JMU Commencement

It is our hope to be able to hold December Commencements in 2020.  We will continue to base decisions on the current state of the pandemic, and to follow the guidance from the Governor of Virginia and the Virginia Department of Health at that time.  We will keep this website updated as we get closer to the end of the semester.

December Commencement Schedule

Friday, December 18th - 7:00 p.m. - The Graduate School Ceremony
Saturday, December 19th - 10:00 a.m. - Undergraduate Ceremony

JMU Further Postpones On-Campus Commencement Ceremony for Class of 2020

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison University had hoped to host special on-campus commencement ceremonies August 7-8 to recognize and honor the class of 2020. After consulting with health officials regarding the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in compliance with Executive Order #67 prohibiting in-person public gatherings of more than 250 people (indoors or outdoors), the university has decided to further postpone these on-campus ceremonies.

The safety and health of graduates, their families and friends, and everyone in the JMU community continues to be the university’s guiding principle as administrators continue to make decisions based on the best information available. JMU is determined to host in-person ceremonies to celebrate the extraordinary and resilient Class of 2020; however, given the many uncertainties, the university will not be announcing a new date at this time.

The JMU Class of 2020 was officially conferred in a virtual ceremony in May and received a special gift in the mail from the university. The Class of 2020 consists of 4,508 students. The top three undergraduate majors are health sciences, interdisciplinary liberal studies and psychology. The top three graduate programs are education fifth year format (master of arts in teaching), master of education in special education and master’s degree in accounting.

For the latest news from JMU, please visit www.jmu.edu.

Media contact: Caitlyn Read, readcl@jmu.edu.

May 2021 Commencement

May 6th - 8th
Ceremony locations and details are still being confirmed