Commencement

As you prepare to graduate, please review and complete the following:

• If you are completing your degree requirements in May, check Banner (my.wm.edu), ensure that your degree requirements are complete, and clear any holds or fines. A hold on your account will prevent you from receiving your diploma after Commencement. Payments for financial holds will need to be made before 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, to allow processing time and hold removal. 
• Carefully review both the main commencement site for important information.
• Order your regalia.
• Download the W&M Mobile app and tap W&M Grad to build a custom schedule of events, have fun with #wmgrad, and find updates, student instructions, parking, maps, the live stream, and other essential information.
• Check your W&M email regularly.

Tickets are required for the Main Commencement Ceremony taking place on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 6 p.m.

• Tickets are electronic and will be emailed to graduates in mid-May. You may then forward the tickets to your guests to display on their phones, or they may print out their tickets to be scanned. If using a phone, they should have the ticket open and ready for scanning when they reach the entry gate. Each ticket scans only once, so electronic tickets may not be duplicated.
• Registration for tickets will take place from February 20 to March 22.

Regalia is the cap, gown, hood, and tassel that you will wear for Commencement. Regalia is available for purchase only. There is no rental option.

The William & Mary Spirit Shop and Bookstore is your contact for all regalia and graduation-related merchandise. You may also purchase class rings, announcements, diploma frames, and other graduation merchandise (shipping charges may apply).

How do I purchase regalia?

• Regalia is available for purchase from the William & Mary Spirit Shop & Bookstore. You must purchase through the W&M Bookstore site by April 14, 2026. The normal operating hours from the Bookstore are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Is regalia required for Commencement Ceremonies?

Regalia is required if you intend to participate in person at the Main Commencement Ceremony (Friday, May 15) and/or at the School of Business Graduation Ceremony (Saturday, May 16). The only exception is for active duty military personnel who may wear their military dress uniforms.

What should be worn with regalia:

We recommend wearing attire appropriate for the formal atmosphere of Commencement. However, remember that it is likely to be warm that day, and you may not want to wear a suit coat under your regalia. In addition, comfortable, business formal shoes are recommended since you will likely do a lot of walking.

Cords:

Yes, bring your honor or recognition cords with you to wear draped over your shoulders at the Commencement Ceremony.

For the Main University Commencement Ceremony (Friday, May 15)

• If you wish to participate in the Walk Across Campus, meet at the Wren Courtyard no later than 4:45 p.m.
• Graduating students who do not wish to participate in the walk should plan to be at Sadler Center terrace no later than 5:15 p.m. Sadler Center is located next to Zable Stadium, where the Main Commencement will be held.
• Your guests should proceed directly to Zable Stadium.
• Please review the university's main commencement site for all information regarding this ceremony.
• Due to the expected number of guests, a clear-bag policy will be in effect for all ceremonies in Zable Stadium.

For the Raymond A. Mason School of Business Graduation Ceremony (Saturday, May 16)

• All graduates should arrive at Kaplan Arena at 3:30 p.m. Graduates should proceed to the rear entrance underneath the ramp of Kaplan Arena along Brooks Street (across from the Bee McLeod Recreation Center) to receive their reading cards and line up for the procession. Kaplan Arena (and the surrounding area) is viewable on the campus map. 
• The doors to Kaplan Arena will open at 3:30 p.m. for guests.

Parking over Commencement weekend is in high demand. All parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We do expect traffic congestion on campus throughout the weekend, so please allow extra time as you travel around campus and be very mindful of pedestrians.

• For the School of Business Undergraduate & Graduate Open Houses, please park in the Boswell Lot or the Parking Deck (which is next to the Business School). When arriving at Miller Hall, please DO NOT stop on Ukrop Way to drop off guests for the open house. The Boswell Lot across the street can be used as a drop-off area as well as parking for the open house. The roadway must be kept clear for through traffic.
• For the School of Business Graduation Ceremony, you may park in the Kaplan Arena parking lot, or you may choose to park near Miller Hall and walk to Kaplan Arena. Handicapped parking is available along the Brooks Street side of Kaplan Arena with a valid handicap permit. Please note that Brooks Street will be one-way during the ceremony, with entry at the intersection of Ukrop Way and Brooks Street and exit at the intersection of Compton Drive and Brooks Street.

• Guests are not permitted in the graduate seating prior to or during the Graduation Ceremony.
• Due to the expected number of guests, a clear-bag policy will be in effect for all ceremonies in Kaplan Arena. A list of items prohibited from Kaplan Arena is available in the Information for Families & Guests section of the W&M Commencement website.
• Professional photographers will be on-site to capture photos of graduates as they cross the stage.
• General guest seating will be in the stadium seating that surrounds the Kaplan arena floor.
• Main Commencement books and Mason Graduation Ceremony programs will be available for pick-up at the Northeast and Southeast entrances to Kaplan Arena. An arena map is provided for convenience. Books and programs will also be placed in each graduate's seat.

• Guests with limited mobility will be seated on the arena floor with one (1) companion. Additional information is provided in the Limited Mobility Information for Guests section.
• Guests are not permitted in the graduate seating area prior to or during the Ceremony. Professional photographers will be on-site to capture photos of graduates as they cross the stage.
• Please be mindful of all signage and directions from the Ceremony staff so that all guests may enjoy the ceremony.

The following information will assist guests with limited mobility in planning for the Raymond A. Mason School of Business Graduation Ceremony taking place at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. This information only applies to the School of Business Graduation Ceremony on Saturday afternoon. Information on accessibility for the Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 16, is available on the W&M Commencement webpage. (Graduates with limited mobility should connect with their program offices for graduate-specific information.)

• Guests for whom limited mobility/wheelchair seating was requested will be seated on the floor of Kaplan Arena.
• Each guest with limited mobility may sit with one (1) companion in the floor seating. Seating for additional family members may be found in the general seating areas in the arena.
• Plan to arrive when doors open at 3:30 p.m. to give guests ample time to find their seats and get settled before the ceremony starts at 4:00 p.m. There is a ceremony in Kaplan Arena prior to the School of Business Ceremony, so guests should not plan to arrive prior to 3:30 p.m.
• Even with limited mobility accommodations, the arena is large, and it can take time to navigate. An arena map will be sent to all graduates prior to the ceremony to share with their guests so that they can find their seats more easily.
• Multiple limited mobility parking spaces are available along Brooks Road bordering Kaplan Arena. Handicapped plates and hangtags from any state are valid for parking in handicapped-designated spaces. Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• There is also a drop-off location for graduates and guests with limited mobility at the ramp behind Kaplan Arena that will allow for wheelchair access (no stairs). This is a drop-off zone only. Vehicles are not permitted on the ramp. A staff member will be posted at this location to assist anyone who needs help.
• An elevator is available just inside the loading area behind Kaplan Arena for any limited mobility guests who elect not to use the floor seating.
• William & Mary does not provide wheelchairs or other mobility assistance equipment for graduates or guests. William & Mary personnel are unable to provide physical assistance to guests using wheelchairs or other mobility assistance equipment. Guests who require wheelchairs or other mobility assistance equipment should bring the necessary equipment with them.

• All graduates should proceed to the rear entrance underneath the ramp of Kaplan Arena along Brooks Street (across from the Bee McLeod Recreation Center) to receive their reading cards and line up for the procession. When you enter Kaplan Arena, you will proceed through security before lining up by program.
• Faculty marshals will lead the procession into the arena, where graduates will be seated by degree program. As indicated in the Kaplan Arena diagram, graduates in the Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Marketing, and Master of Science in Business Analytics will be seated to the left as you face the stage. Graduates in the Master of Accounting, MBA/MAcc combined degree program, and Master of Business Administration will be seated to the right as you face the stage.
• Students will NOT be organized alphabetically within degree programs to allow you to sit with your friends and classmates.
• Your faculty marshals will indicate to you when it is time to rise for the calling of the individual graduate names. The entire row will rise and proceed towards the name readers. Take your name card with you. You will hand your name card to the reader just before your name is called. Once your name is called, you will ascend the stairs to the stage, receive a commemorative scroll, shake hands with the Dean, descend from the stage, pause for an individual diploma photo, and then return to your seat per guidance from the Faculty Marshals.
• All graduates are expected to remain in attendance for the duration of the ceremony.

• Each graduate student will be photographed with the Dean as they cross the stage and again after they descend the stage.
• These photos will be taken by GradImages and will be available for purchase.
• Students who have provided post-commencement contact information in the Diploma Ceremony Survey will be contacted after the ceremony with photo ordering information may order photos online at www.gradimages.com or call 1-800-424-3686.

• For graduates completing their degree requirements in May 2026, diplomas are mailed in June.
• For graduates completing their degree requirements in August 2026, diplomas are mailed following the summer degree conferral at the end of August.
• For graduates who completed their degree requirements in January 2026, diplomas are mailed in February. Please contact Wendy Urbano at wdurba@wm.edu if you haven't received your diploma

Degree Requirements & Diploma Questions

Wendy Urbano, Office of the Registrar, 757-221-2807

Commencement General Information

Commencement, 757-221-1669

Academia Regalia & Merchandise Questions

William & Mary Bookstore, 757-221-1669

Information Specific to the School of Business Events

• Full-Time MBA, 757-221-5665 (Matthew Barrett)
• Part-Time MBA,757-221-5665 (Matthew Barrett)
• MAcc & MSBA, 757-221-2879 (Beth Snavely)
• Online programs, 757-221-1424 (Diane Fogel)
• Undergraduate business, 757-221-1422 (Sarah Miksa)