cross the stage, have your name read, and receive a ceremonial diploma. Recessional: Please remain at your seats until the official party and faculty have recessed out of the stadium or arena.
How to Purchase or Rent Regalia Regalia is required for both the Main Ceremony and the departmental degree ceremonies. To Purchase or Rent: Online ordering is available now via the W&M/Oak Hall Website for Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral Regalia. Deadline for Bachelors/Masters online purchases is Sunday, April 13th, 2025! Deadline for custom Doctoral Robe online purchases is Friday, March 7th, 2025! Deadline to rent a Doctoral Robe online is Sunday, March 30th, 2025! After April 13th, 2025, Bachelors/Masters regalia can only be purchased in person at the W&M Spirit Shop & Bookstore. Please allow two (2) weeks for all online orders to ship. Shipping times may vary based on location and date of order. Both Bachelor and Masters regalia will be available for purchase during the W&M Bookstore Grad Fair on March 18th and 19th, 2025. The School of Law will hold its own Law School Grad Fair on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025. Additional tax and shipping charges will apply to all online orders. The W&M Spirit Shop & Bookstore is your contact for all regalia and graduation merchandise. Please email [[wmcloth]] with any questions. Please check out the W&M Spirit Shop & Bookstore social media pages for additional information: Spirit Shop & Bookstore Facebook Spirit Shop & Bookstore Instagram Spirit Shop & Bookstore X
Regalia Pricing - Bachelor & Masters (Prices updated as of January 2025) Online ordering is available now via the W&M/Oak Hall Website for Bachelors and Masters Regalia. Full Sets Bachelor set (cap, gown, hood, & tassel) — $118.96 (+tax/shipping) Masters set (cap, gown, hood, & tassel) — $122.96 (+tax/shipping) Partial Sets and Individual Pieces Bachelors Cap, Gown, and Tassel (no hood) — $72.98 (+tax/shipping) Masters Cap, Gown, and Tassel (no hood) — $71.98 (+tax/shipping) Bachelors Hood Only — $45.98 (+tax/shipping) Masters Hood Only — $50.98 (+tax/shipping) Important Bachelor/Masters Regalia Information Deadline for Bachelors/Masters online purchases is Sunday, April 13th, 2025! Undergraduate and Masters Degree regalia are available for purchase only - there is no rental option! You can purchase regalia by the set (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) or you may order the individual pieces separately. See the list above. Purchase online via the Oak Hall website no later than Sunday, April 13th, 2025. Shipping charges apply to online orders. Once the online ordering window has closed, regalia may be purchased ONLY at the Spirit Shop & Bookstore. If purchased on the Oak Hall website, the shipping fee is non-refundable. Questions about your Order? Contact shop manager Brian Adler at wmcloth@wm.edu or 757-221-1651, or check out the shops social media channels for answers to common questions: Spirit Shop & Bookstore Facebook Spirit Shop & Bookstore Instagram Spirit Shop & Bookstore X
Regalia Pricing - Doctoral (Prices updated as of January 2025) Doctoral Regalia is for Ph.D., J.D., L.L.M., and Ed.D. degree candidates only! Online purchase/rental ordering is available now via the W&M/Oak Hall Website for Doctoral Regalia. Note: W&M Doctoral Regalia does not include a hood as the color of your Degree will be showcased on the sleeves of your gown. Colors follow the same guidelines as hoods, see color chart here. Doctoral Regalia - Rental Option Rental Pricing (Gown, Tam, Tassel) — $155.98 Rental orders must be placed no later than midnight on Sunday, March 30th. Doctoral Regalia rentals come with a gown, tam (cap), and tassel, You must only return the Doctoral Gown. You may keep the Tam and Tassel as a souvenir. Rental regalia is not eligible for a refund once the order ships. Doctoral Regalia - Purchase Option Custom Purchase Pricing (Gown, Tam, Tassel) — $897.00 (+$19.95 shipping/ $98.67 taxes) Custom purchase orders must be placed no later than midnight on Friday, March 7th, 2025. You will need to provide measurements for custom regalia purchases. Please have a sewing/tailors tape measure handy before starting your order. If you intend to participate in multiple academic events in the next four years or more, it's recommended that you purchase your own regalia to avoid confusion and future deadlines. Order Questions? Contact shop manager Brian Adler at wmcloth@wm.edu or 757-221-1651, or check out the shops social media channels for answers to common questions: Spirit Shop & Bookstore Facebook Spirit Shop & Bookstore Instagram Spirit Shop & Bookstore X
Regalia 101 Bachelors/Masters Regalia consists of a robe, a cap, a tassel, and a hood with colors indicating the graduate's degree. How to wear your hood. Doctoral Regalia consists of a robe, a tam (cap), and a tassel. Stripes on the sleeve of your robe will indicate the graduate's degree. All graduates of any level wanting to participate in the Main or Departmental Commencement Ceremonies must wear the university-approved regalia. Only active duty or retired members of the U.S. armed services will have the option to wear a military uniform appropriate for the occasion at commencement ceremonies. For undergraduates, the tassel is worn on the right side of the mortar board until the degree is awarded, at which time it is moved to the left. This will be done together at the instruction of the College President. For graduate students who have already earned an undergraduate degree, the tassel remains on the left side of the mortar board. Mortar boards may be decorated and custom collegiate stoles may be ordered and worn, so long as they follow the guidelines below which have been approved by Ceremony Staff: Decorations should not exceed the normal dimensions of the flat mortar board (9"x9") or collegiate stole (68"-72" long, 4.5" wide). Decorations/customizations should in no way distract your fellow graduates from enjoying the ceremony. (no lights, sound making devices, or excessively bright colors) Decorations/customizations cannot include hate speech, profanity, or references to drugs, alcohol, or weapons. When caps are thrown, decorations should not threaten the safety of others. Decorations cannot interfere with attaching the tassel to the cap. Ceremony Staff has the right to remove individuals from the Ceremony who have not followed these rules. Dress Code: Full Regalia is required to be worn by graduating students to participate in the ceremony! While we don't have any strict "rules" per se, we do have a strongly recommended dress code: Students must be fully clothed beneath their robes Business casual is recommended, but not required Students should keep in mind that this is a momentous occasion when selecting an outfit Ideally, the outfit should not show beneath the hem of the robe, above the collar, or at the end of the sleeves Students should also keep in mind it will most likely be very hot/humid that day, so natural materials like cotton/linen are recommended Students may require a "dress code" check before entering the stadium to confirm nothing inappropriate is being worn.
When to Wear Regalia Walk Across Campus - Full regalia (gown, hood, cap, tassel) Main Ceremony (Friday evening) - Full regalia (gown, hood, cap, tassel) For undergraduates, the tassel is worn on the right side of the mortar board until the degree is awarded, at which time it is moved to the left. This will be done together at the instruction of the College President. Graduate/Doctoral students wear their tassel on the left side. Departmental ceremony/event - Full regalia (unless otherwise instructed by your department) Candlelight Ceremony - Cap and gown ONLY (no hood) Tassel situated on the right side of the mortar board for undergraduates, and the left side for graduate students *Instructions for wearing your hood
Commencement Traditions Bell Ringing Graduates of the Class of 2025 will have the opportunity to ring the Wren Bell on their last day of classes. When: Friday, April 25 (Graduate Students Only) - 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 2 (Undergraduates & remaining graduate students) - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Guidelines: Line-up will begin outside the courtyard fence (on the Sunken Garden side of the Wren Building). Volunteers will be there to assist. No food or drink is permitted inside the Wren Building. Keep in mind, the entire process can take anywhere from 5-45 minutes, depending on how many students are in line to ring the bell when you arrive. Senior Class Dance Come dance the night away at the traditional senior class dance! When: Wednesday, May 14, 9:00 p.m. - midnight in the Sunken Garden Tent (Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms) Guidelines: Tickets Required Students may bring guests (Ticket(s)Required) Dress Code: Casual to Cocktail Candlelight Ceremony Tradition holds that the graduating class selects one student, one staff, and a member of the faculty to give brief remarks to graduates. The ceremony provides an opportunity for the Class of 2025 to celebrate and reflect on their time at the university. When: Thursday, May 15, 9:30 p.m. (Wren Building) Guidelines: Class of 2025 graduates wear cap and gown (tassel positioned on right side of mortar board).

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.