Commencement on the National Mall

University Commencement brings together students from all of the George Washington University's (GW) schools for the conferral of their degrees. The ceremony takes place on the National Mall and is open to all 2025 graduates, from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, to celebrate their achievements. This event includes remarks from GW leadership and other speakers. No individual names are announced and no graduates walk across the stage at this event; the deans will call each of their schools to rise as the degrees are ceremoniously conferred.

We will celebrate the Class of 2025 on Sunday, May 18, on the National Mall at 10:30 a.m. Graduates must be seated by 10:15 a.m. More details about graduate and guest arrivals will be available in May.

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Accessibility

Visit our Accessibility page for information about accessibility at Commencement on the National Mall.

Alternate Site Plan

Commencement on the National Mall will be held as scheduled, rain or shine, unless we are directed to move by the National Park Service or if conditions do not allow us to safely conduct the ceremony as planned.

If the ceremony moves to an alternate site, all graduates and members of the platform party should report to the Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd Street, NW. For alternate site plan information, please visit the Commencement homepage.

Families and guests would watch the full ceremony online on the Commencement homepage.

The university will closely monitor the weather for Commencement on the Mall. In the event of severe weather or other circumstances necessitate a change to the ceremony, information and updates will be communicated through the following:

Text and email alerts through GW Alerts
GW's homepage and Campus Advisories
Social media via GW Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram

Food and Beverages

Food and beverages are allowed at Commencement on the National Mall as the National Mall is a public park. Please dispose of all waste in the proper trash or recycling containers available at the event site or take it with you when you leave.

Lost and Found

Items lost at Commencement on the National Mall will be turned into the Information Tent located at the event. If items are not claimed before the event ends, please contact the Commencement office at [email protected].

Parking

GW does not provide any graduate or guest parking at Commencement on the National Mall. A number of privately-owned parking garages are located within about half a mile of the Commencement site. Parking fees vary by location.

Photos and Video

No individual graduate names are called at Commencement on the National Mall and graduates do not walk across the stage. University-designated photographers and videographers will be onsite to capture the event. For the safety of all graduates, guests, and participants, they are the only ones allowed near, or on, the stage.

Commencement on the National Mall will be livestreamed on the Commencement homepage. The video, and photos from the event, will be available on the website after Commencement Week.

Graduates and guests are welcome, and encouraged, to take photos and video in all other locations at Commencement on the National Mall. Please tag the university’s social media accounts (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and use the hashtag #GWCommencement if you post them online.

Photo and Video Consent

Photos and/or videos of attendees will be taken and may be shared on university social media accounts, websites, and marketing materials. Review GW's Statement of Privacy Practices for more information.

If you have concerns, please contact Events and Venues at [email protected] or 202-994-7470.

Registration

Visit our Register for Commencement Week page for more information about Commencement registration.

Restrooms

Portable toilets, including ADA-accessible units, will be available for guests at Commencement on the National Mall. They will include hand-washing stations.

Summer and Fall Graduates

The university invites summer 2024, fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 graduates from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs to participate in Commencement Week events in May. As the only institution to hold a university-wide Commencement on the National Mall, GW is proud to devote its resources to offering graduates this #OnlyAtGW opportunity of a lifetime each spring, the traditional time of year for commencements.

WiFi Access

There is no WiFi available for graduates or guests at Commencement on the National Mall.

Most major carriers have cellular access available on the site.