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 GW School of Business Celebration and during Commencement. Visit the GW Commencement website for information on how to order your cap and gown. These items will not be available on the day of the celebration; you must order them in advance.

All graduates should arrive at Funger Hall (2201 G Street, NW) no later than 11:45 a.m. Do not bring non-essential 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 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 GW School of Business Celebration and during Commencement. Visit the GW Commencement website for information on how to order your cap and gown. These items will not be available on the day of the celebration; you must order them in advance.

All graduates should arrive at Funger Hall (2201 G Street, NW) no later than 2:15 p.m. Doctoral graduates will go directly to the VIP entrance of the Charles E. Smith Center for lineup. Do not bring non-essential personal belongings as there will be no secure place to keep them and you will be walking. The commencement procession begins at 3:30 p.m.

All family and guests of graduates must proceed directly to 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); the entrance is 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.

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.

All students must wear cap and gown for the GW School of Business Celebration and during Commencement. Visit the GW Commencement website for information on how to order your cap and gown. These items will not be available on the day of the celebration; you must order them in advance.

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 around the world, including at GW. Those colors typically are:

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

GWSB graduate program hood colors are:

• Master of Accountancy: Drab
• Master of Business Administration: Drab
• Master of Science in Applied Finance: Golden Yellow
• 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 Human Resource Management: Drab
• Master of Science in Information Systems Technology: Golden Yellow
• Master of Interdisciplinary Business Studies: Drab
• Master of Science in International Business: Golden Yellow
• Master in Management: Drab
• Master of Science in Project Management: Golden Yellow
• Master of Science in Sport Management: Golden Yellow
• Master of Tourism Administration: Drab

One undergraduate and one graduate 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 and one graduate will be selected to sing the National Anthem and the GW School of Business Alma Mater.

GWSB Student Speaker and Singer Audition Dates, Times and Locations

Graduate auditions: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Duquès Hall, Room 650.

Undergraduate auditions: Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Duquès Hall, Room 650.

Eligibility

• Any student who completed their degree requirements in the summer or fall of 2019, or will do so in the spring of 2020, is eligible to audition.
• Good academic standing is required.

How to Sign Up

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

GWSB Student Speaker Audition Details

• 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.

GWSB Student Singer Audition Details

Prospective graduates interested in singing the National Anthem and the GW School of Business Alma Mater at commencement should email us a video of you singing both songs.

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 undergraduate or graduate student as well as your degree program. We need one undergraduate singer and one graduate singer.

University Student Speaker and 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.

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 17, 2020

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

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

Number of guest tickets per GW School of Business student:

• GWSB Undergraduate Celebration: six guest tickets
• GWSB Masters and Doctoral Celebration: four guest tickets
• University Commencement: guest tickets not required to attend — however, for planning purposes, students are encouraged to register their guests here

Tickets are for guest access. All GWSB Graduates who are participating in the GWSB Celebration or the University Commencement do not require a ticket. Your cap and gown must be worn to participate in both ceremonies.

Please note: the information in this section is for students who completed their degree requirements in the summer or fall of 2019, or who will do so in the spring of 2020. Be sure to follow all instructions in this section; failure to do so may delay your ticket request.

Please also note that guest tickets are not required to attend the university commencement on the National Mall — however, for planning purposes, students are encouraged to register their guests here.

Current On-Campus Students

On-campus students who completed their degree requirements in the summer or fall of 2019, or who will do so in the spring of 2020, may retrieve their GWSB Commencement tickets during ticket distribution.

Current Online or Distance Learning Students

Online or distance learning students who completed their degree requirements in the summer or fall of 2019, or who will do so in the spring of 2020, may retrieve their GWSB Commencement tickets via mail or during ticket distribution.

All Former Students - On-Campus, Online or Distance Learning

All former students who completed their degree requirements in the summer or fall of 2019 may retrieve their GWSB Commencement tickets via mail or during ticket distribution.

Ph.D. Graduates

Tickets will be distributed by the Office of Doctoral Programs, Duquès Hall, Suite 450. For additional information, please contact Elizabeth Huff at (202) 994-6298.

If you are unable to retrieve your tickets during ticket distribution and are not permitted to have your tickets mailed, you may request that a designee retrieve your tickets on your behalf by completing one of these online forms: 

• Ticket Designee Request Form - Master's and Doctoral Celebration
• Ticket Designee Request Form - Undergraduate Celebration

When your designee arrives to retrieve your tickets, your designee should provide their photo ID along with an electronic or paper copy of the email from [email protected] approving your request.

Ticket Mail Requests

All former students who completed their degree requirements in the summer or fall of 2019 may retrieve their GWSB Commencement tickets via mail or during ticket distribution.

All current online or distance learning students who will complete their degree requirements in the spring of 2020 may retrieve their GWSB Commencement tickets via mail or during ticket distribution.

All current on-campus students who will complete their degree requirements in the spring of 2020 may not have their ticketes mailed. They must retrieve their guest tickets in person during the GWSB ticket distribution.

Please complete the electronic form for ticket mail requests no later than 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Any mail requests made after this date are not guaranteed.

• Ticket Mail Request Form - Master's and Doctoral Celebration
• Ticket Mail Request Form - Undergraduate Celebration

The Graduation Survey

In order to process your mail request, you must complete the 2020 graduation survey. We will connect with the office of Survey and Research Analysis (SRA) on your behalf — you do not need to show (or send us) any proof of having completed the survey.

Please note: the 2020 graduation survey will become available in the last week of March.

Extra tickets are awarded after the initial round of ticket distribution ends. The waitlist does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If extra tickets are made available, you will receive an email notification.

GW School of Business Celebrations

• Extra Ticket Request Form - Master's and Doctoral Celebration
• Extra Ticket Request Form - Undergraduate Celebration

GW University Commencement

Guest tickets are not required to attend the University Commencement on the National Mall — however, for planning purposes, students are encouraged to register their guests here. Distribution of extra tickets for the GW Commencement are managed through the university’s central events office. For more information about extra tickets to the GW Commencement, please email University Events.