WASHINGTON — For college seniors and their loved ones, graduation marks the first page of an exciting new chapter.
For the rest of the D.C. area, it can trigger migraine-level traffic headaches.
Festivities are getting underway this weekend for several schools around the area — Howard, University, American University, Catholic University and the University of D.C.
Graduates from Georgetown University, George Mason University, George Washington University and the University of Maryland walk the following weekend.
Here’s a roundup of dates, times and locations for graduation events that may impact traffic.
American University
(Complete information is available on the American website.)
Baccalaureate service (Kay Spiritual Life Center): Friday May 11, 4 p.m.
School of Communication commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Saturday May 12, 9 a.m.
Kogod School of Business commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Saturday May 12, 1:30 p.m.
School of International Service commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Saturday May 12, 6 p.m.
School of Public Affairs commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Sunday May 13, 10 a.m.
College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony (Bender Arena): Sunday May 13, 2:30 p.m.
Catholic University
(Complete information is available on the Catholic website.)
Baccalaureate mass (Basilica, Great Upper Church): Friday May 11, 4 p.m.
Commencement ceremony (Basilica, east steps): Saturday May 12, 10 a.m.
University of D.C.
(Complete information is available on the UDC website.)
Commencement ceremony (Walter E. Washington Convention Center): Saturday May 12, 10 a.m.
George Mason University
(Complete information is available on the George Mason website.)
Commencement ceremony (EagleBank Arena): Friday May 18, 10 a.m.
Georgetown University
(Complete information is available on the Georgetown website.)
McCourt School of Public Policy commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Thursday May 17, 5:30 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
Army ROTC commissioning ceremony (Gaston Hall): Friday May 18, 7:30 a.m.
Graduate School commencement (Healy Lawn): Friday May 18, 9 a.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
School for Continuing Studies commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Friday May 18, 12 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
McDonough School of Business commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Friday May 18, 3 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena; rain ceremony time for undergraduate degrees 3 p.m., rain ceremony time for graduate degrees 5:30 p.m.)
Georgetown College commencement ceremony (Healy Lawn): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m. Diploma distribution immediately follows the ceremony at Copley Lawn. (Rain site is McDonough Arena, with a 9 a.m. ceremony for last names beginning with A-K, and an 11:30 a.m. ceremony for last names beginning with L-Z. Diploma distribution rain site is White Gravenor.)
School of Nursing and Health Studies commencement ceremony — undergraduate and graduate (Healy Lawn): Saturday May 19, 2 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
Medical School military commissioning ceremony (New Research Building Auditorium): Saturday May 19, 2 p.m.
School of Nursing and Health Studies reception and diploma distribution (Leavey Center Esplanade): Saturday May 19, 3:30 p.m.
Walsh School of Foreign Service commencement (Healy Lawn): Saturday May 19, 5 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena; rain ceremony time for undergraduate degrees 5 p.m., rain ceremony time for graduate degrees 7:30 p.m.)
Georgetown University Law Center graduation gala (National Portrait Gallery): Saturday May 19, 8 p.m.
Medical School commencement ceremony (DAR Constitution Hall): Sunday May 20, 11 a.m.
Law Center commencement (Healy Lawn): Sunday May 20, 2 p.m. (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
Law Center commencement diploma distributions: Sunday May 20, 3 p.m.
- Section 1: Red Square (Rain site: ICC Galleria)
- Section 2: Leavey Center Ballroom
- Section 3: Yates Field House
- Section 4: Harbin Terrace Pavilion
- Section 5: Leavey Esplanade
- Section 6: Gaston Hall
- Section 7: Lohrfink Auditorium, Hariri Building
- LL.M. (A): Healy Lawn (Rain site: McDonough Arena)
- LL.M. (B): Alumni Square
Law Center commencement receptions: Sunday May 20, 4 p.m.
- Section 1: Red Square
- Section 2: Leavey Center South Gallery
- Section 3: Yates Field House
- Section 4: Healey Family Student Center
- Section 5: Leavey Center South Gallery
- Section 6: Dahlgren Quad
- Section 7: Fisher Colloquium, Hariri Building
- LL.M. (A & B): Copley Lawn (Rain site: McDonough Pavilion)
George Washington University
(Complete information is available on the GW website.)
Athletics commencement (Dorothy Betts Theatre, Marvin Center first floor): Tuesday May 15, 3 p.m.
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences doctoral hooding ceremony (Lisner Auditorium): Thursday May 17, 5 p.m.
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps commissioning ceremony (Lincoln Memorial): Friday May 18, 8 a.m. (Rain site: Dorothy Betts Theatre, Marvin Center first floor)
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences master’s programs ceremony (Charles E. Smith Center): Friday May 18, 8:30 a.m.
University interfaith baccalaureate service (Western Presbyterian Church): Saturday May 19, 9:30 a.m.
University commencement ceremony (National Mall): Sunday May 20, 9:30 a.m.
Howard University
(Complete information is available on the Howard website.)
Commencement convocation (Upper Quadrangle, Main Campus): Saturday May 12, 10 a.m.
Division of Fine Arts recognition of graduates program (Cramton Auditorium): Saturday May 12, immediately following commencement
College of Medicine distribution of diplomas (Numa P.G. Adams Building, atrium of Suite 3019): Saturday May 12, immediately following commencement
School of Law hooding ceremony (Burr Gymnasium): Saturday May 12, 2:30 p.m.
Trinity Washington University
(Complete information is available on the Trinity website.)
Baccalaureate prayer service (Notre Dame Chapel): Thursday May 17, 4:30 p.m.
Commencement ceremony (library steps and lawn): Saturday May 19, 11 a.m.
University of Maryland, College Park
(Complete information is available on the UMD website.)
**Campuswide ceremony (Xfinity Center): Sunday May 20, 1 p.m.**
School of Public Health commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m.
Individual studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Gildenhorn): Saturday May 19, 2 p.m.
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, 3 p.m.
School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Monday May 21, 9 a.m.
Philip Merrill College of Journalism commencement ceremony (Ritchie Coliseum): Monday May 21, 10 a.m.
School of Public Policy commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Monday May 21, 12:30 p.m.
College of Education commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Monday May 21, 4 p.m.
College of Information Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Monday May 21, 4 p.m.
College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Monday May 21, 5 p.m.
UMD College of Arts and Humanities
Department of Art History commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Gildenhorn): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m.
School of Music commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Saturday May 19, 9:30 a.m.
School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 10 a.m.
Department of Philosophy commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Gildenhorn): Saturday May 19, 11:30 a.m.
Department of Art commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 1:30 p.m.
Department of Language, Literature and Cultures and Department of Film Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Saturday May 19, 3:30 p.m.
Department of Communication commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, 6:30 p.m.
Department of History commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, 9 a.m.
Department of Classics commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kogod): Monday May 21, 9:30 a.m.
Department of Linguistics commencement ceremony (Marie Mount Hall): Monday May 21, 11 a.m.
Department of English and Comparative Literature commencement ceremony (Ritchie Coliseum): Monday May 21, 1:30 p.m.
Department of American Studies and Department of Women’s Studies commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, 3 p.m.
UMD A. James Clark School of Engineering
Graduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Monday May 21, 9 a.m.
Undergraduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Monday May 21, 1 p.m.
UMD Robert H. Smith School of Business
Graduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Saturday May 19, 1 p.m.
Undergraduate commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Saturday May 19, 5 p.m.
UMD College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, 9 a.m.
Department of Psychology commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Saturday May 19, noon
Department of Sociology commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Dekelboum): Saturday May 19, 12:30 p.m.
Department of Anthropology commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 4:30 p.m.
Department of African-American Studies commencement ceremony (The Clarice — Kay Theatre): Saturday May 19, 4:40 p.m.
Department of Economics commencement ceremony (Xfinity Center): Sunday May 20, 6:30 p.m.
Department of Geographical Sciences commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, noon
Department of Government and Politics commencement ceremony (Reckord Armory): Monday May 21, 12:30 p.m.
Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences commencement ceremony (Memorial Chapel): Monday May 21, 6 p.m.
