Commencement
Commencement
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Preparing for Commencement 2026: Families of May 2026 Graduates

Dear Families of the Class of 2026,

I am excited to share with you initial information about Georgetown’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies, taking place from Thursday, May 14, to Sunday, May 17, 2026. Commencement includes a range of ceremonies that represent the true spirit of Georgetown and celebrate the accomplishments of your student in the community of their peers, faculty and university staff.

You will be able to find regularly updated information on Commencement planning at commencement.georgetown.edu, as well as on the Commencement website of your school.

I invite you to download and thoroughly read the Commencement Information packet, which includes:

  • The full schedule for Commencement 2026 including events on May 12 and 13
  • Lodging & Accommodations information
  • Parking and Accessibility information
  • A graduation checklist of required actions
Commencement Information Packet

I would like to draw your attention to several key ceremonies during Commencement weekend:

  • Senior Convocation: Thursday, May 14, at 12 p.m. – Senior Convocation inaugurates the university’s official undergraduate commencement events. Please note that no student degrees are conferred at this event.

  • Tropaia Ceremonies: Each school will provide details about its individual Tropaia ceremony to recognize outstanding achievement. Tropaia ceremonies, which take their name from the ancient Greek word for “trophy,” honor exceptional graduating seniors for their outstanding accomplishments, both within and outside of the classroom.

  • Commencement Ceremonies:
    • School of Continuing Studies: Thursday, May 14, at 3 p.m.
    • Berkley School of Nursing: Friday, May 15, at 12 p.m.
    • College of Arts & Sciences: Saturday, May 16, at 9 a.m.
    • School of Health: Saturday, May 16, at 12 p.m.
    • McDonough School of Business: Saturday, May 16, at 2:30 p.m.
    • Walsh School of Foreign Service: Saturday, May 16, at 5 p.m.

  • Baccalaureate Mass: Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. – The annual Baccalaureate Mass gathers the community in prayer and celebration of the Class of 2026, and includes an academic procession of students and faculty. All graduates and their families are welcome regardless of religious affiliation.

  • Senior Week and Senior Ball: The Senior Class Committee will share details about Senior Week and the Senior Ball during the spring semester. Information on Senior Parents Weekend, which will be held February 6-8, 2026, will be provided to you in the near future.

In the spring semester, your student’s Dean’s Office will provide them further instructions for Commencement Weekend and their school’s Commencement ceremony.

In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our incredible students together in May.

With best wishes,

Soyica Diggs Colbert, Ph.D.
Interim Provost