Commencement Instructions

Congratulations to our Graduates!

This page provides specific instructions to assist you with planning and attendance during the various events for Commencement.

You are responsible to read and follow all Commencement directions.

1. Schedule
Please see the Master Schedule of Events for Commencement. You are welcome to participate in all of these events.

2. Checklist
Please see the Commencement Checklist which is your guide to essential tasks you must fulfill in order to graduate.  Be sure to RSVP by Friday May 10, 2019.

3. Announcements
10 Commencement announcements are available for pickup beginning the week of April 22, 2019, Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 6:30pm in the Dean of Student Services office, Main 223.

4. Graduation Survey
Please complete the Graduation Survey online.

5. Requirements
You are responsible to meet with your academic advisor to be sure that you have fulfilled all of your requirements for graduation. You and your advisor should complete the Graduation Verification Checklist before Monday April 1, 2019 to be sure you have met all requirements.

6. Short Credits
Undergraduate students who are within six credits of the 120 credits required for the bachelor’s degree may wear the black academic robe and mortarboard, but not the hood that signifies degree completion. These students may march in the academic procession. However, their names are not in the program nor are these names called during the graduation ceremony. No exceptions.

7. Payments
By Friday April 26, 2019, students must settle all financial accounts, including student loan counseling as well as the master account balances, to Trinity’s satisfaction in order to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Students with outstanding balances after April 26 will NOT be listed in the program nor may they participate in the ceremony.

8. Regalia
Undergraduate: Regalia includes the mortarboard (cap), black tassel and black undergraduate gown, as well as the academic hood that signifies degree completion. The satin lining of the hood reflects Trinity’s school colors, purple and gold; the outer velvet lining signifies the type of degree the student receives. Students receiving AA degrees will receive satin collars.

Graduate: Regalia includes the mortarboard (cap), black tassel and black master’s gown, as well as the academic hood that signifies degree completion. The satin lining of the hood reflects Trinity’s school colors, purple and gold; the outer velvet lining signifies the type of degree the student receives.

NO items (medals, sashes, cords, decorations, etc.) may appear on any part of the regalia other than those approved by Trinity.

Academic regalia will be available for purchase at the Trinity Bookstore according to the schedule that the bookstore will post.

9. Interfaith Prayer Service
Campus Ministry will hold an Interfaith Prayer Service leading to graduation. The Service takes place on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 4:30pm in Notre Dame Chapel.

4:00pm before Service: Seniors participating in the Interfaith Service should come directly to Notre Dame Chapel. Seniors do not wear academic regalia for mass and there will not be a procession.

10. Graduation Rehearsal
Business and Graduate Studies, School of Professional Studies, Nursing and Health Professions and School of Education: 
Graduates must attend graduation rehearsal at 5:00pm on Thursday May 16, 2019 in the Payden Academic Center.  We will have refreshments available in the Payden Lobby at 5:00 p.m. for graduating students only.  .

College of Arts and Sciences:  Graduates must attend graduation rehearsal at 11:00 am on Friday, May 17, 2019 in O’Connor Auditorium, if you intend to participate in Commencement.

Please do not bring children to rehearsal or the reception. Guests are not permitted to attend rehearsal or the reception.

If for some reason you cannot attend rehearsal, you must contact the Dean of Student Services at 202-884-9611 ocommencement@trinitydc.edu. If you do not notify Dean Bowie of your inability to attend rehearsal, we will assume that you are not participating in Commencement and we will drop your name from the list.

11. Senior Luncheon
A longstanding Trinity tradition, the Senior Luncheon is for undergraduate seniors in CAS, NHP and SPS to enjoy their final moments together. This luncheon takes place on Friday, May 17, 2019, at 12:30 pm in Alumnae Dining Hall. Seniors traditionally dress nicely for this elegant occasion.

12. Commencement
Commencement is on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 4:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. before Commencement: CAS seniors report to O’Connor Auditorium, Main Hall 1st Floor and all other graduates report to Payden Academic Center with your full regalia, including cap and gown, black tassel, and hood. Please dress appropriately; you should wear flat shoes, as the procession involves walking on the front lawn. NO items (medals, sashes, cords, decorations, etc.) may appear on any part of the regalia other than those approved by Trinity.

During the hour before Commencement, your class will have a group photo taken.

13. Guests
Your families and friends are welcome to attend these events:

  • Interfaith Interfaith Prayer Service.  Members of your family are welcome to attend the Interfaith Prayer Service leading to graduation. The Service takes place on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 4:30pm in Notre Dame Chapel.  Guests should arrive by 4:00pm.
  • Senior Luncheon: Members of your family are welcome to attend the Senior Luncheon. You must pay $10 in advance for tickets for each of your guests by Monday, May 13th. You  may purchase tickets from Dean Michele Bowie, Main 223, by check payable to Trinity or with cash.
  • Commencement (with limitations if it rains) (guests should arrive by 3:00 p.m.)

While we are happy to welcome all guests, we ask everyone to be courteous and considerate of others in the number of guests and their conduct during these ceremonies. We ask your cooperation in maintaining a reasonable guest group size for these events, with “reasonable guest group size” being no more than 20. All guests should be appropriately dressed and refrain from loud celebrations during the ceremony.

In the event of rain, the Commencement ceremony will be indoors and tickets will be required for guest admission to the ceremony. Each graduate received six rain tickets for the rain ceremony. No exceptions are possible to this limitation.