Graduation

May 2023 Commencement

MAY 2023 COMMENCEMENT

Virginia Union University’s May Commencement will be held on Hovey Field on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM.  School ceremonies will be held as follows:

School of Arts and Sciences Hovey Field 1:00 PM
Evelyn Reid Syphax School of Education Coburn Hall 1:00 PM
Sydney Lewis School of Business Hovey Field 3:00 PM
Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology Coburn Hall 3:00 PM

 

All ceremonies will be streamed online via the university’s channels. ​

 

COMMENCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

COMMENCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Student regalia will be picked up from the Registrar's Office beginning April 25, 2023. 

 

 

  • ​Honor cords will be picked up from the Registrar’s Office on Friday, May 12th.​

  

  • ​Graduation rehearsal will be announced at a future date.​

 

  • ​Graduating students must adhere to the Commencement Decorum guidelines.​

 

COMMENCEMENT ATTIRE AND DECORUM

Commencement Attire

Graduates participating in the May 2023 Commencement Ceremony are to wear black and white. 

  • Men must wear white collared shirts and black dress slacks. 
  • Women must wear either a black dress or a white blouse and black dress slacks or skirt.   
  • Participants should wear comfortable black shoes, being mindful that you will be walking across the turf field.

FAQS

FAQS

What does the graduation fee cover?  If graduates decide not to participate in commencement, can they receive a refund?​

  • The graduation fee includes, but is not limited to, the cost associated with review of the application; regalia an stoles where applicable; diploma production, mailing of the diploma and diploma cover.​

Where can graduates purchase a cap and gown?​

  • Regalia for bachelor and master students are ordered by the school and will be made available to students through the University Bookstore.  Doctoral students can purchase their regalia through Herrf-Jones or another vendor.​

Are graduates allowed to invite guests to commencement?​

  • The May 2023 main commencement ceremony will be held on Hovey Field.  Guest tickets are not required.​

Will the commencement ceremonies be recorded and/or streamed live?​

  • Both the main ceremony and the school ceremonies will be streamed on the university’s streaming channels.​

Will graduates be allowed to walk across the stage to receive their degrees?​

  • ​Students will walk across the stage in the school ceremonies that are held in the afternoon.  The diplomas will be mailed directly to the student 10-15 days after their degree is conferred.​

Are graduates required to participate in the in-person ceremonies?​

  • No.  Attendance at the in-person commencement ceremonies is not required.

GRADUATION READINESS CHECKLIST

GRADUATION CHECKLIST

  • Apply for graduation.​

  • Meet with your advisor to confirm that all academic requirements have been met. ​

  • Make sure your student account balance is cleared (payment plans in place) by March 24 , 2023.​

  • Check your account balance periodically on MyVUU.​

  • Contact the Office of Student Accounts at (804) 257-5711 or studentaccounts@vuu.edu if you have questions about your account.​

  • If you received any federal student loans, complete the Financial Aid Exit Counseling (https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/ ) by April 7, 2023.  ​

  • Complete the Graduating Senior Survey.​

  • Return any library resources still in your possession by May 3, 2023.​

  • Pick up regalia from the Office of the Registrar.​

If you are no longer graduating during the 2022-23 Academic Year, please send a notice to withdraw your application to Registrar@vuu.edu.​

 

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

The Baccalaureate Service will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 6PM in the Allix B. James Chapel in Coburn Hall.

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The speaker for Baccalaureate will be The Right Reverend Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. , Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

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The speaker for the May 2023 Commencement will be Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Former President of Spelman and Bennett Colleges.

CAMPUS MAP AND PARKING

PARKING

Detailed parking information will be released at a later date.

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CAMPUS MAP