Washington University in St. Louis has canceled the Commencement ceremony on May 15, due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
We know that this decision is very disappointing for our graduates and their families. Our students work incredibly hard to reach this milestone and deserve to be celebrated.
We are working through what will happen in order for students to officially graduate, and graduating students can expect to learn more about these plans and a way for us to celebrate the Class of 2020 very soon and throughout the remainder of the semester.
Getting ready to graduate
File your Intent to Graduate
All Washington University students are required to file an Intent to Graduate in order to graduate or to participate in Commencement exercises. Deadlines for filing an Intent are established by the schools and posted at WebSTAC with the online Intent form.
Save the date
Commencement happens May 21, 2021! Make a note of the full details about the day and your individual recognition ceremony.
Reserve your regalia
Danforth Campus
Please order your regalia online here.
Payment is due upon pickup at the bookstore.
Medical Campus
Please order your regalia online here.
Payment is due upon pickup at the Medical Campus bookstore at the Mid-Campus Center (map).
Regalia pickup and return
Regalia pickup and return information may be found here.
On which side does the tassel go?
Undergraduates
Candidates receiving an undergraduate degree should wear tassels on the right prior to and during the ceremony, and move their tassels from the right to the left after the chancellor confers their degrees.
Graduates
Candidates receiving a graduate degree should wear tassels on the left for the entire ceremony. Graduates should also process into Brookings Quadrangle wearing their hood.
Graduation announcements
Assembly point and procession
By 8 a.m., all candidates must be at the assembly point designated for each school.
- The procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp, led by the grand marshal, the chancellor, members of the administration, the Board of Trustees, honorary degree recipients, faculty, and alumni from the 50th reunion class.
- The student divisions will follow the procession leaders according to the order shown on the procession order and assembly points chart.
- Candidates should march in front of or behind the person with whom they wish to sit, not side by side. View the seating chart to see how Commencement seating is arranged.
- Caps should be removed for the singing of “America the Beautiful.”
Share your college memories
Distribution of diplomas
Diplomas will be distributed at individual recognition ceremonies and receptions following Commencement.
For any graduates unable to attend Commencement, diplomas will be held for pickup until June 1, 2021, at:
Office of the University RegistrarOlin Women’s Building
Room 50, lower level
(314) 935-5959
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Diplomas not picked up by June 1, 2021 will be mailed to the address listed on the student’s Intent to Graduate form. Learn more about diploma distribution on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.
Per tradition, certain schools confer their degrees in Latin. Read the Latin Diploma Translations.
CELEBRATE WASHU
Browse campus stores for diploma frames, gifts for graduating students, and a variety of other WashU merchandise.
Danforth Campus Bookstore
Medical Campus Bookstore
Bear Necessities Shop