May 2024 Graduation Ceremonies & Events
We have several graduation ceremonies in May. Two are held by Olin Business School for Olin graduates only. One is for our Undergraduate graduates, and the other is for our Graduate Programs (Masters/Doctoral) graduates. Commencement is a university-wide ceremony hosted by the Chancellor for all WashU graduates. Below is information on each one of these ceremonies.
Olin’s Undergraduate Graduation Recognition Ceremony
Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Athletic Complex Field House
This ceremony is for Olin Business School undergraduates only and will highlight student and faculty awards and honors. There is an elected student speaker, and Olin students present Olin faculty with awards. Each degree candidate crosses the stage. The ceremony will be held in the Athletic Complex Field House and begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. We anticipate that this ceremony will end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Chancellor’s University-wide Commencement for the Class of 2023
Monday, May 13, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. at Francis Olympic Field
This ceremony is for all WashU graduates. The university-wide Commencement Ceremony will occur on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. on Francis Olympic Field. The graduates do not cross the stage at this ceremony, but they do cross the stage at their individual school’s ceremony – like our Olin ceremonies. For more information, click here.
WashU Commencement Festival
Monday, May 13, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Graduates and their guests can enjoy local food and beverage, entertainment, music, and photo opportunities across campus. The festival will occur immediately following the university-wide Commencement ceremony from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, click here.
Olin’s Open House
Monday, May 13, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Knight Hall
Olin will continue the tradition of hosting an open house in Knight Hall for graduates and their families, friends, and faculty members during the Chancellor’s festival on Monday, May 13th, from 11:00 AM -3:00 PM following the Chancellor’s Commencement.
Olin’s Graduate Programs Graduation Recognition Ceremony
Monday, May 13, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. at Athletic Complex Field House
This ceremony is for Olin Business School master and doctoral graduates only and will highlight student and faculty awards and honors. There is an elected student speaker, and Olin students present Olin faculty with awards. Each degree candidate crosses the stage. The ceremony will be held in the Athletic Complex Field House and will begin promptly at 4:30 p.m. There will be a reception for graduates and their guests in Knight Hall and Bauer Hall immediately following the ceremony. We anticipate that the ceremony will end between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Olin Graduation Recognition Ceremonies Details
Please arrive with enough time to park and get to the Athletic Complex Field House before the ceremony begins. Click here for a location map or the Parking/Maps section. Graduates will meet at Sumer’s Gym to line up for the processional 30-45 minutes before the ceremony begins. While your graduate is lining up, we ask that you find a seat in the field house and wait for the ceremony to begin. This will help ensure that the ceremony starts on time and runs smoothly.
We know it is customary to give graduates gifts on graduation day, like flowers, stuffed animals, etc. We ask that you please hold on to those items for the graduate until after the ceremony. Row space for the graduates is tight, and we do not want to cause a tripping hazard for our graduates while getting in and out of their rows to walk across the stage.
Each of Olin’s ceremonies will have a digital program. You can scan a QR code during the ceremony or access the program via a short link. After each ceremony, you can still access the digital program to download or send to family/friends on the Olin graduations homepage.
Order of Ceremony for each of Olin’s graduation ceremonies:
- Processional
- Welcome Remarks
- Keynote Speaker Remarks
- Student Speaker Remarks
- Presentation of Faculty and Student Awards
- Presentation of Candidates/Professional Photos
- Closing Remarks
- Recessional
Photography
Graduates will have their professional photos taken as they cross the stage and another professional photo taken immediately off stage with a prop diploma cover. Again, we ask you not to crowd these areas or pathways. Your graduate is getting professional photos taken. These photos can be viewed 72 hours after the ceremony.
Out of consideration for others, please keep the front of the stage and all pathways surrounding graduates clear during the ceremony. We want to keep these areas clear and not blocked so that graduates can go to the stage and back to their seats. This also helps to keep our ceremony running smoothly and avoids delays.
We recommend sitting in the upper-level seating on the main floor where our guests will enter. Please check out the venue map to see where we believe the best views are for watching your graduate cross the stage. Please stay clear of the green area on the map to keep the area clear for the graduates to walk.
If you sit in the lower level bleachers, please do not sit in the first 5 rows – your view will be obstructed.
Parking/Maps
Parking for Olin graduation ceremonies:
The best parking for access to the Olin Graduation Ceremonies will be in the Snow Way Garage (enter off Big Bend at Snow Way) or the Millbrook Garage (enter off Forest Park Parkway). You can easily walk to the Athletic Complex from the top level of Snow Way Garage by following the posted signs. MetroLink, the St. Louis light rail system, is an alternative to driving to the University. If MetroLink is convenient to your hotel or home, we recommend using it. Exit at the Skinker Station just east of the Brookings Hall parking lot to attend the All-University Commencement Ceremony. Exit at the University City-Big Bend Station at the corner of Forest Park Parkway and Big Bend Blvd. for a short walk to the Athletic Complex to attend the Olin Graduation Recognition Ceremony. MetroLink information is available at http://www.metrostlouis.org/.
Parking for the Chancellor’s University-wide Commencement:
Please go to the commencement’s website for their parking instructions.
Accessibility
Mobility Assistance
Sign up for mobility assistance via golf cart or accessibility needs during graduation. The events team will contact all sign-ups a week before the upcoming ceremonies. Accessibility maps and information about buildings on campus can be found on our Facilities website.
Accessible Seating
Entrances into the Athletic Complex Field House are accessible. Once inside, we marked several chairs on the floor for accessible seating.
Closed Captioning/ASL
Closed captioning will be available on our jumbotron screens during each Olin ceremony. There will also be an ASL interpreter on stage during each ceremony.
FAQ
For our Frequently Asked Questions, please click here. If your question is not listed, please contact your Program Office or email: olin-graduation@email.wustl.edu.