COMMENCEMENT

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Class of 2024 Commencement

Saturday, May 18, 2024
10:00 AM
Rowen Campus Green
Reception to Follow

 

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Charles Widger School of Law Commencement
10:00 AM | Rowen Campus Green

Tickets are not required for the law school ceremony and reception, and at this time, there is no limit to the number of guests that may attend. The Commencement ceremony is approximately 1.5 hours long. 

FRIDAY, MAY 17

Baccalaureate Mass
10:00 AM | Rowen Campus Green

All bachelor, master, doctoral and law graduates and their guests are welcome at  this beautiful event that brings the community together. A special Augustinian blessing offered at the end of the Mass is one of Villanova's most treasured traditions. No RSVP required. Baccalaureate is approximately 1.5 hours long and will also be livestreamed.
 

Commencement Lunch on the Green
11:30 AM | Mendel Field

Immediately following the Baccalaureate Mass and prior to the Bachelor's Degree Commencement Ceremony, a picnic lunch provided by Wawa will be offered and can be enjoyed outside on campus. Lunch must be purchased in advance online for $10 per person and will be available for pick-up at Mendel Field immediately following Baccalaureate. Ordering will open in late Spring 2024.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Commencement Ceremony for the Charles Widger School of Law Class of 2024 will take place on The Rowen Campus Green. The Green is in the center of Villanova University’s campus and will provide a beautiful setting for our outdoor ceremony. A reception, also on the Campus Green, will immediately follow the ceremony. Severe weather location for the ceremony will be the Finneran Pavilion. Please see the Commencement map for location and parking information.

Parking for graduates and guests will be in the law school garage; no parking passes are needed. Shuttle buses will be running continuously throughout the day for guest who wish to take the shuttle, otherwise it is a short walk to the various locations on campus.

Guests with special needs who have a disability placard/plate may park closer on campus. These guests should use the Main Entrance off Ithan Avenue (please see the Commencement map) where public safety staff will direct you to the designated area for parking/drop-off.   

All seats in the Rowen Campus Green are accessible. Tickets are not required for guests.

Student Assembly/Name Cards

  • Beginning at 9:30 a.m., sraduates’ name cards will be available with staff volunteers at tables near the fountain in front of Alumni Hall (#3 on map). Graduates must pick up their name cardprior to line-up for the procession. 
  • At 9:45 a.m., graduates should report to the Graduate Assembly area along the walkway between St. Rita’s and Alumni Hall (#4 on the map) wearing your cap and gown (tassels to the right). Law School staff will be on hand to assist you in lining up. 
  • There is no place in the Assembly Area or the Campus Green to leave personal items. Please leave these items with your guests or in a secured location. 
  • Please wear shoes suitable for potentially uneven terrain (grass and cobblestones). 
  • There will be a program placed at each graduate’s seat, so you do not need to carry a program when you process.

 

Graduate Procession and Seating

  • Graduates will line up at 9:50 a.m. in two side-by-side lines in any order you wish. Please follow the instructions of the staff on hand to help line up the graduates. (Note: the person you wish to sit next to should line up in front or behind you, the two lines will split once you hit the Rowen Campus Green–the right line will sit to the right side and the left line will sit on the left side.)
  • The processional will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Dean Lund will lead the procession down the path into the Rowen Campus Green and continue to the graduate seating area. 
  • Staff floor marshals will direct you to your seats. Please do not skip seats and follow the guidance of the staff marshals. 

 

Calling of the Names

  • Graduates will be called forward one row at a time. As your row is called forward, follow the directions of the Marshal to approach the stage.
  • PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR NAME CARD. The names of all graduates will be called, and graduates will walk across the stage when their name is called
  • When you approach the stage, graduates will scan your name card and then continue across the stage as your name is called. Staff will be on hand to assist. 
  • After you cross the stage, you will pick up your scroll and shake hands (if you wish) with Deans Alexander and Lund. (Note: Your actual diploma will be mailed home to you). You will then return to your seat as the rest of the graduates are called forward. 
  • A professional photographer will take your photo when you exit the stage. 

 

Reception

  • Immediately following the ceremony, all graduates, guests, faculty, and staff are invited to a light reception on the Riley Ellipse (#5 on map) next to the Rowen Campus Green (#2 on map). Please see the Commencement map for more information.  
  • Note: Severe weather location for the reception is back at the Law School (Scarpa Hall). 

The Baccalaureate Mass and Law Commencement Ceremony will be simulcast live graduation weekend. Please view the livestream information for the links.

Graduation announcements, thank you notes and other commemorative items are available via Villanova University through the Print Center. For ordering information and further details, please visit the iPRINT website.

Professional photographers from Pro Pics will be at the Law Commecement Ceremony to take portraits of graduates as they walk across the stage. After crossing the stage, graduates will proceed to the graduate portrait station to have a quick portrait taken in cap & gown. Portraits will be available for purchase from Pro Pics following the ceremonies. Questions? Contact Pro Pics.

 

QUESTIONS?

If you have specific questions, please contact the Villanova Law Commencement Team. For LLM and MT degrees, questions can be directed to the Graduate Tax Program