Sunday, May 19, 2013
Bender Arena
1:00 PM

Commencement Information

WCL's ceremony will be held in Bender Arena on Sunday, May 19. The event will begin promptly at 1:00 pm (doors open at noon). The ceremony will last approximately two hours, and will be followed by a reception on the AU Quadrangle. Tickets are not required.

Commencement Celebration

Dean Claudio Grossman cordially invites graduates, their family and friends on behalf of the Washington College of Law community to a reception being held to honor this special occasion. The commencement reception will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Organization of American States, located at the 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. This is a great opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments in a spectacular setting. As one of the nicest buildings in Washington, DC, the OAS is the proper place to acknowledge your efforts and achievements in the presence of your families and the WCL community. Due to space constraints at the OAS, there will be two ceremonies: one from 5:00 to 7:00pm and one from 8:00 to 10:00pm. Please send an e-mail to rsvpgraduation@wcl.american.edu expressing your preference as to which reception you will attend and with the number of guests in your party by Friday, May 10, 2013. Please note that there is a limit of five guests per graduate (a total of six including the graduate) to the reception.

Application for Graduation

Candidates for degrees should have filed a Notice of Intent to Graduate Form in the Office of the Registrar during the registration period at the start of for their final semester of study. See MyWCL for deadline information. Only after application for graduation has been made can the Office of the Registrar begin processing the necessary information for final clearance for graduation. Students who fail to complete all degree requirements by the end of the term for which they applied to graduate must reapply in order to graduate later. The law school grants degrees at the end of each Summer, Fall, and Spring term. Commencement ceremonies are held in May to recognize students completing their degrees in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Students file an application to graduate for Summer, Fall, or Spring as they register for what they expect is their final term of study. The application triggers a review of the student's academic record to determine whether or not it is possible for the student to complete degree requirements at the end of that term. Students whose records indicate they are on schedule to graduate at the end of the term for which they have applied are invited to commencement.

Accommodations

We have made arrangements with the following hotels for discounts

  • Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion: $229.00 per night. This rate does not include taxes or parking. Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at 202-362-9300 and asking for the American University College of Law commencement block. Reservations can also be made online at http://www.embassysuitesdc.com with the group code ALC. Reservations must be made by April 18th.

  • Holiday Inn Georgetown: $195.00 per night. To make reservations, call 202-338-4600 and identify yourself as a member of the AU WCL Commencement. Must make reservations before April 18, 2012. Reserve rooms online here: using the group code "VIC" or call 1-202-338-4600 and ask to make a reservation with the American University WCL room block.

  • Washington Marriott Wardman Park: $189.00 per night. To make reservations, call 1-800-228-9290 or 202-328-2000 and mention that you are part of the American University Commencement Room Block May 2013. Reservations must be made by April 22, 2013.

Academic Regalia

To place an order to purchase or rent your academic regalia, please visit www.herffjones.com/college/graduation and enter American University Washington College of Law as the school. All orders must be placed by Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Orders placed after April 10th may incur additional fees.

PICK-UP OF REGALIA: Friday, May 17, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday, May 18, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday, May 19, beginning at 9:00 am in the Campus Store (Butler Pavilion) on the main campus above Bender Arena.

RETURN OF REGALIA: Sunday, May 19, following the ceremony, until 6:00 pm, in the Campus Store (Butler Pavilion). The University requires that we hold transcripts and bar forms of those who do not return regalia.

Photographs

TBA

Commencement Ceremony

Graduating LL.M. students should be robed and at the Amphitheater no later than 11:30 am for the group photo. Graduating J.D. students should be robed and at the Amphitheater no later than 11:45 am for the group photo. You will line up alphabetically for the academic procession at 12:15 pm. The ceremony will begin promptly at 1:00 pm.

Access for Persons with Disabilities

The Bender Convocation Center is handicapped accessible. For further information please call 202-274-4030. Admission tickets are NOT required and seating is open. For information on seating with persons with disabilities, call (202) 274-4030.

Graduation Reception

A reception for graduates and their guests will be held on the university campus quadrangle immediately following the ceremony. Tickets are not necessary.

Your Name

If you think your name might be mispronounced or do not want it read as it is to appear on your diploma please contact (for JDs) Associate Dean David Jaffe (202-274-4030); (for LLMs) Julie Yorkshire, ILSP Office (202-274-4112); Amy Tenney, Program on Law and Government (202-274-4305); (For Advocacy LLMs) Tahniat Saulat, Stephen J. Weinstein Trial Advocacy Program (202) 274-4474.

Graduation Clearance

You may call the Office of the Registrar (202-274-4080) on Friday afternoon (May 17) AFTER 1PM and we will tell you if you are clear at that time. Also, should a problem arise we will make every effort to call you immediately.

Alumnus/a in the Family?

Do you have a family member who is also a WCL alumnus/a attending graduation? If so, Dean Claudio Grossman and the Office of Development & Alumni Relations would like to extend an invitation to a brunch before commencement on May 19.

Please call Shelly Horn at 202-274-4163, or email her at shorn@wcl.american.edu with the names of the people who will be attending.

Safety Regulations

American University welcomes all guests. To ensure the comfort of our guests and in accordance with local fire safety laws, aisles must be kept clear at all times. Guests are asked to cooperate with ushers and public safety officers and to keep designated areas clear.

No large bags (backpacks, briefcases, duffel bags, etc.) will be permitted inside Bender Arena. Large signs, banners, noise makers and other objects that impede visibility or sound will not be permitted.