Schedule of Commencement Events 2026
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Law
| Date/Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Wednesday, February 3 - 4 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Law Grad Fair, Law School Moot Court Lobby |
| Wednesday, May 13 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
Required Commencement Rehearsal, Stemmons Plaza, facing Huntley Hall, between Reid Hall and Newcomb Hall (dress: casual). All students participating in commencement are REQUIRED to attend the rehearsal on Wednesday, May 13. Rain Location: Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center |
| Thursday, May 14 | |
| 3 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. | Awards Ceremony and Presentation of Walking Sticks, 4th floor in Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center, Holekamp Gym (Dress: Business Casual) |
| 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | Champagne, Fireworks, and Music, Sydney Lewis Hall Lawn (Dress: Casual) *The fireworks display will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain; fireworks will go off if it is only drizzling or a light rain is falling. (Rain location: Evans Dining Hall) |
| Friday, May 15 | |
9 a.m. |
Pictures of alumni parents and their graduating children. Front Lawn, in front of the President's home (Lee House) and the Simpson House. Information to be sent by the Law School Advancement Office Rain Location: TBD |
| 9:15 a.m. | J.D. graduating class photo. Front Lawn, in front of the President's home (Lee House) and the Simpson House. Rain plan: For anything more than a drizzle, this picture will be cancelled. |
| 9:20 a.m. | Graduates line up, Stemmons Plaza between Newcomb Hall and Reid Hall, facing Huntley Hall Rain Location: 4th floor in Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center, outside Holekamp Gym |
| 10 a.m. | Law Commencement, Colonnade, in front of University Chapel Speaker: Brian C. Murchison, Charles S. Rowe Professor of Law (Rain Location: Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center; remote viewing locations in Stackhouse Theater and Hillel Multipurpose Room) |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Law Graduation Picnic, Cannan Green (tent on green space between Elrod Commons and Doremus Gym) (Rain location: Evans Dining Hall) |
Undergraduate
| Date/Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday - Friday, March 11 - 13, 2026 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Undergraduate Grad Fair, Elrod University Commons Atrium |
| Tuesday, March 31, 2026 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
Reception for Graduating Seniors, Lee House Patio |
| Tuesday, May 19, 2026 5 p.m. |
Athletics Awards Ceremony, Holekamp Gym, Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center Recognition of participation and achievements among 24 varsity teams, followed by Dinner in Evans Hall |
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 4:45 p.m. |
English Department Awards Ceremony, Mason Taylor New Room |
| Saturday, May 23, 2026 | Final examinations |
| Monday, May 25, 2026 | |
| 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Regalia (Cap and Gown) distribution, Elrod Commons, Career and Professional Development Office |
| 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Alumni Senior Night, Liberty Hall Ruins. Entertainment, Food. Senior Photo will be taken at 7:30 SHARP. Sponsored by The Alumni Association. ( Rain Location: Evans Hall) |
| Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. |
The Journalism and Mass Communication Graduate Cocktail Reception, Watson Galleries Rotunda |
| 8 p.m. | Join The University Singers under the direction of Shane M. Lynch for one final concert performance of the year featuring favorite works from throughout the 2025-26 season selected by the seniors. This annual tradition is designed for parents and family of the graduating students, but is also open to the public. No tickets are required. Wilson Concert Hall. |
| Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Education Studies Graduation Reception, Newcomb Hall 122 |
| 9:30 a.m. | Graduates line up, Stemmons Plaza behind Washington Hall, in front of Huntley Hall (Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St) |
| 10 a.m. | Undergraduate Baccalaureate, Colonnade, in front of University Chapel Speaker: TBA (Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St) |
| 11 a.m. | University Library Commencement and Birthday Congratulations, Outside of Leyburn Library |
| 11:30 a.m. | Luncheon for Families, Faculty, and Staff, Cannan Green (tent near the Elrod Commons) |
| 12:30 p.m. | President's Open House for Parents, Lee House. Ends promptly at 2:00 pm |
| 1 p.m. | Williams School Awards Ceremony, Huntley Hall Terrace (by invitation) Rain Location: New Williams School Building |
| 1:30 p.m. | Fine Arts Awards Ceremony and Reception, Wilson Concert Hall (Reception will follow in Lykes Atrium) |
| 2 p.m. | Sociology and Anthropology Graduation Reception, Newcomb Hall 116 |
| 2 p.m. | Philosophy Department Reception for Graduating Seniors and Families, Elrod Commons 114 |
| 2 p.m. | Mathematics Department Reception for Graduating Seniors and Families, Chavis Hall 105 |
| 2 p.m. | Special Collections and Archives and Lewis F. Powell Archives Pop Up Display, Leyburn Library Main Floor |
| 2:30 p.m. | Computer Science Graduation Reception, Science Center Great Hall |
| 4 p.m. | Religion Department Reception, (Invitation Only) Outdoor Village Pavilion |
| 4:30 p.m. | Reception for graduating Theatre, Dance and Film Studies Majors and Minors and Families, Johnson Theatre, Lenfest |
| 4:30 p.m. | Neuroscience Reception for Seniors, Families, and Faculty, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium |
| 5 p.m. | CIE International Education Awards, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium (by invitation) |
| 5:30 p.m. | Africana Studies/DeLaney Center Graduation Sendoff, Watson Galleries |
| Thursday, May 28, 2026 | |
| 7:45 a.m. | Cognitive and Behavioral Science Graduation Breakfast, Hotchkiss Alumni House |
| 8 a.m. | Classics Department Continental Breakfast, Mason Taylor New Room, Payne Hall |
| 8 a.m. | East Asian Languages and Literatures Department Continental Breakfast, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium |
| 8 a.m. | Physics and Engineering Department Graduation Breakfast, Science Center Great Hall |
| 8 a.m. | Williams School Commencement Breakfast, New Williams School Building |
| 8 a.m. | Shepherd Program Commencement Breakfast, Mattingly House |
| 8 a.m. | Earth and Environmental Geoscience Graduation Breakfast, A218 Science Center |
| 8:30 a.m. | History Department Coffee, Scones, and Muffins Reception for History Majors and Families, Newcomb Hall, (Lawn between Newcomb and Huntley Halls) |
| 8:45 a.m. | Pictures of Alumni Parents and their graduating children, in front of Simpson House (Rain Location: Harte Center Gallery). Information to be sent by the Alumni Office |
| 9 a.m. | University Library Commencement and Birthday Congratulations, Outside of Leyburn Library |
| 9:15 a.m. | Graduates line up, Stemmons Plaza behind Washington Hall, in front of Huntley Hall (Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St) |
| 10 a.m. | Undergraduate Commencement, Colonnade, in front of University Chapel Speakers: William C. Dudley, Washington and Lee University President. Meaghan Endres '26, EC President (Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St). Remote viewing available at the Smart Zone on the main floor of Leyburn Library and in Newcomb Hall. Web streaming of the entire ceremony is available at go.wlu.edu/commencementlive. |
| 11 a.m. | Art Museum Open House, Watson Galleries |
| after graduation | University Library Commencement and Birthday Congratulations, Outside of Leyburn Library |
| after graduation | Biology Department Luncheon, Hotchkiss Alumni House |
| after graduation | International Student Graduation Reception, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium |
| after graduation | Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Luncheon, Science Center Great Hall |
| 5 p.m. | ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, University Chapel |