Regalia
When to Wear
Full Regalia (caps, gowns, hoods): Walk Across Campus to Main Ceremony & Commencement Celebrations
Caps/Gowns (no hoods): Candlelight Ceremony (tassel on the right side of the mortar board)
Details
Graduates participating in the main ceremony must wear the W&M-approved regalia. Regalia consist of a robe, a cap, a tassel, and a hood with colors indicating the graduate's degree.
Military: Active duty or retired members of the U.S. armed services may have the option to wear a military uniform appropriate for the occasion at commencement ceremonies.
Tassel: The tassel is worn on the right side of the mortar board until the degree is awarded, at which time it is moved to the left. This will be done together at the instruction of the president. For graduate students who have already earned an undergraduate degree, the tassel remains on the left side of the mortar board.
Mortar Boards: Mortar boards may be decorated and custom collegiate stoles may be ordered and worn, so long as they follow the guidelines below:
- Decorations should not exceed the normal dimensions of the flat mortar board (9" × 9") or collegiate stole (68-72" long, 4.5" wide).Do not exceed the dimensions of the flat mortar board.
- Decorations/customizations should in no way distract your fellow graduates from enjoying the ceremony. This includes lights, sound-making devices or excessively bright colors.
- Decorations/customizations cannot include hate speech, profanity or references to drugs, alcohol or weapons.
- When caps are thrown, decorations should not threaten the safety of others.
- Decorations may not interfere with attaching the tassel to the cap.
Clothing Underneath: While we don't have strict rules, we do have a strongly recommended dress code:
- Students must be fully clothed beneath their robes.
- Business casual is recommended but not required.
- Students should keep in mind that this is a momentous occasion when selecting an outfit.
- Ideally, the outfit should not show beneath the hem of the robe, above the collar or at the end of the sleeves.
Wren Bell Ringing
Dates
Graduates of the Class of 2026 will have the opportunity to ring the Wren Bell on their last day of classes.
- Graduate Students: Friday, April 25, noon to 2 p.m.
- Undergraduate & Remaining Graduate Students: Friday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Guidelines
- Line-up will begin outside the courtyard fence (on the Sunken Garden side of the Wren Building). Volunteers will be there to assist.
- No food or drink is permitted inside the Wren Building.
- The entire process can take anywhere from five to 45 minutes, depending on how many students are in line to ring the bell when you arrive.
Additional Class Events
Senior Class Dance
Come dance the night away at the traditional senior class dance!
- Wednesday, May 14
- 9 p.m. to midnight
- Sunken Garden (Weather location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Room)
- Tickets required.
- Students may bring guests (tickets required).
- Dress code: Casual to cocktail
Candlelight Ceremony
Tradition holds that the graduating class selects one student, one staff and a member of the faculty to give brief remarks to graduates. The ceremony provides an opportunity for the Class of 2025 to celebrate and reflect on their time at the university.
- Thursday, May 15
- 9:30 p.m.
- Wren Building
- Class of 2025 graduates wear cap and gown with tassel pointed on right side of mortar board.
Main Ceremony
Registration & Tickets
Tickets are electronic and will be emailed to graduates in mid-May. Students must then forward the tickets to their guests so that they may either print them out or display them on their phone when entering the stadium/arena. If using a phone, everyone should have the tickets open and ready for scanning when they reach the entry gate. Each ticket will only scan once so that electronic tickets may not be duplicated. Children aged two and younger do not require a ticket.
During an Inclement Weather Plan, guests must present a ticket reading "All Weather Access" in order to be admitted into the arena. No exceptions will be made.
What You May Bring
- Phone
- Camera (Flash photography is not permitted)
- Registered Service Animals (Emotional Support Animals and companion animals are not permitted)
What Not To Bring
- Bags of any kind (handbags, purses, backpacks, fanny packs, etc.). Remember, there is a clear bag policy in effect for guests.
- Bottles of any kind
- Umbrellas
- Banners, signs, posters
- Weapons, drugs or any kind of drug paraphernalia
- Anything deemed inappropriate by ceremony staff
Walk Across Campus
The walk will begin promptly at 5p.m. If you would like to participate, gather at the back of the Wren Building (Sunken Garden side) on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The walk will cross the Crim Dell bridge and end at the Sadler Terrace where you will be directed to the line-up location.
Walk Across Campus diagram (pdf)
If the inclement weather plan is called, the Walk Across Campus will be canceled and you should proceed directly to Kaplan Arena and arrive by 5:30 p.m.
Line Up
Once you arrive, you will be directed to your line-up location by staff volunteers. If you do not plan to participate in the Walk Across Campus, you will need to meet at the Sadler Terrace or Kaplan Arena (severe weather) by 5:15 p.m.
Seating
Degree candidates will be seated on the field of Zable or, in the case of severe weather, on the floor/stands of Kaplan. Graduate degree candidates will sit with their schools. Bachelor's candidates are not required to sit with their major.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed in the weeks following degree conferral to the mailing address on record, or the dedicated diploma mailing address provided. Degree candidates do not cross the stage or have their names read at Friday evening's ceremony. On Saturday, at your departmental event, you will cross the stage, have your name read, and receive a ceremonial diploma.
Photos
A professional photographer will be there to take your picture after you have crossed the stage. Graduates will receive more information about how to order and purchase their photos.
Recessional
Please remain at your seats until the official party and faculty have recessed out of the stadium or arena.