Winter Commencement Newsletter

Oct. 20 - Ticketing will open at noon.
Graduates will recieve an email from JMUGrad advising that graduates may submit their request - max of six (6) guest tickets. This message will have details about how to reserve your tickets along with a link for where to do so. 

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 ticket transfer, 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 have 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.*

You should have received a link via email from Tassel when you were added to the system.

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

If you were not able to pick up your regalia package (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) at the Commencement Expo, you may purchase those items online through the JMU Bookstore to ship to your preferred destination. The deadline to order regalia online is December 3rd. Additionally, you may stop in at the JMU Bookstore any time during their operating hours, as they have regalia available for purchase on-site. 

When you are purchasing your regalia, you will need to provide height, weight, and degree (i.e., B.A., B.S., M.M., etc.). This will ensure that you are provided with the correct regalia package that fits your needs and aligns with your degree. The tassel and hood color will correspond with your degree.

If you are an undergraduate student graduating with Latin honors (GPA of 3.5 or higher), you will need a gold honors cord. Honors cords are for eligible undergraduate students only; these do not pertain to master's or doctoral programs. Note: this is not for Honor's College graduates and is based on GPA requirements. If you are receiving this honor, you should have received an email from the Office of the Registrar. For questions, please contact graduation@jmu.edu.

The Stole of Gratitude is an additional option that is available for purchase. The Stole of Gratitude offer an opportunity to say "thank you" for the moral or financial support provided to help make your commencement a reality.

Don't miss out on ordering your official class rings and graduation announcements before it's too late!

Rings and announcements can be ordered through Balfour.

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.

• 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, and 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.