As the university continues to see steady growth, new commencement models will be introduced to deliver the best graduate experience possible. In Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas only, one large gathering with all graduates will take place on Friday (Commencement) with smaller college-focused convocations taking place on Saturday. The Alumni Celebration will remain on Friday evening for graduates and their guests.

All graduates will be invited to attend a commencement ceremony that will feature remarks by university leaders, a keynote speaker, and will recognize all graduates for completing their degrees.  

Graduates will gather by college for more personalized ceremonies. This ceremony is where each graduate will have their moment in the spotlight and walk across the stage to be recognized individually.  

For the full commencement experience, we encourage graduates to attend both commencement and convocation ceremonies as they complement each other. In addition, we recommend attending the Alumni Celebration which provides fun, food, and entertainment for graduates and their guests.

A commencement guidebook will be loaded onto the commencement app and emailed to each graduate with check-in details, parking, maps, and more.

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for each ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

Graduate names will be read during the convocation ceremony on Saturday. Please see the individual commencement page for further details.  

The Friday commencement ceremony is typically one and a half hours.

A commencement guidebook will be loaded onto the commencement app and emailed to each graduate with check-in details, parking, maps, and much more. 

Graduates are recommended to bring up to 8 guests, but tickets are not required to enter the commencement ceremony. Please feel free to bring your extra guests. Graduates do not need to update their initial guest count with the Commencement Office.  

Tickets are not required for WGU commencement weekend events.  

Only the names of graduates who physically attend an in-person commencement or submit a video to a virtual commencement will have their names read.

Policies vary by location and venue. Please consult the commencement app for further details three weeks prior to the ceremony date.  

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

You can watch the commencement ceremony at the WGU YouTube channel at any point after the start of the ceremony.

The commencement photos are usually available 2-3 weeks after commencement. Those photos will be available for viewing at https://thegradteam.com/events/wgu/

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