WCL's ceremony will be held in Bender Arena on Sunday, May 24. 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.
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 23, 2009, at the Organization of American States, located at 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 to 7 pm and one from 8 to 10 pm. 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 15, 2009. Please note there is a limit of five guests per graduate (a total of six including the graduate) to the reception.
Candidates for degrees should have filed a Notice of Intent to Graduate Form in the Office of the Registrar during the registration period for their final semester of study. See the Docket 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.
(Mention American University Washington College of Law Commencement when making your arrangements, and make them soon!!):
Information about renting caps, gowns and hoods is provided through the Docket. If you miss this information (normally provided by mid-February) contact Herff-Jones (703-631-0392).
PICK-UP OF REGALIA: Friday, May 22, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, Saturday, May 23, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm and Sunday, May 24, beginning at 10:00 am in the Campus Store (Butler Pavilion) on the main campus above Bender Arena.
RETURN OF REGALIA: Sunday, May 24, following the ceremony, until 6:00 pm, in the Campus Store (Butler Pavilion). You may keep your tassel when you return regalia. N.B. The University requires that we hold transcripts and bar forms of those who do not return regalia.
Class Photos will be taken in the AU Amphitheater at 11:30 am (LL.M.) and at 11:45 am (J.D.). Individual Photo: A professional photographer will take pictures of each graduate as he/she receives the diploma. A videotape of the ceremony also will be available for purchase from the same photographer. Order forms for both will be mailed to you after commencement.
Students and parents may pre-register their information with the photographer to be notified as soon as photographs are available for viewing online.
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.
The Bender Convocation Center is handicapped accessible. For further information please call 202-274-4030. SEATING Admission tickets are NOT required and seating is open. Spaces will be reserved for persons with disabilities if requested by 4:00 pm on Friday, May 22.
A reception for graduates and their guests will be held on the university campus quadrangle immediately following the ceremony. Tickets are not necessary.
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) Elleni Ghebermicael, ILSP Office, (202-274-4112).
You may call the Office of the Registrar (202-274-4080) on Friday afternoon (May 22) 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.
