JMU Commencement

Dear December Graduates:

We are so excited to celebrate your accomplishments at the commencement exercises in December. We are so very proud of all that you have achieved and hope that this will be a special occasion for you and your loved ones.

Due to the size of the graduating class and the limited space in the Convocation Center, university safety procedures require that the commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at 10 a.m. be a ticketed event. Each graduating student will receive six (6) tickets to distribute among your friends and family. Students will be able to request tickets using their JMU e-ID beginning Nov. 6, 2019. All seating in the Convocation Center will be done on a first come, first serve basis and graduates will not require a ticket. An email will be sent to your JMU email account notifying you when tickets are able to be reserved. For those students who do not need six tickets, we ask that you only reserve what you need. Unclaimed tickets will be made available to those who need additional tickets on or around Dec. 9, 2019.

We understand that requiring tickets may be inconvenient for many of you with larger parties who wish to attend the ceremony. Unfortunately, the size of the graduating class is a fluid number through much of the semester leading up to commencement. When the size of the graduating class begins to reach a point where we are approaching the safe capacity of the venue, we must implement a ticketing plan. This is not the first time we’ve had to do this, nor will it be the last. Should the need arise, we will open an overflow venue where family and friends can watch nearby via livestream.

Thank you for your understanding. For more detailed information regarding dates of ticketing opportunities, please see the commencement website at www.jmu.edu/commencement. If you have any specific questions, please email jmugrad@jmu.edu.

How the ticketing process works:

1. Only the graduate can order tickets, maximum of six (6) from the JMU Ticket office.
2. Tickets will need to either be printed them at home (to distribute to friends/family) OR kept on a mobile device to show at the door. They can be saved to Apple Wallet or Android equivalent. They should be downloaded prior to arriving at the Convo. since WiFi is spotty and often unreliable.
3. The tickets will bear “rules” of use (no copying, etc.)
4. Tickets will have unique bar codes – they will be general seating.
5. The tickets will be scanned at the doors of the Convo. If someone has inappropriately shared/copied the ticket, they will not be admitted in, but sent to the Ticket Office where they will verify the accuracy. 

The Process and Timeline:

1. November 6: Electronic email sent to graduates from JMU Grad advising that they may now submit their ticket request - for max of six (6)
2. November 6 - December 8: Grads may request tickets (ongoing)
3. December 5: Re-issue email urging grads to request their allotment of tickets if they have not yet done so, before additional quantity allowed for others on December 9
4. December 9: Promote additional ticket availability – probably another 2 or 4 tickets
5. Friday, December 13 at 12 noon: Close off all ticketing!
6. There will be an “unused ticket return” system in place

Information to share with family and friends:

1. Doors at the Convo. will open at 8:30 a.m.
2. Entire group should arrive together at Convo. – no saving of seats permitted inside the Convo.
3. No re-entry permitted
4. Upon entering the Convo., all guests and graduates must go to their seats (no lingering in the concourse)

Friday, December 13th 10:00 a.m. Nursing Convocation in Wilson Hall Auditorium

Friday, December 13th 12:00-2:00 p.m. Honors Medallion Ceremony in Festival Center, Highlands Room 

Friday, December 13th 2:00 p.m. Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony in Memorial Hall, Room 6110

Friday, December 13th 7:00 p.m. The Graduate School Ceremony in Convocation Center

Saturday, December 14th 10:00 a.m. Undergraduate Ceremony in Convocation Center

 Thursday, May 7th

The Graduate School - 7:00 p.m. - Convocation Center

Friday, May 8th

Nursing Convocation - 9:00 a.m. - Convocation Center

Honors College Medallion Ceremony - 12:00 p.m. - Festival Ballroom

University Ceremony - 3:00 p.m. - Bridgeforth Stadium

College of Business - 6:00 p.m. - Bridgeforth Stadium

College of Education and University Studies - 6:00 p.m. - Convocation Center

College of Science and Mathematics - 6:00 p.m. - Alumni Centennial Park

Saturday, May 9th

College of Arts and Letters - 9:00 a.m. -  The Quad

College of Health and Behavioral Studies - 9:00 a.m. - Bridgeforth Stadium

College of Integrated Science and Engineering - 9:00 a.m. - Alumni Centennial Park

College of Visual and Performing Arts - 9:00 a.m. - Convocation Center

Army ROTC Commissioning - 2:00 p.m. - Memorial Hall Auditorium 

Air Force ROTC Commissioning - TBD

December 2020 Commencement

December 18th and 19th 

May 2021

May 6th - 8th

Ceremony locations and details are still being confirmed