December 2025 Commencement

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.

Parking will be free for graduates and their guests at the VCU West Main Street Deck and the West Cary 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. You will enter through a rear door at Altria along Main Street and facing back toward Cherry Street. You will go downstairs to the ballroom to prepare for the ceremony.

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 the Monroe Park Barnes & Noble or order online.

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.

The following items are prohibited at the Altria Theater. See more details and information about the venue's new bag policy. 

• Oversized bags (maximum size allowed is 12" x 8" x 6")
• Backpacks
• Laptop Bags
• Boxes
• Briefcases
• Outside food items
• Outside beverage items
• Cans, bottles, coolers, or similar containers
• Video cameras
• Audio recorders
• Laser pens or laser products
• Noisemaking devices (horns, whistles, etc)
• Projectiles (frisbees, beach balls, etc)
• Banners or signs
• Stickers
• Skateboards, skates, or scooters
• Firearms or weapons of any kind
• Sticks or poles
• Illegal drugs or substances
• Fireworks or other incendiary devices
• Strollers (must remain in lobby)
• Any other item deemed unacceptable by Altria Theater management, performing Artists, or promoters

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, Dec. 13, at the Siegel Center.

The VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs sponsors cultural celebrations to acknowledge the academic accomplishments of graduating students while recognizing the histories and contributions of various communities. These ceremonies offer graduates the opportunity to honor their achievements alongside family, friends, and supporters in a setting that reflects shared experiences and traditions.

Participation in any Cultural Celebration is open to all graduating students, and all are welcome to attend. Ceremonies include:

• Donning of the Kente Ceremony
• Accessibility Achievement Ceremony
• Latine Achievement Ceremony
• Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American Graduation Ceremony
• Lavender Graduation Ceremony
• Native, Tribal, & Indigenous Graduation Ceremony

Check back for updates about December ceremonies. 

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. 

December 2025 Commencement

Accessibility at the Altria Theater: Please review the Altria website for details around service animals, elevators, restrooms, wheelchair seating and more. 

Parking: the VCU West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks are both nearby and offer accommodative parking options. Details 

Conferral for December 2025 graduates will be in late December. Degrees will post to your record by mid-January 2026. 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.

Diplomas will be mailed beginning mid-February 2026 to the address provided during graduation checkout. To receive your diploma, you must meet all financial obligations to the university. Diplomas will be on hold for students who have not met their financial obligations.

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, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (Twitter). 

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