Commencement Update
April 22, 2024
Commencement is a time to celebrate your accomplishments at American University! This email is being sent to students who are potential spring graduates based on earned credits and applications to graduate. Please read this information carefully.
Order Regalia by April 23
- April 23 is the deadline for ship-to-home orders.
- Your regalia order serves as your registration to participate in the ceremony and signs you up for your tickets and parking pass. (If you are borrowing regalia from a past graduate, please email commencement@american.edu to confirm and be manually added to the list for tickets and a parking pass.)
- Only students made eligible to participate in commencement receive a link to order regalia. Students will receive the link on a rolling basis as they are made eligible to participate in commencement.
- Students serving on active duty, joining the Armed Forces, or authorized to wear military uniforms may wear formal dress uniforms in lieu of regalia. Students must email commencement@american.edu to confirm. Veterans Cords will be available for pickup during on-campus regalia distribution.
- At commencement, all graduates must be in regalia unless they are active military in uniform. Regalia includes gown, mortarboard or tam, stole, and/or cords. Anything other than regalia will not be permitted.
On-Campus Regalia Pick-Up
- If you selected the on-campus pick-up option when you ordered your regalia, please pick it up from Mary Graydon Center (MGC) 200, May 7-11.
Tuesday, May 7: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 9: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, May 10: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11: 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Limited walk-in orders will be available during on-campus regalia pickup. There is a $25 additional fee for walk-in orders.
- If you rented doctoral regalia, it should be returned immediately following the ceremony to Mary Graydon Center 200 by 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.
Spring Commencement 2024 Ticket Information
- Tickets will be required for admittance to the Spring Commencement ceremonies.
- Students who have registered to participate in commencement by ordering their cap and gown receive an allotment of six tickets and one parking pass.
- The ticketing site opened on April 12. Registered students (who have secured their cap and gown) were sent a unique link to their AU email to access their electronic tickets and parking pass.
- We are unable to guarantee requests for additional tickets.
Honors Cords and Alumni Association Medals
- Undergraduates eligible for Latin Honors (3.67 cumulative GPA and 60 of 120 credits at AU) can pick up their gold honors cord during on-campus regalia pick-up May 7 - 11 in the Mary Graydon Center. See Undergraduate Academic Regulations, section 5.5.
- Veterans Cords will be available for pickup.
- Alumni Relations will distribute Alumni Association Medals to students who make a gift.
Graduation Census
- This annual survey asks main campus graduate and undergraduate students about their experiences at AU and their postgraduation plans. This provides a basis for improving services and support for students and alumni.
- We hope you will complete this survey when you receive an email invitation in the coming weeks.
- For questions about the survey, contact the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.
Friday, May 10, 2024
9:00 a.m. Kogod School of Business and Professional Studies
1:30 p.m. School of Public Affairs
Saturday, May 11, 2024
9:00 a.m. School of International Service
1:30 p.m. College of Arts and Sciences
6:00 p.m. School of Communication and School of Education
For More Information:
Questions?