GW School of Business Commencement

Some GW Commencement ceremonies at the Charles E. Smith Center will be livestreamed. Links will be provided on this page. Ceremonies you can watch will include:

Thursday, May 14, 2020

1:00 p.m. | GW School of Business Undergraduate Programs Celebration

Friday, May 15, 2020

3:00 p.m. | GW School of Business Master’s and Doctoral Programs Celebration

 

All students must wear cap and gown for the School of Business Celebration and during Commencement. Visit the GW Commencement site for ordering information. NONE will be available on the day of, you must order ahead.

Graduates should arrive at Funger Hall (2201 G Street, NW) during the designated arrival time: 11:45 am. Do not bring personal belongings as there will be no secure place to keep them and you will be walking.

All family and guests of graduates must proceed directly to the Smith Center and be seated by 12:45 pm in the Charles E. Smith Center.

Upon arrival in Funger Hall, 1st Floor, students should line-up behind the appropriate degree sign. The GWSB Commencement Team will be available to direct you to the appropriate area.  The school commencement ceremony will last approximately two hours.

DO NOT BE LATE. The procession will begin on time!

Graduates are strongly encouraged to specify, before the ceremony, the exact location where they will meet their guests at the conclusion of the Ceremony.

All students must wear cap and gown for the School of Business Celebration and during Commencement. Visit the GW Commencement site for ordering information. 

NONE will be available on the day of, you must order ahead.

All Masters Graduates should arrive at Funger Hall (2201 G Street, NW) during the designated arrival time: 1:45 pm. 

Do not bring personal belongings as there will be no secure place to keep them and you will be walking. PhD graduates will go directly to the VIP entrance of the Smith Center for line up.

All family and guests of graduates must proceed directly to the Smith Center and be seated by 2:45 pm in the Charles E. Smith Center. Overflow viewing space for the ceremony will be available in the 1st and 2nd floor classrooms of Duquès Hall (151, 152, 254, 255, and 258), entrance on 22nd Street.

Upon arrival in Funger Hall, 1st Floor, students should line-up behind the appropriate degree sign. The GWSB Commencement Team will be available to direct you to the appropriate area. The school commencement ceremony will last approximately two hours.

DO NOT BE LATE. The procession will begin on time!

Graduates are strongly encouraged to specify, before the ceremony, the exact location where they will meet their guests at the conclusion of the Ceremony.

Latin Honors

The Latin honors of cum laude, 3.4–3.59; magna cum laude, 3.6–3.79; summa cum laude, 3.8–4.0 are only awarded to Bachelor Degrees. Since your final GPA is not tabulated until after all of your course work is completed, the School of Business will not distribute regalia for these honors.

Once your final grades are tabulated, a notation will be made on your transcript and your diploma. For more information about Latin honors please contact the office of the registrar.

The Business Honor Society: Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma is the Official Business Honor Society at the George Washington University and is the most recognizable business honor society nationally and internationally across all accredited business programs by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB International.

Beta Gamma Sigma Honors

Beta Gamma Sigma is the only school wide honors that is currently recognized during both GWSB celebrations. Qualifying students will receive an invitation to join in late February or early March. For inquiries, please email [email protected].

Students who accept the membership will receive a stole to wear for the GWSB Celebration and Commencement. All students who are invited to join will have their names listed in their GWSB Celebration program.

Undergraduate Requirements

• Top 10% of Seniors in their graduating class.
• Top 3% of Juniors in their graduating class.

Students who received this recognition during their junior year should plan to wear their stole during the GWSB Celebration & Commencement

Masters Requirements

• Top 15% of Masters in their degree program and graduating class.

Overview

All students must wear a cap and gown for the School of Business Celebration and during Commencement. Visit the GW Commencement site for ordering information. NONE will be available on the day of, you must order ahead.

Military Uniform

The only exception to the cap and gown requirement will be given to former or current students in the military. Students should come in full uniform.

Hood Colors

Traditionally, academic fields are represented by specific colors at universities across the country and the world, including at GW.

• Commerce, Accountancy & Business: Drab
• Science: Golden Yellow

To clarify further, we’ve outlined the hood color by graduate degree program:

• Master of Accountancy: Drab
• Master of Business Administration: Drab
• Master of Science in Business Analytics: Golden Yellow
• Master of Science in Finance: Golden Yellow
• Master of Science in Government Contracts: Golden Yellow
• Master of Science in Information Systems Technology: Golden Yellow
• Master of Science in Project Management: Golden Yellow
• Master of Tourism Administration: Drab

Overview

One graduating Undergraduate and one graduating Master's student will be selected to speak about his/her experiences, lessons learned, and words of encouragement on stage in front of fellow graduates, family, friends, faculty and staff at their GW School of Business Commencement Celebration. In addition, one Undergraduate student singer and one Master's student singer will be selected to sing the National Anthem and the Alma Mater.

Audition Dates, Times & Location

Master's auditions: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Duquès Hall, Room TBD.

Undergraduate auditions: Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Duquès Hall, Room TBD.

Eligibility

• Any student who earned a degree in Fall 2018 or will earn a degree in Spring 2019 or Summer 2019 is eligible.
• Good academic standing is required.

How to Sign Up

Prospective graduates interested in being a speaker or singer at the School of Business Commencement Celebrations should email us to sign up for an audition time. In the email, send a brief bio, a recent photo and your availability by Friday, February 22.

Your time slot will be finalized by the close of business on Monday, February 25.

Student Speaker Audition

• Students should arrive 10 minutes before their designated time slot.
• Students should be dressed in business attire.
• Be prepared to deliver a 3-5 minute commencement speech. Auditions should last no more than 10 minutes, please do not go over.
• Also be prepared to share a bit about yourself for 30 seconds before you give your speech and to answer any questions that the judges may have.

Selected students will receive two additional tickets to the GWSB Celebration. For more information, please email us or call the GWSB Office of Facility Services and Events at (202) 994-8252.

Student Singer Auditions

Prospective graduates interested in singing the National Anthem and Alma Mater at their School of Business Commencement Celebration should email us a video of you singing the National Anthem and the GW Alma Mater by February 22, 2019.

Please note: The video should begin with you sharing a bit of information about yourself, including your name and why you would like to sing at your school celebration, and you should state whether you are a graduating senior or Master's student as well as your degree program. We need one Undergraduate and one Master's singer.

The University Student Speaker & Singer Auditions

The university-wide student speaker competition is run through the Office of University Events. If you are interested in auditioning to speak on the National Mall, please contact the Office of University Events.

Overview

GW Commencement Weekend is an exciting time for graduates and their families, and we hope to make the weekend’s events accessible to all. In recognition of this goal, several options are available to those graduates and visitors who require interpreting services or physical accommodations.

Interpreting Services

Sign language interpreters will be provided at Commencement Weekend events on an as-needed basis, excluding University Commencement on the National Mall. To request an interpreter for an event, please visit the University Commencement website to fill out the Special Events Interpreter Form, or email Christina Galarza in Disability Support Services at [email protected] by April 17th.

Graduates with Restricted Mobility

The Business School Celebrations will be held in the Smith Center at 600 22nd Street, NW. The building meets ADA accessibility guidelines and provides multiple options for guests with special mobility needs. However, it is important to note that the Smith Center does not reserve any type of accessible seating ahead of time.

It may be helpful to refer to the Smith Center Seating Diagram (PDF) to locate the accessible seating options discussed in the Guests section, below.

Graduates who use wheelchairs or who have restricted mobility should contact the Office of Events and Information at (202) 994-8252 by April 15th to make arrangements for the Business School Celebrations at the Smith Center and other Business School Commencement Weekend events.

Guests with Restricted Mobility

The Smith Center’s wheelchair areas are located in boxes 6 and 10, and at the front of the yellow seats in sections 202-205. Each guest using a wheelchair may be accompanied by one additional person in these sections. We recommend using either the Box Office entrance or the Northeast entrance (at the corner of G Street and 22nd Street) to the Smith Center, as both offer ample ramp access. Please see the map (PDF) for more information.

The restricted mobility area of the Smith Center is located at the top of the blue seats in sections 102-104. Each guest sitting in this area may be accompanied by one additional person. 

Additional Information

Please note: All guests with special needs should plan to arrive at the Smith Center early to ensure that they reach their seats comfortably. There is no special parking for the Smith Center. Generally, guests who use wheelchairs or have restricted mobility should be dropped off at the Box Office. There will be Smith Center ushers on hand should guests have questions or desire assistance in getting seated.

Please see the University Commencement website regarding accommodations for graduates and guests at University Commencement on the National Mall. If you should have any further questions, you may contact the Office of University Events directly at (202) 994-7129.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

• 8:30 a.m. | All graduates line up for procession
• 9:30 a.m. | Procession begins
• 10:00 a.m. | George Washington University Commencement, the National Mall

You may also visit the GW Commencement page for more information.