Washington University in St. Louis student donning graduation attire stands proudly with family, capturing a moment of achievement and togetherness.

Graduation Information for Families and Guests

Undergraduate Students

The College of Arts & Sciences will hold its Recognition Ceremony for undergraduate students in historic Francis Olympic Field on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. At this ceremony, undergraduate students will be called individually by name to process across the stage. This is a rain or shine event. We expect the ceremony should conclude between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

Graduate Students

The Office of Graduate Studies will hold the Arts & Sciences Hooding and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, May 9, 2024, at 3 p.m. in Graham Chapel. The Hooding & Recognition Ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of those who have completed a PhD or master’s degree in departments and programs in Arts & Sciences. Students will be recognized and cross the stage individually.

Please note that the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Science (DBBS) will have a separate Hooding and Recognition ceremony on Friday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the 560 Music Center. All graduating DBBS students should attend the DBBS Hooding ceremony, graduate students from all other A&S departments and programs should register and attend the hooding ceremony in Graham Chapel. 


Alternate Viewing Options

Both ceremonies will be streamed live to additional locations on campus, and the ceremonies may also be viewed from off campus, using the livestream links which will be available on this page closer to the ceremony. 

For the undergraduate ceremony, we anticipate having more than enough seating on Francis Field for all families and guests, however depending on the weather some guests may find the indoor viewing location to be more comfortable. Remote viewing locations will be announced during the spring semester..

For the graduate cermony and due to space limitations in Graham Chapel, we are asking each graduate student to limit the amount of in-person guests at the ceremony to four (4) per graduate. We will also livestream the ceremony on campus, so if you have a large group of people planning to attend the ceremony we ask that you plan to have guests over the limit plan to watch from the livestream location. All guests are welcome to attend the reception for graduate students and their guests following the ceremony. The graduating student will be asked to indicate how many guests they expect to have attend the ceremony during the registration process. 

Guest Policies for A&S Ceremonies

Ticketing Policy

We anticipate both the undergraduate and graduate Arts & Sciences ceremonies will require tickets for entry, more information will be posted during the spring semester.

More Information on the Ticketing Policy

Bag Policy

Guests are strongly encouraged not to bring bags. If you must bring a bag, it must meet our bag policy requirements. Students are not allowed to bring bags with them during the ceremonies.

Review the Bag Policy

Prohibited Items

Many items are prohibited in all university and school ceremonies and events, and are subject to confiscation.

Review the list of prohibited items
Washington University in St. Louis students, friends, and families joyfully exiting the graduation ceremony venue, marking a memorable and celebratory occasion.

Parking

Drop Off and Ride Share Services

All guests are strongly encouraged to take a hotel shuttle, taxi, or ride-sharing service. Shuttles, Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers may drop off guests in the lot south of Simon Hall (168). This lot is only accessible via Forsyth Boulevard and Wallace Drive. A secondary drop-off location will be directly in the designated pickup/drop-off area on the south side of Mallinckrodt (150). Numbers in parentheses correspond to the building numbers on the campus map.

See the Campus Map for Drop Off Locations

Undergraduate Ceremony

For undergraduate students, visitors may park in the following university parking garages: the East End (201), Millbrook (202), and Snow Way (204).  Numbers in parentheses correspond to the building numbers on the campus map.

See the Campus Map for Parking Lot Locations

Graduate Ceremony

For the graduate ceremony, parking for guests is recommended in the Danforth University Center Garage (200) but also available in the following university parking garages: Millbrook (202) and Snow Way (204). Numbers in parentheses correspond to the building numbers on the campus map.

See the Campus Map for Parking Lot Locations

Food and Beverage Policies

Please note, no food or beverages are allowed at either of the A&S ceremony sites (Francis Olympic Field or Graham Chapel) for graduates, families, visitors, faculty, or staff. This includes any beverages purchased on campus prior to the ceremony. Water stations will be available on Francis Olympic Field but disposable cups will be limited, we encourage you to bring your own refillable water bottles.

Additional Details

Undergraduate Ceremony

Washington University is committed to being a national leader in sustainability. Four refillable water stations will be located in close proximity to the ceremony: two on the east side of Francis Olympic Field, one on the west side of Francis Olympic Field, and one by the north entrance of Simon Hall. We encourage you to bring a refillable water bottle and refill them at any of the water stations.

The closest restroom locations to the Arts & Sciences undergraduate ceremony are located in Seigle Hall, Simon Hall, and the Athletic Complex. These buildings will remain open to the public throughout the day. Restrooms will also be available on Francis Olympic Field, but with limited capacity. 

At the undergraduate ceremony, graduates will be recognized individually by major. A professional photographer photographs each graduate, and the proofs are emailed to students shortly after the ceremony. We expect the ceremony should conclude between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

Please contact the College of Arts & Sciences with questions at 314-935-6800 or artsci-asrecog@email.wustl.edu. 

Graduate Ceremony

The closest restroom locations to the Arts & Sciences graduate ceremony are located in the Danforth University Center (DUC)  and in the basement of Graham Chapel. Students checking in should use the restroom in the Danforth University Center (DUC) until the start of the ceremony. Guests should use the Graham Chapel basement.  

Washington University is committed to being a national leader in sustainability. Four refillable water stations will be located in close proximity to the ceremony: one south of Eads Hall, one north of Mudd Field, one south of Cupples II Hall, and one by the north entrance of Simon Hall. Please bring refillable water bottles and refill them at any of the aforementioned locations. Please note that no food or beverages are allowed inside Graham Chapel. 

A professional photographer photographs each graduate, and the proofs are emailed to students shortly after the ceremony. The ceremony should conclude about 5:00 p.m, with a brief reception to follow in Bowles Plaza.

Please contact the Arts & Sciences Office of Graduate Studies at (314) 935-6880 or artscigrads@wustl.edu. 

Accessibility

General information, including accessibility maps and information about buildings on campus can be found on our Facilities website. 

For those needing to drop off guests with accessibility needs, please enter via Forsyth Boulevard and northbound Wallace Drive and follow the posted signage to the designated drop-off location.  

Accessible parking is available to those displaying a state-issued accessible placard or license plate in the Danforth University Center Garage (DUC). Accessible parking in the DUC Garage may only be accessed via Wallace Drive and Forsyth Boulevard.

Sign Language

An American Sign Language interpreter will be present during the A&S ceremonies and during the all-university commencement ceremony.

Wheelchair Reservations

We will have a limited number of wheelchairs available for each of the Arts & Sciences ceremonies. Please use the linked forms below to request a wheelchair, they are first-come, first-served based on reservations. All reservations must be made by Monday, May 5, 2025. Our team will be in touch with those that have filled out the reservation form roughly a week before the ceremony to confirm the details of your reservation. 

Wheelchair Reservations for the Graduate Hooding Ceremony

Wheelchair Reservations for the Undergradaute Recognition Ceremony

Accessible Seating

For the undergraduate ceremony, the entrances into Francis Olympic Field are accessible. Once inside the field, ushers will be available to assist with seating. 

For the graduate ceremony, the entrance into Graham Chapel is accessible. Once inside the Chapel, ushers will be available to assist with seating. 

Accessibility maps and information about buildings on campus can be found on our Facilities website. 

Golf Carts

To meet the needs of guests requiring transportation assistance before and immediately following the ceremonies, we anticipate golf carts will circulate around the interior of the Danforth Campus on the day of each ceremony. More details will be shared during the spring semester.

Looking for information for ceremony participants?

See Our Student Information Page