Commencement Information

The Blacksburg Spring 2008 Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be held at 3:00pm on May 9, 2008, in Cassell Coliseum. The ceremony will be broadcast on VT cable channel 2, 3, and 4, and on the Comcast local access cable channel 18, starting at 2:45 PM. A DVD of the graduate ceremony can be ordered through the VT Bookstore.
The National Capital Region Spring 2008 Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be held at 1:30pm on May 11, 2008, at the Center for the Arts, in Fairfax, Virginia.

Application for Degree (AFD)
Diplomas
Participation in Commencement
Guests and Seating
Degree Conferring Dates
Future Master's and Doctoral Commencement Ceremony Dates
How to Select the Proper Hood Color

National Capital Region Commencement Information

Application for Degree (AFD)

Graduation and the commencement ceremony is a long awaited and joyous time for students, families, and friends. To participate, it is important that in addition to taking your final exam and, if required, submitting your final paper, thesis, or dissertation that you submit an Application for Degree (AFD) through Hokie Spa. Once your application for degree is submitted by the below deadline, two very important things happen. Your name will appear in the commencement bulletin and your diploma will be ordered. In the event that you do not graduate in the expected term, you must submit a new AFD for the new term in which you plan to graduate.

The Application for Degree must be submitted by the following deadlines:

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Diplomas

Spring Education Specialist, Master's degree and graduate certificates graduates who have completed all requirements by the published deadlines may pick up diplomas in Room B of the Graduate Life Center until 7:00pm on May 9, 2008. After that time period diplomas will be mailed directly to the graduate. You must present valid picture identification to receive your diploma.
Diplomas for doctoral graduates will be presented during the ceremony.
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Participation in Commencement

Doctoral candidates must have completed all requirements for graduation by May 2, 2008, to participate in the Commencement doctoral hooding ceremony. This includes submission of the AFD, submission of the Dissertation Approval Form, survey of earned doctorates, payment of graduation fees, submission of the dissertation, and approval of the dissertation by the Graduate School.

Master's students nearing completion will be allowed to participate in commencement.

If you do not plan to attend commencement, the last date to defend is April 30, 2008. To be a fall graduate, all requirements must be complete and degree awarded by June 6, 2008.

There is no limit to the number of guests that you may invite, and no tickets are required for this ceremony. Formal commencement invitations will no longer be provided due to budget constraints. Individuals who wish to send personalized invitations for their guests can order them at most local print shops and bookstores. International students must fill out an Invitation Form for any out of country visitors they would like to invite.

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Guests and Seating

Families and guests are urged to arrive in time to be seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. New security procedures will subject all packages, bags, purses, and so on, to search prior to entry to the coliseum. Please avoid bringing such items to the coliseum. We are advising everyone to expect a delay entering the building and therefore to arrive early.

Accessible seating for persons with impaired mobility is available at Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum, as is accessible parking. A sign language interpreter will be provided for the University and Graduate School ceremonies. Interpreters for individual college ceremonies are arranged by request with a two-week notice through the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). For additional information concerning accessibility, wheelchair seating, and disability accommodations, contact SSD at www.ssd.vt.edu or call 540/231-0858 or TTY 540/231-0853. “Special Needs” (impaired mobility) parking passes are available (not required if you have a state-issued DMV handicap tag) for pickup by students at 250 South Main Street, Suite 300, prior to the commencement ceremony.

Degree-Conferring Dates

In addition to the traditional twice-a-year commencement, two additional "Degree-Conferring Dates" have been established each year. These dates appear on the diploma for qualified graduates. The added degree-conferring dates fall on the last day of final examinations of First Summer Term and Second Summer Term. For a full list of Degree-Conferring Dates, see our Dates & Deadlines page. No commencement ceremonies are conducted during the summer. Students who complete degree requirements at these times may attend the next commencement, but they are requested to notify the Graduate School. All degrees conferred between commencements are listed in the commencement program.

Diplomas for graduates will be mailed directly to the student. For information on how to change the name that will appear on your diploma, see the Name Change Instructions page.

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Future Master's and Doctoral Commencement Ceremony Dates

How to Select the Proper Hood Color
The colors for the edging of hoods for master's students are determined by the college and discipline granting the degree, as listed in the table below. The tassels of caps for Master's students are black.

The hoods for the Doctor of Philosophy will be edged with dark blue. Doctoral gowns are faced with black velvet with three bars across the sleeves. Tassels for doctoral students are gold.

For more information on academic regalia, please contact the Virginia Tech Bookstore .

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