Winter Commencement Newsletter

You will receive a link via email from Tassel in the next few weeks.

The email might resemble spam, but it is sent by the Tassel system that we use to manage name displays for commencement. Registering for commencement is critical for our operations and for your graduate recognition on the stage. The system will confirm your attendance for commencement, verify your name phonetically for our commencement reader, and give you the opportunity to record the pronunciation of your name. In this registration, we will also collect accessibility needs of the graduate. Please do not submit guest accessibility needs in this registration. For questions about accessibility for guests, please visit our website.

Timeline:

• Mid-October - Registration opens
• October 19th and November 6th - Registration reminders will be sent via email
• November 16th - Final reminder email to register
• November 17th - Registration will close at midnight

Winter Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, December 19th at 10:00 a.m.
Atlantic Union Bank Center

The 2026 Winter Commencement will be a combined ceremony for both undergraduate and graduate students. This is a ticketed event. Each graduate may reserve up to six (6) tickets for family and friends. 

The ceremony will include all the traditional pomp and circumstance, with live music, a guest speaker, and the procession of graduates across the stage as their names are read aloud. The commencement speaker will be announced soon!

Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Early entry will not be permitted.

Senior Compass is a non-credit Canvas course all undergraduate students must complete the semester leading up to graduation. Once you apply to graduate, the Senior Compass Hold will be placed on your account automatically at the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate; the hold will be removed once the two Senior Compass requirements are completed.

Email SeniorCompass@jmu.edu or visit jmu.edu/SeniorCompass for more information.

Oct. 20 - Ticketing will open at noon.
Graduates will receive an email from JMUGrad advising that graduates may submit their request - max of six (6) tickets. This message will have details about how to reserve your tickets along with a link for where to do so. The JMU Athletic Ticketing Office will be present at Commencement Expo to answer any ticketing questions. 

Nov. 4 & Nov. 18 - Email Reminders
Emails will be sent to remind graduates to request their tickets.

Dec. 2 - Final Email Reminder
Final email will be sent to remind graduate that ticketing ends on December 4th at noon.

Dec. 4 - Ticketing Ends
Ticketing ends at noon. Following this date, emails will come out about guest ticket transfers, parking, graduate seating assignments, and more!

This is just a ticket reservation for commencement; the actual tickets to enter the Atlantic Union Bank Center will be distributed to individual emails the week of commencement.

1. Graduates reserve commencement tickets using their student Athletics account. A link will be sent via the JMUGrad email on October 20th. Family and friends cannot reserve tickets for themselves. Each graduate will receive (1) graduate ticket and may reserve up to (6) guest tickets.
2. All tickets are e-mobile tickets and will need to be downloaded to an Apple Wallet or Google Play App. Downloads should be completed prior to arriving at the Atlantic Union Bank Center. After downloading the tickets, graduates may distribute them to their guests' Apple Wallet or Google Play App. This is an important step, because graduates and guests have different entrances at the arena. All guests are required to be present when their ticket is scanned. If your entire party will not be together during entry, be sure to distribute tickets to each individual so they can scan their ticket as they enter. You can hall all six tickets on one device, however, all guests will need to enter the arena at the same time in this scenario.
3. Graduates, you will be sent a ticket for yourself that you will need on your device to enter the arena. When you register for guest tickets, you will automatically be sent a ticket for yourself, closer to commencement. This is in addition to the six maximum guest tickets you may request. 
4. A barcode will not be displayed, rather the ticket will say "Hold Near Reader" for contactless entry.
5. Children (5 years and younger) do not need a ticket if they are sitting on another guest's lap. However, if a child will need their own seat they will need to acquire a ticket.
6. All guest tickets are general seating. Information about accessible seating may be found here.

Ticketing transfer instructions and how to reserve your tickets can be found here.

*Note: This website pertains to athletic events, but is the same system for commencement.*

Tuesday, October 20th and Wednesday, October 21st
2:00 - 6:00 p.m. each day
JMU Bookstore

Commencement Expo is your one-stop shop for commencement needs. This will be the first opportunity to purchase your regalia package (cap, gown, hood and tassel). JMU’s preferred vendor, Balfour, will be on site to showcase invitations, announcements and rings. The JMU Ticketing Office will also be available to assist with obtaining tickets. More information will be shared via email in the coming weeks.

We hope to see you there!

• Apply to Graduate and View your Graduation Status
  Click HERE for procedures to apply to graduate and view your graduation status. Diplomas will be mailed shortly after commencement and should arrive 8-10 weeks after your degree has been conferred. Make sure your permanent/home address is correct. If it is not, you can make those changes in MyMadison.

• Reserve Lodging
  Remind your family and guests to make lodging reservations. If accommodations in Harrisonburg are limited, consider nearby cities and towns such as Woodstock, Staunton, Mount Jackson, Fishersville, New Market and others within 30 miles.

• Learn the Alma Mater
  If you don't know it, now is the time to get to know it!

• Watch for Upcoming Newsletters
  We will share updates on the commencement speaker, regalia, parking, accessibility and more.