2018 DC-area college graduation: Dates, times and locations

WASHINGTON — For college seniors and their loved ones, graduation marks the first page of an exciting new chapter.

For the rest of the D.C. area, it can trigger migraine-level traffic headaches.

Festivities are getting underway this weekend for several schools around the area — Howard, University, American University, Catholic University and the University of D.C.

Graduates from Georgetown University, George Mason University, George Washington University and the University of Maryland walk the following weekend.

Here’s a roundup of dates, times and locations for graduation events that may impact traffic.

 

American University
(Complete information is available on the American website.)

Baccalaureate service (Kay Spiritual Life Center): Friday May 11, 4 p.m.

School of Communication commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Saturday May 12, 9 a.m.

Kogod School of Business commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Saturday May 12, 1:30 p.m.

School of International Service commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Saturday May 12, 6 p.m.

School of Public Affairs commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Sunday May 13, 10 a.m.

College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Sunday May 13, 2:30 p.m.

 

Catholic University
(Complete information is available on the Catholic website.)

Baccalaureate mass (Basilica, Great Upper Church): Friday May 11, 4 p.m.

Commencement ceremony (Basilica, east steps): Saturday May 12, 10 a.m.

 

University of D.C.
(Complete information is available on the UDC website.)

Commencement ceremony (Walter E. Washington Convention Center): Saturday May 12, 10 a.m.

 

George Mason University
(Complete information is available on the George Mason website.)

Commencement ceremony (EagleBank Arena): Friday May 18, 10 a.m.

 

Georgetown University
(Complete information is available on the Georgetown website.)

McCourt School of Public Policy commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Thursday May 17, 5:30 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)

Army ROTC commissioning ceremony (Gaston Hall): Friday May 18, 7:30 a.m.

Graduate School commencement (Healy Lawn): Friday May 18, 9 a.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)

School for Continuing Studies commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Friday May 18, 12 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)

McDonough School of Business commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Friday May 18, 3 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena; rain ceremony time for undergraduate degrees 3 p.m., rain ceremony time for graduate degrees 5:30 p.m.)

Georgetown College commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m. Diploma distribution immediately follows the ceremony at Copley Lawn. (Rain site is McDonough Arena, with a 9 a.m. ceremony for last names beginning with A-K, and an 11:30 a.m. ceremony for last names beginning with L-Z. Diploma distribution rain site is White Gravenor.)

School of Nursing and Health Studies commencement ceremony — undergraduate and graduate (Healy Lawn): Saturday May 19, 2 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)

Medical School military commissioning ceremony (New Research Building Auditorium): Saturday May 19, 2 p.m.

School of Nursing and Health Studies reception and diploma distribution (Leavey Center Esplanade): Saturday May 19, 3:30 p.m.

Walsh School of Foreign Service commencement (Healy Lawn): Saturday May 19, 5 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena; rain ceremony time for undergraduate degrees 5 p.m., rain ceremony time for graduate degrees 7:30 p.m.)

Georgetown University Law Center graduation gala (National Portrait Gallery): Saturday May 19, 8 p.m.

Medical School commencement ceremony (DAR Constitution Hall): Sunday May 20, 11 a.m.

Law Center commencement (Healy Lawn): Sunday May 20, 2 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)

Law Center commencement diploma distributions: Sunday May 20, 3 p.m.

  • Section 1: Red Square (Rain site: ICC Galleria)
  • Section 2: Leavey Center Ballroom
  • Section 3: Yates Field House
  • Section 4: Harbin Terrace Pavilion
  • Section 5: Leavey Esplanade
  • Section 6: Gaston Hall
  • Section 7: Lohrfink Auditorium, Hariri Building
  • LL.M. (A): Healy Lawn (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
  • LL.M. (B): Alumni Square

Law Center commencement receptions: Sunday May 20, 4 p.m.

  • Section 1: Red Square
  • Section 2: Leavey Center South Gallery
  • Section 3: Yates Field House
  • Section 4: Healey Family Student Center
  • Section 5: Leavey Center South Gallery
  • Section 6: Dahlgren Quad
  • Section 7: Fisher Colloquium, Hariri Building
  • LL.M. (A & B): Copley Lawn (Rain site: McDonough Pavilion)

 

George Washington University
(Complete information is available on the GW website.)

Athletics commencement (Dorothy Betts Theatre, Marvin Center first floor): Tuesday May 15, 3 p.m.

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences doctoral hooding ceremony (Lisner Auditorium): Thursday May 17, 5 p.m.

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps commissioning ceremony (Lincoln Memorial): Friday May 18, 8 a.m. (Rain site: Dorothy Betts Theatre, Marvin Center first floor)

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences master’s programs ceremony (Charles E. Smith Center): Friday May 18, 8:30 a.m.

University interfaith baccalaureate service (Western Presbyterian Church): Saturday May 19, 9:30 a.m.

University commencement ceremony (National Mall): Sunday May 20, 9:30 a.m.

 

Howard University
(Complete information is available on the Howard website.)

Commencement convocation (Upper Quadrangle, Main Campus): Saturday May 12, 10 a.m.

Division of Fine Arts recognition of graduates program (Cramton Auditorium): Saturday May 12, immediately following commencement

College of Medicine distribution of diplomas (Numa P.G. Adams Building, atrium of Suite 3019): Saturday May 12, immediately following commencement

School of Law hooding ceremony (Burr Gymnasium): Saturday May 12, 2:30 p.m.

 

Trinity Washington University
(Complete information is available on the Trinity website.)

Baccalaureate prayer service (Notre Dame Chapel): Thursday May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement ceremony (library steps and lawn): Saturday May 19, 11 a.m.

 

University of Maryland, College Park
(Complete information is available on the UMD website.)

**Campuswide ceremony (Xfinity Center): Sunday May 20, 1 p.m.**

School of Public Health commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m.

Individual studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Gildenhorn): Saturday May 19, 2 p.m.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, 3 p.m.

School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Monday May 21, 9 a.m.

Philip Merrill College of Journalism commencement ceremony (Ritchie Coliseum): Monday May 21, 10 a.m.

School of Public Policy commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Monday May 21, 12:30 p.m.

College of Education commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Monday May 21, 4 p.m.

College of Information Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Monday May 21, 4 p.m.

College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Monday May 21, 5 p.m.

UMD College of Arts and Humanities

Department of Art History commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Gildenhorn): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m.

School of Music commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Saturday May 19, 9:30 a.m.

School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 10 a.m.

Department of Philosophy commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Gildenhorn): Saturday May 19, 11:30 a.m.

Department of Art commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 1:30 p.m.

Department of Language, Literature and Cultures and Department of Film Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Saturday May 19, 3:30 p.m.

Department of Communication commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, 6:30 p.m.

Department of History commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, 9 a.m.

Department of Classics commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kogod): Monday May 21, 9:30 a.m.

Department of Linguistics commencement ceremony (Marie Mount Hall): Monday May 21, 11 a.m.

Department of English and Comparative Literature commencement ceremony (Ritchie Coliseum): Monday May 21, 1:30 p.m.

Department of American Studies and Department of Women’s Studies commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, 3 p.m.

UMD A. James Clark School of Engineering

Graduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Monday May 21, 9 a.m.

Undergraduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Monday May 21, 1 p.m.

UMD Robert H. Smith School of Business

Graduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Saturday May 19, 1 p.m.

Undergraduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Saturday May 19, 5 p.m.

UMD College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m.

Department of Psychology commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, noon

Department of Sociology commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Saturday May 19, 12:30 p.m.

Department of Anthropology commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 4:30 p.m.

Department of African-American Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 4:40 p.m.

Department of Economics commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Sunday May 20, 6:30 p.m.

Department of Geographical Sciences commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, noon

Department of Government and Politics commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Monday May 21, 12:30 p.m.

Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, 6 p.m.

Jack Pointer

Jack contributes to WTOP.com when he's not working as the afternoon/evening radio writer.

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