JMU Commencement-Graduation Specifics

Specifics for the Graduating Students

Master's, Ed.S. and Doctoral Candidates

Make certain that you have completed the items listed on the Graduation Checklist. Check to make sure that you have applied to graduate. Please check your "to do" list in e-campus to make sure the graduation application item has disappeared from the list.

Rehearsal
Rehearsal for May commencement will take place Friday, May 6 in the Convocation Center. Rehearsal for doctoral candidates and advisers is at 11:00 a.m. and is REQUIRED; rehearsal for all other Masters and Ed.S. candidates is at 11:30 a.m. and is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. It is ESSENTIAL that graduate students are familiar with the hooding instructions so that the ceremony will flow smoothly, so please read the e-mail sent to you with hooding instructions and attend the practice.

Hooding for all graduate students

All graduate students will be hooded at the Graduate School ceremony on Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

Dress
Commencement is a formal ceremony and dress should reflect this. Please refrain from wearing clothing such as flip-flops, sneakers or jeans. Business attire is considered appropriate. Consideration should be made when selecting footwear. Significant walking may be required. In addition, significant amounts of standing are possible.

Processional
You must be in the processional line by 6:30 on the evening of commencement.

They will be guided to their seats in the Convocation Center by the junior marshals.

Upon reaching your row, please move quickly into it and to your chair to prevent the backing up of the line. Be seated until the faculty procession begins. When the faculty procession begins, please stand and remain standing until the platform party has been seated on the stage.

Decorum
A traditional academic ritual, participants must wear academic regalia. This means: no signs, no bottles, no beach balls, no balloons, no cans, no drugs, and no alcohol. Graduates choosing not to abide by these rules will not be allowed in the Convocation Center or will be escorted from the ceremony.

Residence Halls Closing
Residence halls will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6 for undergraduates. Graduates may stay until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 7.

Dining Services
On Friday, May 6, Dining Services closes at 2 p.m. for undergraduates. Dining services closes and spring meal plans end at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7 for graduates.