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. In addition, you may want to review the letter from the Office of the Registrar again. You can check whether or not you have submitted your application for graduation by going here.

Rehearsal
There is no rehearsal for May commencement EXCEPT for doctoral candidates and flag bearers. However, it is ESSENTIAL that graduate students are familiar with the hooding instructions so that the ceremony will flow smoothly. Please read the e-mail sent to you with hooding instructions.

Hooding Rehearsal for Doctoral Candidates and Dissertation Directors

The hooding rehearsal for Doctoral candidates and their dissertation directors will be at the stadium on Friday, May 2, at 3:00 p.m. PLEASE BRING YOUR HOOD TO THIS PRACTICE. Practice is CRUCIAL for doctoral candidates. All Doctoral candidates will be hooded at the main Commencement ceremonies at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday, May 3, at 8:30 a.m.

Hooding for Master's and Ed.S. Candidates

Master's and Ed.S. candidates will be hooded at the individual College ceremonies on Saturday, May 3, EXCEPT for students from the College of Education. The College of Education will hold its college ceremonies in Godwin Hall Friday, May 2, at 6:00 p.m.

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, however, weather considerations should be made as the ceremony is outdoors. Also, consideration should be made when selecting footwear. The ceremonies take place all across campus and significant walking may be required. In addition, significant amounts of standing are possible.

Processional
You must be in the processional line by 8:00 on the morning of commencement.

Lines for the Graduate School will form at designated points on the Godwin Hall side of the field and enter the stadium through the south gate. See map for details.

They will be guided to their seats in the Stadium 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 stadium or will be escorted from the ceremony.

Residence Halls Closing
Residence halls will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2 for undergraduates. Graduating seniors may stay until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.

Dining Services
On Friday, May 2, Dining Services closes at 2 p.m. for undergraduates. Dining services closes and spring meal plans end at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3 for graduating seniors.