Skip To Translation Selection Skip To Top Navigation Skip To Content Skip To Footer
students walking in cap and gown

Graduating Students

2025

Commencement Information for Graduating Students

Commencement 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, 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 UDC inboxes throughout the Spring Semester.

Visit the 2025 Commencement website


Graduation Rehearsal

Information is forthcoming.

graduation regalia flyerRegalia (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 14 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

spring cap and gown poster

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 18 or 19), 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
Pictures Taken Off-Campus 
Van Ness Campus
Tuesday, March 18

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Student Center, 1st Floor, Ballroom Lobby
You may schedule an appointment with Earl Howard Studios directly.  
Lamond-Riggs Campus 
Wednesday, March 19
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Auditorium

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.


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

students at graduations in cap and gowns 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 a.m., 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 p.m.

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

FAQ’s

Student Resources

Registrar
  • Enrollment Verification Requests
  • Academic Transcript Requests
  • Change of Address
  • Name Change
  • Process Graduation Applications
  • FERPA Release Submission
  • Change of major

Tiffany Cooper
Registrar 
tecooper@udc.edu
uregistrar@udc.edu
202-274-6225

Nakia Pugh
Associate Registrar
nakia.pugh@udc.edu
202-274-6200

Student Accounts
  • Payment Plan
  • Administer Student Refunds
  • Removes Health Insurance Waiver
  • Removes Follett All Access Fee
  • Issues Student Billing Statements
  • Third-Party Agency Billing

David Garnett
dgarnett@udc.edu

202-274-5168
studentaccounts@udc.edu

Contact Us

Office of Student Life 

Van Ness Campus
4200 Connecticut Ave. NW
Building 56, Suite 107 
202-274-7213 
studentlife@udc.edu 

Percy Henry, III 
Director of Student Life and Services 
percy.henryiii@udc.edu 

Back to Top
Take The Next Steps, Today!