Tickets are not required at the Altria Theater. Graduates may bring as many guests as they would like.

Graduating students should arrive no later than 10 a.m. ET. The ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. No entry is permitted during the processional. The ceremony will conclude by 1 p.m. Upon exiting the Siegel Center, re-entry will not be permitted.

Please allow ample time for parking. Parking will be free for graduates and their guests at the VCU Bowe Street Deck and the West Broad Street Deck.

Students should arrive wearing their cap, gown and hood for check-in. Upon arrival, follow the signs posted at the Siegel Center to get to the check-in area. The check-in area is nearest to the entrance at the corner of Harrison and Broad streets.

At check-in, students will be given a name (also referred to as a reader card) card to fill out. Students will line up based on the number on this card to ensure they come on stage as noted in the program and friends and family will know when their student’s turn is coming. Students will have the opportunity to write out their name phonetically on this card to ensure their name is read accurately. Students will need to hold onto this card until they cross the stage.

Order regalia and class rings from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 5-Friday, March 7 at the Monroe Park Barnes & Noble. Following Grad Fair, graduates can order online from March 8-April 6, including cords and stoles. Shipping charges will apply to all internet orders.

“You First at VCU” pins will be available to first-gen students during Grad Fair and after through the Office of Special Programs, 201 Hibbs Hall, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET Monday, March 7. Email youfirst@vcu.edu. 

Portraits will also be available, but graduates must provide their own regalia.

Be advised that the processional and recessional involve navigating several sets of stairs. Please wear shoes that you can comfortably walk in. See below for information on wheelchair accessibility.

Graduating students are required to leave all personal items including purses, coats, umbrellas, cameras, etc. at home, in their vehicle or with family during the ceremony. View a list of items that are prohibited at the Siegel Center. 

No outside food or drink is permitted. Please note that staff will not allow balloons or glass into the building, including gifts such as picture frames.

A professional photographer will photograph each graduate during the ceremony. Graduates must fill out their contact information on the reader card in order to be contacted by the photography company after the ceremony. 

VCU's university-wide ceremony will be at 10 a.m. ET Saturday, May 10, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

• Graduate portraits available 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Doors open at 8:30 a.m.

Graduates' RSVP

Grad Bash

3-5 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 7, Commons Plaza. Enjoy food, free swag, and get photos taken by professional photographers. 

Exit survey

Take the VCU First Destination Survey in Handshake between March 5-June 20 to let the university know about your post-graduation plans. Submit to be eligible for prize drawings and to receive a Barnes & Noble discount code.

Share your photos!

If you would like the chance for your grad picture to be featured at the VCU ceremony or on VCU social media, please fill out this form by Friday, May 2.

Registration must be completed by noon ET Monday, March 3. For any ceremony-specific questions, please reach out to the corresponding person via email:

• Donning of the Kente Ceremony | 5:30 p.m. ET May 2 | Joshua Lockhart, lockhartjcj@vcu.edu
• Accessibility Achievement Ceremony | 2 p.m. ET May 6 | Joshua Lockhart, lockhartjcj@vcu.edu
• Latine Achievement Ceremony | 5:30 p.m. ET May 5 | Jair Lecky, leckyjj@vcu.edu
• Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American Graduation Ceremony | 5:30 p.m. ET May 7 | Jair Lecky, leckyjj@vcu.edu
• Lavender Graduation Ceremony | 5:30 p.m. ET May 1 | Beck Oh, ohrn@vcu.edu
• Native, Tribal, & Indigenous Graduation Ceremony | 6 p.m. ET May 6 | Beck Oh, ohrn@vcu.edu

For general updates/questions, email omsa@vcu.edu.

Assistance: Requests for special accommodations at the school ceremony for graduating students should be made by emailing sswadvising@vcu.edu. Additional information is available through Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity or, for guests, through Equity and Access Services. 

Access to the Siegel Center 

• The drop-off zone for guests with disabilities is located in the front of the building near the intersection of Broad and Harrison streets.
• Accessible parking is available in the parking decks at the corner of Broad and Harrison streets, the corner of Bowe and Marshall streets, and the corner of Main and Laurel streets.
• Accessible entrances are located at both main entrances at the east and west ends of the building.
• The elevator is located in the center of the lobby to allow guests access to the first (arena floor level) and third floors, event permitting. Guests with disabilities and their companions are given first priority for service at the elevator.
• The arena is wheelchair-accessible. 

Accessible seating

On the day of the ceremony, event staff will be able to assist with providing directions to accessible seating areas.

• Accessible seating options exist throughout the arena in all general seating categories and view perspectives. Accessible seating is located at the top of Sections 14, 15, 32 and 35.
• Individuals who require accessible seating should request assistance from event staff, who will provide space for individuals in need of accessible seating along with one companion chair in sections 14,15, 32 or 35.

Other accommodations

All restrooms, drinking fountains, telephones and counters at points of service are accessible.

The official conferral date for May 2025 degrees is Saturday, May 17, 2025. Degrees will post to your record on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Degrees will not appear on your academic transcript until this date. Degrees will only show for those students who have satisfied all degree requirements and receive final approval. Check your academic transcript via eServices to ensure your degree has been posted before requesting official transcripts.

VCU now offers digital diplomas! These are certified electronic credentials known as a CeDiploma! You will receive an email with a link to download your credential when it is available from our trusted partner, CeCredentialTrust. This service is available to students at a charge of $17.95.

Physical diplomas will be mailed beginning Monday, June 30, 2025, to the address provided during graduation checkout. Digital (CeDiplomas) diplomas will be available for download beginning June 30. 

To receive your diploma, you must meet all financial obligations to the university. Diplomas will not be released for those students who have not met their financial obligations. Please contact the Office of the University Registrar at (804) 827-1673 or graduation@vcu.edu once those obligations have been met.

Graduates, we hope you will continue to remain engaged with the School of Social Work as alumni and take pride in our national standing as one of the nation’s top schools of social work and the highest-ranked in Virginia.

Whether it's making small contributions to the school when you can, working with your employer to serve as a field placement site, or volunteering your time, your participation in the life of the school has an amazing impact on the students who come next. Join the 12,000+ alumni of the School of Social Work nationwide, and together we can open doors for the next generation of changemakers!

We want to stay connected by sending you our quarterly alumni newsletter; and by sharing events, networking and professional development or continuing education opportunities.

Please take a moment to:

• Update your contact information, including a permanent, non-VCU email address that you regularly check.
• Sign up for VCULink, VCU’s online community for connecting students, alumni and friends of the university for career advice, industry contacts and meaningful professional relationships.
• Explore VCU and SSW continuing education opportunities. 
• Check out Volunteer@VCU.
• Browse the VCU alumni calendar.
• Make a donation.
• Sign up with Handshake to find or share job postings.
• Join our LinkedIn group for alumni.
• Continue to follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram. 

If you have questions or need assistance, you can contact the school’s alumni team at (804) 828-0154 or give2vcussw@vcu.edu.