Commencement 2024 Information for Graduating Students
Commencement 2024 will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at 10 a.m. Each graduate is allowed four invitations. You will receive communication regarding Commencement as details are confirmed. Please continue to check your inboxes (UDC and personal) throughout the Spring Semester.
Visit the 2024 Commencement website →
Graduation Rehearsal
Graduation Rehearsal will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 5 p.m., Van Ness Campus, Theatre for the Arts (Auditorium).
Graduating Class Administrator
Dr. Trelaunda Beckett-Jones
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
Email: tbeckett@udc.edu
Tel: 202.274.6415 (office) | 202.510.2180 (office cell—text messages can be received at this number)
Commencement Countdown
Regalia (cap, gown, hood and tassel) Information
The Herf Jones Regalia portal is open. You may order your regalia (cap, gown, hood, tassel) and other graduation products from the Herff Jones website.
View a listing of hood colors per academic major here →
Regalia Order Deadlines
- Priority and preferred deadline: April 12, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
- Final deadline: April 23, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
If you order after the final deadline, you are not guaranteed to receive your regalia in time for Commencement.
Cap and Gown Photos
Earl Howard Studios is this year’s official class photographer. Students will be able to take pictures at the Lamond-Riggs and Van Ness Campuses. If you are taking your cap and gown pictures on campus (March 26 or April 2), you do not need to schedule an appointment. All you must do is come to campus.
Fee for Pictures
The sitting fee is $25.00 for photos taken on campus or in the Earl Howard Studios. Cash and credit card payments are acceptable.
Cap and Gown Picture Attire
Earl Howard Studios will provide cap, gown, hood and tassel for your photos. Gentlemen, a shirt and tie are required. Ladies, please be mindful of your nails and hairstyles as you will take pictures with your caps on and off and various poses. Also, do not wear any attire that covers your neck.
On-Campus Photo Schedule
Lamond-Riggs
Tuesday, March 26
12 to 4 p.m.
Room 302
Van Ness Campus
Tuesday, April 2
1 to 5 p.m.
Student Center, Heritage Hall, Level B
Pictures Taken Off-Campus
Beginning April 3, you may schedule an appointment with Earl Howard Studios directly.
To schedule an appointment:
- Visit the Earl Howard Studios website
- Select “schedule appointment”
- Scroll down to “UDC Students” and select “Book”
Graduation Tickets
Each participating graduate is allowed to receive four invitations and admit cards for guests to attend the commencement ceremony. Please be mindful that invitations are not the same as announcements. Invitations are specifically for those guests who will actually attend the commencement ceremony. Announcements can be ordered from Herff Jones directly and are for individuals who are not attending commencement.
Spring 2024 Commencement Invitation Distribution Schedule
*Photo identification and signature are required when picking up invitations.
Location: Van Ness Campus, Student Center, Student Life and Services Suite, 1st Floor
- Monday, April 29-Friday, May 3: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 8: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (graduation rehearsal: 5 p.m.)
- Thursday, May 9: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, May 10: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Requirements for Guests Attending UDC Commencement
- Tickets are required for admittance to the Commencement Hall.
- Guests must have their tickets. Children three and older will require a ticket. An adult must accompany children at all times.
Announcements
Order Announcements and other products here.
Commencement Decorum
The graduation ceremony is a festive occasion, but also a formal academic event. The celebration manifests itself in the dress of the students and faculty adorned in academic regalia, and the joy and satisfaction of accomplishment. The ceremony is also marked by seriousness where the actual conferring of degrees signifies the hard work of everyone involved: students, faculty, administrators, and family. Because of the serious nature of the ceremony, students and their guests are expected to maintain a measure of decorum consistent with the occasion.
- Expect to dedicate most of the day to your special day. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 am, with a run time of approximately 3 hours.
- Graduates and their guests are expected to stay for the duration of the event.
- All graduates are expected to attend the entire ceremony and to participate in both the processional and recessional.*
- Plan any after Commencement events for after 2:00 pm.
You have spent many years earning your degree, you can take 3-4 hours to honor your achievement.
*Commencement begins with the academic procession. The audience is asked to rise as the procession enters and remain to standing until the platform party has taken its place.
*Commencement closes with the recessional. After the singing of the Alma Mater, the audience is asked to take their seats and remain seated for the retrieval of colors and the recessional of the platform party, faculty, and students.
Other University-Related Information
Transcripts
Learn more about requesting transcripts here. You can also review page 37 of the university course catalog.
Academic Standing and University Honors
For information regarding Academic Standing and University Honors (Dean’s List, High Honors, Highest Honors and Top Student), please refer to pages 38-40 of the university course catalog. University Honor Cords (High, Highest and Top) will be provided by the Office of the Registrar. For inquiries regarding Dean’s List Honor, please contact your College Dean. For questions or additional information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at uregistrar@udc.edu.
Honor cords and name cards (needed for commencement) may be picked up at the Office of the Registrar, Van Ness Campus, Building 39, A-Level. The Office of the Registrar is located in the Enrollment Services Suite and is open on the following schedule:
Monday, April 29 – Friday, May 10: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 11: Morning of Commencement at the Convention Center
Important Documents to Review
Who do I contact if I have questions about eligibility for Commencement exercises?
Please contact the Office of the Registrar for any questions regarding your degree and completion status at uregistrar@udc.edu. Expect a response within 36 hours. Please note, you can keep up with your academic progress via the myUDC website, A.Ac.T (Campus Navigate), and your academic advisor. In order to be recognized for your achievements and receive your degree, you must have the following completed:
- Satisfy all course requirements with a C or better AND all credit requirements (you cannot come back and finish in the summer or fall without approval, you have to be DONE)
- Pay your balance. All outstanding balances have to be cleared before receiving your degree.
The Registrar is also responsible for transcripts and graduation clearances. Clearance is contingent on meeting the requirements above. The Registrar’s office will send out digital letters notifying the student of clearance approvals and denials.
Who do I contact about my grades, IP, or designations or if I am eligible to graduate?
Contact the Professor or Division Chair of your respective program or your academic advisor.
How do I pay my bill?
You may pay online through your myUDC portal or contact the Office of Student Accounts for more information, studentaccounts@udc.edu.
When do I receive my degree by mail?
Once you satisfy the above requirements, your degree will be mailed.
Please make sure the University has the most current address on file. The Registrar will only mail degrees to the address on file. If you need to update your address, please do so ASAP through the Registrar’s Office.
Student Resources
| Registrar |
|
202.274.6225 *202.274.6200 |
Tiffany Cooper, Registrar tecooper@udc.edu Nakia Pugh, Associate Registrar nakia.pugh@udc.edu |
|
| Student Accounts |
|
studentaccounts@udc.edu | 202.274.5168 | David Garnett, dgarnett@udc.edu |