May Commencement

Commencement ceremonies prove to be an exciting day in university life when the men and women who come to this institution seeking higher learning, and in the School of Nursing’s case, preparation for a profession, have completed this challenge and are ready for the recognition the university confers with awarding of the degree. We look forward to acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments of our fine graduates.

The WVU May 2024 Commencement Ceremony for the Health Sciences Schools (School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and School of Public Health) will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum. Tickets are NOT required for Commencement, and there is not a limit on the number of guests permitted.  In addition to May 2024 graduates, we also welcome doctoral students who graduated in August or December 2023 that chose not to participate in the December 2023 Commencement ceremony, as well as undergraduate students anticipating degree completion in August 2024* to be recognized at the May 2024 Commencement ceremony. 

Doctoral and Masters students will be hooded and Undergraduate students will be pinned at Commencement. 

Regalia

Academic regalia (cap, gown, and tassel) is REQUIRED for commencement for all students and faculty. The School of Nursing does not carry extra regalia or tassels to rent or borrow.  Regalia can be ordered through the HSC Bookstore by calling 304-293-4849, or through Herff-Jones. The deadline to order is Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

 

  • If ordering from the Herff-Jones website, select the option for West Virginia University options, at which point you will be asked to choose your school, campus, or organization.  Undergraduate students enrolled in the Honors College should select “WVU Honors” and will receive gold regalia.  All other students will select “Health Sciences Bookstore” and will receive blue regalia.  Tassels should be apricot, which is the color for Nursing. In the second drop down box, select “Nursing”.  Please make sure you select the appropriate degree in the 3rddrop down box.  If you do not wish to order the offered Graduation Packages, you can click on the “Cap & Gown” option at the top of the page to order just the regalia. 

*Note for August 2024 graduates: You will not apply for graduation at this time.  You will be notified by Lorie Stowers when it is time to apply for graduation. You DO need to register to walk at Commencement.

Friday, May 10, 2024 – West Virginia University Commencement Ceremony, West Virginia University Coliseum

  • Commencement will take place at the WVU Coliseum (3450 Monongahela Boulevard, Morgantown, WV).  Parking will be available at the venue.
  • Please keep in mind that traffic is typically very heavy during Commencement weekend. Leave early to ensure you arrive on time and can find parking!
    • In the event that you arrive late, once students are entering the Coliseum, please report to the late check-in table at the Country Roads Gate to receive your name card and be directed to line up.
  • Arrive at 11:00 a.m. and report to the Basketball Practice Facility across from the Country Roads Gate.
  • Check in at the registration desk to receive your name card.
    • BSN and BS/BA to BSN students will receive their nursing pin attached to the name card.
      • Bring honor cords with you, if applicable. Please note that students anticipating August 2024 graduation will NOT receive Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude) cords at this time.
    • Post-Graduate Certificate students will wear their hoods.
    • Masters and Doctoral students will carry their hoods and be hooded on stage.
      • Tip for those with hoods: use or bring a safety pin to secure your hood to the inside of your regalia for comfort.
  • Lineup begins at 11:30 a.m. 
  • Ceremony begins promptly at 12:00 p.m. and will last approximately 2 hours.
  • Degrees will be conferred and diploma covers will be given out at the ceremony.
  • All graduates who have earned hoods will be hooded (Masters and Doctoral students). Hoods will be carried in, draped over the left arm. Hooders should process in and sit with the graduate they are hooding. Faculty are required to wear regalia to participate.
  • Doctoral students will be hooded by their committee chair or advisor.
  • Per WVU University Events, only the names of students who are graduating with a degree in May will be printed in the Commencement program. Everyone who participates will have the opportunity to have your name announced, be pinned or hooded and walk across the stage.
  • Programs will only be available online by scanning the QR code, which will be displayed at the venues during Commencement Ceremonies, or at https://graduation.wvu.edu/home
  • Diplomas will be mailed after all grades are finalized and certified by the WVU Office of the Registrar. 
  • WVU has contracted with GradImages to provide quality graduation photos of each student. Proofs will be emailed to the student within 48 hours of the ceremony.
  • Each ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. The webcast link will go live a few minutes prior to ceremony time. 

RSVPs for the School of Nursing May Commencement ceremony are required.  Please RSVP by April 26, 2024 to allow for proper planning. 

Parking

  • Parking will be available at the Coliseum.

Clear Bag Policy

To provide a safer environment for guests and to ease entry into event venues, a Clear Bag Policy will be implemented for all commencement ceremonies.

WVU’s Clear Bag Policy limits the size and type of bags that guests may bring into an event venue.

Guests with prohibited bags cannot enter. Please visit https://graduation.wvu.edu/clear-bag-policy for details or contact graduation@mail.wvu.edu with questions.

Accommodations for Out-of-Town Guests

The Morgantown area has a number of hotels for guests looking for overnight accommodations. Visit the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau  to book a hotel, as well as get information on activities and events in the area.