Commencement FAQs

The ceremony will be held on May 10, 2013 at 12pm noon.

The ceremony will be held in Exhibition Hall A at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North 3rd Street, www.richmondcenter.com

VCUarts is proud to have Teresita Fernández as the 2013 commencement speaker. An MFA alumna from the Department of Sculpture + Extended Media, Fernández’s work can be seen worldwide. Her contributions to the world of arts and culture include serving on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a position appointed by President Obama. For more about Teresita Fernández, please go here.

• Everyone should arrive at 11:30 am
• Students will go to the sign in and line up area in E10
• Family & friends will go to their seats in Exhibition Hall A
• Very light refreshments will be provided in the exhibition hall before the event.

Faculty should arrive at 11:30 am and go to the line up area inside E10

Tickets for guests are required for the May 10 2013 VCUarts commencement ceremony at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.  Starting Friday April 12, and until May 3, each May graduate and registered walker may pick up a maximum of eight guest tickets from the VCUarts Dean’s Office, room 201 Pollak between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.  You must bring your student ID.  Any tickets not picked up by the end of business on May 3 will be released to those on the wait list starting Monday May 6.

Students may request waitlisted tickets by emailing Jody Symula at jlsymula@vcu.edu.  Put ‘waitlisted tickets’ in the subject line and state how many you request.  The availability of additional tickets will be based on the number that remain after all graduates and walkers have picked up their maximum allotment of 8 tickets between April 12 and May 3.  Requested waitlisted tickets will be available for pickup in the Dean’s Office starting Monday May 6 until Thursday May 9th.  Any tickets that are not picked up, along with any extras, will be available the day of at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

We encourage students to obtain tickets only for guaranteed guests.

Please note the Dean’s Office is open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.  You may call with questions at 804.828.2787.

You can attend both, one, or neither, it is completely optional.

No, if you have successfully submitted your graduation application to your department, you are automatically included.

Yes, you may not participate in the ceremony without proper regalia.  Information on how to obtain regalia has been emailed to you from the University, but it is also available at the Commencement website  www.vcu.edu/commencement/index.html

You can find out everything that you need to know about the University commencement at www.vcu.edu/commencement/index.html

Yes, it is. Please come at 11:30 am to find a good location. Wheelchairs cannot block the aisles.

We will have a small snack available as your family and friends walk in to take their seats. There will be a small snack available in the line up area for the faculty and graduates. The ceremony will be over by 1:30pm in order for you and your friends to then move on to a nice lunch at any of the great restaurants throughout Richmond. We recommend that you make reservations – it will be a busy day for restaurants.

• Art Education
• Art History
• Cinema
• Communication Arts
• Craft/Material Studies
• Dance & Choreography
• Fashion Design & Merchandising
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Kinetic Imaging
• MIS Program
• Music
• Painting & Printmaking
• Photography & Film
• Sculpture + Extended Media
• Theatre

The Convention Center Parking Deck is available for a small fee.

Please visit www.richmondcenter.com for directions.

All May graduates and walkers will have their names called, walk across the stage and be congratulated by your chair and the dean.

Photo Specialties (http://www.photospecialties.com) will be taking professional photos of graduates as they cross and descend the stage. Friends and family will also have the opportunity to takes photos of graduates from a designated photo pit in front of the stage. Additionally, there will be a VCUarts logo backdrop set up before the ceremony outside the line up area. After the ceremony it will be set up in the back of the auditorium.

No, however this distinction will be indicated on you diploma and on your transcript.

No. All graduates and ‘walkers’ will be handed a prop diploma on the stage.  Diplomas selected for pickup will be available in the Harris Hall Student Services Center, 1015 Floyd Ave., Room 1100, during office hours beginning on or after Monday, June 10. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If a third party plans to pick up your diploma, you must notify the Graduation Office at (804) 828-1917 on the same day to authorize the pickup. Diplomas not picked up by June 28 will be mailed starting July 1. Diplomas selected for mailing will be mailed beginning June 10.

The School of the Arts takes great pride in recognizing its graduates. If you have any questions or need more information about the VCUarts ceremony, please call the Dean’s Office at (804) 828-2787.  If you have questions about the University ceremony on Saturday, please call the Graduation Office at (804) 828-1917.

It is preferred that you attend the December ceremony as an official graduate of VCUarts. August graduates may attend the previous May ceremony as a walker only if they have six or less credits to take to complete degree requirements over the summer. You must send an email to Jody Symula at jlsymula@vcu.edu if you fit the credit criteria and wish to walk in the May ceremony. Being a walker means that you walk across the stage and have your name called like May graduates, but your name will not be printed in the May program. All August grads are welcome to attend the December ceremony as official graduates.

The ceremony will be held on December 8, 2012 at 1:00. Students should arrive at 12:30.

The ceremony will be in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue, on the corner of Park Avenue and Harrison Street.

Those participating in the ceremony should arrive at 12:30. Line up will be in the Theater.

Yes, tickets are required.  All students were contacted regarding tickets and reservations.  Questions?  Contact Jody Symula at jlsymula@vcu.edu.  Any guests that do no have tickets are welcome to watch a live streaming of the ceremony across the hall in the Theatre.

No, you may attend one, both, or neither.

Yes, a cap and gown are required for graduating students. Graduating students may not attend without proper regalia.  Please visit the University Commencement website for more information.

All August and December graduates names will be printed in the December VCUarts program only.

Yes. All students who attend the VCUarts ceremony will have their name called when they walk across the stage.

You can find out everything that you need to know about the University commencement at http://www.commencement.vcu.edu/index.html. (December graduation information will be updated the start of the Fall semester)

Yes. Please keep in mind the chairs inside the concert hall are fixed. However, guests in wheelchairs and their families can be accommodated with seating in the front, in the back row, or in an aisle. An attendant will assist you once you are inside the building.

There will be light snacks available for students in the Theater when you line up.  However, it is strongly encouraged that all guests and students have lunch before the ceremony.

• Art Education
• Art History
• Cinema
• Communication Arts
• Craft/Material Studies
• Dance & Choreography
• Fashion Design & Merchandising
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Kinetic Imaging
• MIS Program
• Music
• Painting & Printmaking
• Photography & Film
• Sculpture + Extended Media
• Theatre

Parking will be available at the Broad Street Parking Deck at 1111 West Broad Street.

Driving directions are available here.

Yes, all August and December graduates will have their names called, walk across the stage and be congratulated by your chair and dean.

Parents, family and guests will take a seat in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall upon arrival. Students will get a name card when they arrive. This card will be used to call your name when you walk across the stage. You will then head to the Theatre on the other side of the lobby to line up. You may feel free to take photos in front of the photo op banner before doing so.

Guests may take photographs from their seats only. Photo Specialties will be taking professional photos of graduates as they cross and descend the stage. Additionally, there will be a VCUarts logo backdrop set up in the lobby for family friends and graduates to take photographs before and after the ceremony.

No, however this distinction will be indicated on your diploma and on your transcript.

No. All graduates and ‘walkers’ will be handed a prop diploma on the stage. Actual diplomas will be available for pickup in the Harris Hall Student Services Center, 1015 Floyd Avenue, room 1100 during office hours in January. Please contact the Graduation Office for specifics. If a third party plans to pick up your diploma, you must notify the Graduation Office at 804 828-1917 on the same day to authorize the pickup. Diplomas not picked up will be mailed unless otherwise stated on the graduation application. Questions? Call the Graduation Office (804) 828-1917.

The School of the Arts takes great pride in recognizing its graduates. If you have any questions or need more information, please call the Dean’s Office at (804) 828-2787.

If you officially graduate in May, your name will be printed in the May VCUarts program. If you officially graduate in August or December, your name will be printed in the December VCUarts program.

Yes, all students who attend the VCUarts ceremony will have their name called when they walk across stage, whether they are a walker or an official graduate.