Commencement Ceremony

This annual celebration brings together graduates from across the academic year to recognize their hard work and accomplishments. Reynolds holds one commencement ceremony each academic year in May. You're eligible to participate if you are:

• A graduate from the previous summer term
• A graduate from the previous fall term
• A spring candidate on track to complete your program

Summer 2027 students: You can participate if you have no more than 7 credits or 2 classes left to finish. Apply through SIS and fill out the Early Participation Request form.

Calling all graduating Red Hawks! Get ready to fly the nest to your next adventure. Join us for the Graduates Take Flight celebration. This is a great time to pick up your cap and gown, marching card and items needed for the Commencement ceremony while celebrating with your fellow graduates and Reynolds faculty and staff. Get your photo taken with the Red Hawk in his cap and gown, free giveaways and more!

• Parham Road Campus - date TBA
• Downtown Campus - date TBA

Regalia is required to participate in Commencement. Here's what you'll receive based on your credential:

• Degree earners: cap, gown, and stole
• Certificate and career studies certificate earners: cap and gown
• Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher will receive a gold tassel

Regalia is available from the campus bookstore. Online orders should be ordered through the Parham Road Bookstore and can ONLY be picked up at the Parham Road location. Shipping is available for an additional charge. The Downtown Bookstore will have regalia available for on-site purchase. All regalia orders are non-returnable. Financial aid cannot be used to purchase regalia.

• Deadline for orders that must be shipped: Monday, May 4.
• Orders can be picked up at the bookstore until noon on Monday, May 11.

Pricing

• Certificate Set (Cap, Gown and Tassel Unit) $56.00
• Associate Set (Cap, Gown and Tassel Unit) $91.00
• Cap ONLY $12.00
• Regular Tassel $10.00
• Reynolds Embroidered Associate Stole $35.00

Cap Decoration Guidelines

Graduates are welcome to decorate their caps to reflect their personality and accomplishments. Please ensure:

• Decorations are tasteful and appropriate
• Designs remain flat (no raised elements) so as not to obstruct views during the ceremony

What to Wear

To ensure your comfort throughout the ceremony:

• Wear comfortable shoes (you will be walking and standing)
• Choose lightweight clothing under your gown

The Registrar's Office will give each graduate a marching card. This is the card you'll carry across the stage so your name can be announced. Marching cards will be handed out at the Graduates Take Flight events.

If you can't make it to those events, you can pick up your card afterward at the Registrar's Office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Parham Road Campus, Georgiadis Hall, Room 207.

Picking up your marching card ahead of time is optional, but it will save you time on graduation day. Cards will also be available to pick up when you arrive at the ceremony.

If you are requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA ) at OSA@reynolds.edu by May 1. In your email, please note this is a “Graduation Accommodations Request” in your email subject line.

The office may be unable to accommodate requests received after this date. We are unable to make accommodations for guests.

Diplomas will be mailed to your current address on file in June. Please update your mailing address in SIS if needed by May 1.

Doors to the VCU Stuart C. Siegel Center open at 12:45 p.m. Plan to arrive no later than 1:15 p.m. to line up for the procession. Guests will be directed to arena seating. Graduates will be directed to Room R144 — family and friends are not permitted in that area.

Everyone lines up in numerical order using the number on your marching card. Faculty Marshals will organize graduates by program and lead the procession into the arena. The ceremony begins promptly at 2:00 p.m.

At the end of the ceremony, Marshals and graduates will march out of the arena and return to the ground level. Arrange a meeting spot with your family and friends before the ceremony starts.

Remember to bring your graduation attire including your cap! Ladies, please bring hairpins for your cap. You will need to navigate STEEP stairs. Please consider this when choosing your footwear for the day as the procession moves quickly. If you picked up your marching card ahead of time, bring it with you!

Leave all personal belongings (including cell phones and purses) with your guests, as you will not be allowed to carry anything into the Arena. A commencement program will be provided on your seat in the arena. We regret Reynolds cannot take responsibility for any lost or stolen items.

VCU has informed us that you and your guests will not be allowed to bring weapons, balloons, wrapped packages, or gifts into the Siegel Center. View the complete list of prohibited items. VCU’s Police will be on duty at the entrances to help ensure everyone’s safety.

Due to capacity limits at the Siegel Center, we ask each graduate to limit their guests to six people. Tickets are not required. Guest seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited ADA seating is available around the upper level of the arena and is also first-come, first-served.

For guests who can't attend in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed. The viewing link will be posted the week of the ceremony.

The VCU Stuart C. Siegel center is located at 1200 West Broad Street. Parking is available in VCU’s parking decks located across the street on the corner of Harrison and Broad Streets and the corner of Bowe and Marshall Streets. Parking is available for $13. Please note, the decks are cashless and ONLY accept credit cards . You and your guests should allow plenty of time for parking.

Another transportation option is to take the GRTC Pulse! The VCU/VUU station is a short walk to the Siegel Center. For more information, visit the GRTC Pulse website.