Instructions for Undergraduates and Master’s Degree Candidates
We are happy to announce the date for the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, May 3, 2025 at 11:00 am. This page reflects information for Commencement 2025. Please check this website often as information will be updated as commencement nears.
To be considered a prospective graduate, all requirements for graduation must be met. Students who are unsure whether they have fulfilled all requirements for graduation should contact the academic dean in their school as soon as possible.
COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL IS MANDATORY – MAY 2, 5:00 PM. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CEREMONY UNLESS YOU ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
Please make your travel arrangements accordingly.
DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION TO GRADUATE?
Yes. CANDIDACY FOR GRADUATION FORM – Please click on the link below and complete the form in its entirety and submit it back to the university by the deadline of March 14, 2025.
Regalia – We will order your cap & gown according to the measurements that you provided on your Candidacy for Graduation Form and all fees have been paid for the degree-level attained (i.e., associate, bachelor, masters)
You will not be eligible to participate in the Graduation Ceremony without the proper university commencement regalia for your program for your program.
COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND – May 2-3, 2025
Mandatory Rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday May 2, 2025, at 5:00 pm on the VUL Campus.
Before You Arrive
- Make sure you have all your ceremony instructions.
- Make travel arrangements to arrive on campus before 5:00 pm, May 2, 2025
- Graduates must arrive 60 minutes before the graduation ceremony time.
- If graduates do not arrive 60 minutes before the ceremony, they will not be lined up in the correct order.
Please give personal items to your family/guest to hold during the ceremony.
Attire
- Students are required to wear the VUL cap, hood, and gown.
- Business attire beneath the gown is recommended.
- Bachelor’s degree candidates: Wear the tassel over the right front of the cap.
- Graduate and doctoral degree candidates: Wear the tassel over the left front of the cap.
- Students will line up and march into the arena dressed in your regalia. Only students who have purchased the properly selected university commencement regalia will be eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Before the Ceremony
- Graduates will receive a card at the check-in table (located in the cafeteria of Humbles Hall) on the day before the ceremony (Rehearsal – Humbles Hall- Friday, May 2, 2025, 5:00 pm) The card includes the graduates name, city, and state. Please keep this card with you during the ceremony and make sure that you have it when you walk toward the stage. You will present the card to the commencement announcer.
During the Ceremony
- Please shut off cell phones and refrain from use during the ceremony.
- When directed by ushers, line up, present your name card to the announcer, and cross the stage.
- After graduates take their photos on stage, graduates will return to their seats.
- As a courtesy to all graduates and their guests, you are expected to remain for the entire ceremony. Please ask your guests to meet you outside the arena after the ceremony.
- The location for the ceremony will be held on the Virginia University of Lynchburg Campus.
Other
- All degree candidates who plan to participate in the Virginia University of Lynchburg Commencement Ceremony will need to register (Candidacy for Graduation Form) to attend to reserve a place in the march and a seat.
Mandatory Rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday May 2, 2025, at 5:00 pm on the VUL Campus.
UPDATED PARKING INFORMATION – Saturday, May 3, 2025 Commencement Ceremony
Please follow these instructions for parking to avoid unnecessary delays on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Disabled Parking
All parking on the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus and adjacent streets are designed and reserved for vehicles displaying disabled insignia or license plates. Restricting all existing parking on campus for the disabled is necessary to accommodate the large number of disabled guests who plan to attend the Commencement Ceremony.
Vehicles parked on the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus and adjacent streets without disabled insignia or license plates will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Graduate Parking
Graduates will be provided permits at the Friday, May 2nd Rehearsal for parking their vehicles at the First Baptist South Lynchburg Church located 2500 Tazewell Avenue, which is 0.4 miles from the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus. Shuttles between First Baptist South Lynchburg Church and the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus will begin running at 9:15 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. and will return graduates to the parking area after the ceremony.
Graduate Parking – First Baptist South Lynchburg Church located 2500 Tazewell Avenue
Guest Parking
Guest Parking will be available at Fairview Christian Church, 2701 Campbell Avenue, which is located 0.04 miles from the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus. Shuttles between Fairview Christian Church and the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus will begin running at 9:15 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. and will return guests to the parking area after the ceremony.
Guest Parking – Fairview Christian Church, 2701 Campbell Avenue
Rideshare and Drop Off
Due to the limited parking available on the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus and the traffic congestion that vehicles will cause on campus, graduates and their guests are strongly encouraged to use ride share services (i.e., Uber, taxi, etc.,) that will let them off at VUL’s School of Business at 2157 Campbell Avenue on the corner of Campbell Avenue and DeWitt Street.
Ride share services and drop off vehicles will not be allowed on the Virginia University of Lynchburg campus.
Rideshare and Drop Off – VUL School of Business 2157 Campbell Avenue
