Graduation
Finals Weekend Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions related to the University-wide ceremony can often be answered by
visiting the Major Events website.
A stole is a light cloth worn over your graduation robe and it helps to indicate the school from which you are graduating.
EHD will provide light blue stoles for all graduating undergraduate students. Stoles will be passed out to students at an event at the end of the academic year. Details will be provided in spring 2024.
NOTE: this information pertains to 2023 events. 2024 information will be updated as it becomes available.
Lawn Ceremony: Each graduate will receive six tickets for guest seating on the Lawn. If the ceremony is moved to John Paul Jones Arena (due to inclement weather), graduates will be limited to three guest seating tickets. EHD Graduates will only receive guest seating tickets for the Sunday Final Exercises ceremony. There will be a live stream of the Lawn Ceremony hosted in Holloway Hall at the School of Education and Human Development.
EHD Ceremony: Graduates do not need tickets for guest seating at the EHD ceremony hosted at John Paul Jones Arena.
Final Exercises is held outdoors. Attire is a personal preference, but guests are encouraged to dress respectfully for the occasion and appropriately for the weather, and to wear comfortable shoes given the considerable amount of walking involved.
Graduates and faculty will wear their caps and gowns which will provide them access to the Lawn and to John Paul Jones Arena (if the ceremony is moved inside due to inclement weather). The grass, as well as ramps and steps located on the Lawn may be damp or slick during Final Exercises. Graduates and faculty are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes with low heels to avoid falling or tripping during the Procession.
Information on obtaining your cap and gown is detailed on the Major Events website.
Diplomas will be mailed within six weeks of your degree conferral date to the “diplomas mailing address” reflected in SIS. Diplomas are not handed out during the ceremony but rather students are handed a scroll. Please see the Diploma Information website for more information.
During Finals Weekend, public parking near Central Grounds operates under different policies than during other times of the year. Graduating students and guests are encouraged to park in the locations specified on the parking website and use the University’s free shuttle service to travel to various ceremonies and events.
Hooding Ceremony: Complimentary parking is available in the
parking garage located beside the Abbott Conference Center, at the Darden School
EHD Breakfast Reception, the Lawn Ceremony, & EHD Graduation
Ceremony at JPJ: Complimentary parking is available in the John Paul Jones Arena (JPJA) lot, JPJA parking garage, as well as University Hall. Shuttle buses will load near the main entrance of JPJ and will drop off at McCormick Road near the University Chapel for the Lawn Ceremony. Shuttle service begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m.