Washington University in St. Louis graduates holding Arts & Sciences flags.

Graduation Information for Students

Undergraduate Students

The College of Arts & Sciences will hold its Recognition Ceremony in historic Francis Olympic Field on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. This is a rain or shine event. More information will be posted about the ceremony during the fall and spring semester. 

At the Arts & Sciences Recognition Ceremony undergraduate students will be called individually by name to process across the stage.

Undergraduate students who will graduate in December 2025, or intend to graduate in August 2026 are generally able to participate in the May 2026 ceremony. Undergraduate students should register to participate in the recognition ceremony no later than Friday, April 17, 2026 to confirm their participation. Please e-mail artsci-asrecog@email.wustl.edu if you have questions about your participation.

If you have questions or accessibility concerns about the ceremony, please contact the College of Arts & Sciences at artsci-asrecog@email.wustl.edu as soon as possible.

Graduate Students

The Arts & Sciences Hooding and Recognition Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 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 who have an expected graduation date on or before August 2026 are invited to participate.

Graduate students should complete the ceremony registration form no later than Monday, March 09, 2026 to confirm their participation. 

 You will also need to rent regalia through the bookstore. Graduates may invite one faculty member to participate in the hooding ceremony (your hooder). You will need to enter your hooder's information in the registration form, if your faculty member is unable to participate in the hooding ceremony, the Office of Graduate Studies will have a faculty member at the ceremony to hood you. Graduating students may include their children during the hooding ceremony, please indicate this on the RSVP form so we can plan appropriately. More information will be posted about the ceremony during the fall and spring semester. 

Additionally, 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 livestream the ceremony in Wrighton Hall, Room 300, 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 there. 

Please note that the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Science (DBBS) will have a separate Hooding and Recognition ceremony on Tuesday, May 12, at 9:00 a.m. in Graham Chapel. 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 graduate hooding ceremony on Wednesday. 

If you have questions or accessibility concerns about the ceremony, please e-mail the Office of Graduate Studies at artscigrads@wustl.edu

Photos of Ceremony Participants

Undergraduate Students

Photos will be taken of ceremony participants by GradImages. Once the photos are ready to view, GradImages will e-mail ceremony participants directly with a link to their photos. You can also search the GradImages website for your name with Washington University.

GradImages Website

Graduate Students

Kabance Photo Services will take photographs of ceremony participants. Once the photos are ready to view, Kabance will e-mail ceremony participants directly with a link to their photos. You can also search the Kabance website.

Kabance Photo

Regalia

All students participating in any of the A&S graduation ceremonies or the all-university Commencement ceremony must wear regalia. You should order your regalia online from the campus bookstore.

Reserve Your Regalia

Line Up for A&S Ceremonies

Undergraduate Students

More information will be posted about line-up during the spring 2026 semester.

Students may not bring bags of any type onto Francis Olympic Field during the Arts & Sciences undergraduate ceremony or the all-university commencement ceremony. Please plan and do not bring a bag, including the bag your regalia comes in, or any other prohibited items. Your rented regalia contains pockets that will accommodate small items (keys, phone, etc.)

Graduate Students

More information will be posted about line-up during the spring 2026 semester.

Students may not bring bags of any type with them during the ceremony, including the bag your regalia comes in. Please plan and do not bring a bag or any other prohibited items. Your rented regalia contains pockets that will accommodate small items (keys, phone, etc.). Master's students should wear their hoods, doctoral students should bring but not wear their hoods.

Faculty and Non-Student Ceremony Participants

Faculty members and any other non-student participants who are invited to participate in the A&S ceremonies will be communicated with about their participation via e-mail. Additional information about line-up and timing will be circulated via e-mail. 

All ceremony participants will need to wear regalia. Faculty members who do not own regalia can rent regalia through the campus bookstore. Additional information about regalia will be posted during the spring semester. 

Looking for information for families and guests?

See our information page for families and guests