Congratulations to all students graduating this year!
Please join us as we celebrate our 2023 graduates.
2023 Spring Celebration of Graduates
May 18, 10:00 a.m. University Commencement Ceremony
Mason will hold an in-person ceremony for the entire Class of 2023 at 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, May 18, at EagleBank Arena. Doors open for audience members at 9:00 a.m.
Masters and Bachelors graduates assemble on the Wilkins Plaza (formerly North Plaza) starting at 8:30 a.m. The procession will begin from the plaza to EagleBank Arena promptly at 9:30 a.m. Individuals receiving their doctoral degrees will be individually recognized and cross the stage at Commencement. Doctoral graduates and advisors meet at EagleBank Arena, upper level East Concourse starting at 8:15 a.m. Enter through the loading dock doors.
Commencement will also be live-streamed on GMU-TV. More information available soon.
May 20, 2:00 pm, College of Public Health Degree Celebration Ceremony
The College of Public Health will hold an in-person graduation for the entire Class of 2023 at 2:00 pm EST on Saturday, May 20. Students should line up in the loading dock area of Eagle Bank Arena no later than 1:00 pm. Caps and gowns are to be worn. If weather permits, graduates will walk in a procession into the arena at the beginning of the ceremony.
Doors open for audience members at 1:00 pm, no tickets required.
Handicapped-accessible parking is available in Lot A of EagleBank Arena, closest to the South Entrance. Guests requiring special assistance may be seated with one companion guest in easy-access sections of EagleBank Arena. Ushers will be available in the lobby to assist those requiring handicapped and special-assistance seating. Accessible seating is near the portal entrances with clear views of commencement proceedings.
The Degree Celebration will be live streamed. View the live stream at Mason's YouTube Channel.
May 20, College of Public Health Brunch immediately following the Degree Celebration
Details coming soon.
What to expect at the College of Public Health Degree Celebration:
We will have brief remarks from Dean Perry and the Department Chairs, and there will be special recognition for our doctoral graduates. During the College of Public Health Celebration of Graduates, all graduates will have the opportunity to cross the stage and have their names called individually. Family and friends are free to attend in-person or virtually.
Share Your Creativity and Celebrate Your Achievement with a Decorated Cap
We encourage Mason graduates to share their individuality and diversity through a creatively decorated cap.
Questions?
Email cph@gmu.edu
Graduation Process
Graduation is not automatic, and students must initiate the process. Please refer to the Registrar’s Office graduation webpages for complete instructions on how to apply to graduate, tips for a smooth degree conferral process, and critical deadlines. If you miss the deadline to file the online graduation application through Patriot Web, you must use the paper Late Graduation Application form. We cannot guarantee your name will be in program if the online graduation application deadline has passed.
All students participating in the ceremonies must wear a cap and gown. You can order your cap and gown, announcements, diploma frame, and other graduation items through the University bookstore.
Faculty and Staff
Volunteer
If you would like to volunteer as a marshal, please contact Alma Detten at adetten@gmu.edu or 703-993-8896. If you will be a marshal, member of the platform party, a reader, or a doctoral advisor, you will receive detailed instructions via email prior to the event.
College of Public Health Degree Celebration
Faculty, marshals, and platform party guests should arrive at the Hospitality Room of the EagleBank Arena at 1:00 pm. Light refreshments will be available. Please do not leave valuables in the Hospitality Room during the ceremony.
1:40 pm: The faculty marshal will direct the faculty to form a line just outside of the loading dock doors to be ready for the procession into the arena. Honorary faculty marshals (retiring faculty) will lead the faculty into the arena and assist with seating. A program will be on each seat. Faculty marshals assigned to assist with students should be in Parking Lot A by 1:15 pm.
Doctoral students will be hooded at the University Commencement. At the College of Public Health Degree Celebration, they will receive a Medal in addition to their doctoral hood. If you are escorting a doctoral student(s), please plan to join the student procession with your student(s). We ask that you sit with your student(s) during the ceremony.
Volunteers: Assist with the graduate line-up and handing out reader cards, stage set up, faculty, and platform party lineup.
For faculty holding specific roles, you can find more information here:
Questions
Contact Alma Detten at adetten@gmu.edu or 703-993-8896.
Apply to be the Spring 2023 CPH Degree Celebration's Student Speaker
Application Process
To apply for this honor, please submit a written script of the graduation speech you plan to give to the CPH Degree Celebration Committee no later than 5 pm, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Interested students should email their written speech to Maria Perez at mperezb2@gmu.edu. In the email, please include your full name, G#, major/degree to be earned, and indicate if you will earn your degree in May 2023 or Summer 2023.
Once preliminary selections are made, the chosen finalists will be invited to orally present their speeches to the committee for final selection the second week of March. The winner will be notified by the third week in March.
Criteria
Submissions will be judged by a panel that includes CPH administration, faculty, staff, and alumni. The competition is based on the content and the quality of the speech, and you should consider the following when preparing your submission:
- describe your overall growth as a student and member of the university community
- think about all facets of your Mason experience
- focus on your graduating class and your experiences together with an eye toward your future
- engage the graduating class and their guests as a whole
Speeches should be able to be delivered in front of a large, live audience, and must adhere to the three to four-minute timeframe. The student selected for this honor will receive coaching and an opportunity to practice the speech before the event.
Questions
If you have questions regarding the process, please contact cph@gmu.edu.
We wish you the best in the selection process and CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming graduation!