Common Nomenclatures
Business Cards
Also known as calling cards, business cards contain one’s name, profession, position, and contact information. These cards are to be given to those whom you wish to contact you. These are especially helpful during networking and career opportunities.
Commencement
Commencement is a weekend-long series of events celebrating students who are graduating. William & Mary’s Commencement website includes all the up to date information for each year. The commencement ceremony is for all graduates of William & Mary, and is where the formal pomp and circumstance will occur. At this celebration, you will not have you name called nor will you receive your diploma, but instead will be recognized as a graduate of William & Mary.
Degree
Your degree is what is conferred to you. For example, if you are in the Full-Time MBA Program, you will receive a “Masters of Business Administration” degree. The conferral of your degree is based upon the successful completion of your program requirements.
Diploma Ceremony
Different than commencement, the diploma ceremony is a smaller, more intimate ceremony where you will have your name called and walk across the stage to receive your diploma. This ceremony will be specific to your school of major – ie, you will be at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business diploma ceremony. More information about W&M Mason Diploma Ceremonies and graduation events can be found here.
Diploma
A diploma is a physical certificate display of your degree. This will be given to you in person at the Mason School of Business Diploma Ceremony.
Transcript
Documentation of a student’s permanent academic record, including courses taken, grades received, honors received, and degrees conferred.
