Graduate FAQs

Q. What time do graduates need to be on campus for the ceremony?
A. Graduates are expected to check in for the ceremony by 1:30pm. You will receive further instructions with specific campus locations for check-in.

All families and guests need to be in their seats by 2:30pm for the ceremony. The student procession will begin promptly at 2:30pm.

Q. Do my family and friends need tickets for the commencement ceremony?
A. The commencement ceremony and the Baccalaureate Mass are planned as outdoor events and will not require tickets. In the event of severe weather, the rain site will be McDonough Gymnasium. During the registration process, each graduate can claim two rain tickets. No additional rain tickets are available. 

Q. I didn’t get the registration link, how do I register for the commencement ceremony?
A. Graduates were sent unique registration links by email from our partner, Marching Order. The sender is 2020commencement@georgetown.edu. If you have previously unsubscribed from Georgetown alumni emails, we were not able to email you directly, but you are in the Marching Order system. 

If you did not receive the email with your registration link, and it is not in your spam folder, you can register directly on the Marching Order site.

The email address for your Marching Order account is the address connected to your Georgetown alumni record. This may be your Georgetown netid email address. If you receive an error message indicating that your personal email address is not recognized, please try to register with your Georgetown email address (netid@georgetown.edu.)
After taking these steps, if you are still unable to register for the ceremony, please email 2020commencement@georgetown.edu. Registration to participate in the ceremony closed on May 7. 

Q. Will the commencement ceremony be livestreamed?
A. Yes, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the Georgetown University Facebook page. 

Q. What are the public health guidelines for Commencement events?
A. To protect the health and safety of the Georgetown University community and our guests, all attendees at indoor Commencement events are expected to be up to date on COVID-19 vaccination or have a medical or religious exemption, though guests will not need to show proof of vaccination or exemption during Commencement Weekend. If you are unvaccinated, please take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours prior to attending any indoor Commencement event and stay home if you receive a positive test result.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status, please stay home and do not attend Commencement events in person.

Many Commencement events will be livestreamed. Information on where to tune in will be shared on Georgetown’s website and social media channels prior to these events.

Georgetown University has reinstated an indoor mask requirement on the Main and Medical Center campuses. We will continue to monitor public health conditions on our campuses, as well as COVID-19 community levels in DC and nationally, which will inform any updates to Georgetown’s public health guidelines.

Q. How do I obtain my academic regalia (i.e., robes, hoods, caps/tassels)?
A. Academic regalia is required to participate in the commencement ceremony and can be purchased in person or online from the University bookstore. Students must have a gown, hood, and cap/tassel for the ceremony. Stoles and keepsake tassels are available for purchase but are not required. The deadline to order regalia to be shipped is May 16. The bookstore will have extended hours and be open from 9:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27 and from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 28. If you have any problems or questions while ordering your regalia, please contact the bookstore manager at sm8198@bncollege.com.

Q. Why am I not receiving email updates about commencement?
A. If you have previously unsubscribed from Georgetown alumni emails, you will not receive communications about Class of 2020 events. If you would like to update your email preferences, or change the email address Georgetown uses to contact you, please email 2020commencement@georgetown.edu.