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Pipers perform at American University Commencement

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Preparing to Graduate

  1. Apply to Graduate on Eagle Service and go to Graduation Overview. Connect with your advisor if you have any questions about your graduation application. Students must submit an application to graduate on Eagle Service by October 23. Applications for graduation will not be accepted after the deadline.

  2. Order Regalia. Students made eligible to participate in Commencement will be sent a link to order regalia. Your regalia order serves as your registration to participate in the ceremony and signs you up for your tickets and parking pass. Regalia may be ordered beginning October 3 for August and September graduates and fall applicants made eligible to participate in commencement. November 7 is the deadline for best price shipping and on-campus pick-up orders. November 22 is the deadline for ship-to-home orders. Doctoral degree recipients may opt to purchase custom regalia. The deadline to order custom doctoral regalia is October 23. Please contact commencement@american.edu to request the custom doctoral regalia order form.

  3. Diploma Name Verification. Even if your chosen name has not changed since you first applied to AU, please take a moment to check your application to graduate on Eagle Service to verify the spelling (José Rodríguez or Jose Rodriguez), punctuation (Al Shamsi or Al-Shamsi), spacing (La Barge or Labarge), and capitalization (Dewitt or DeWitt) of your diploma name. If any of the above are incorrect, please correct the diploma name field so that it will appear accurately on your diploma and in the commencement program. Updates must be made no later than November 1 (updates made after October 23 should be emailed to Graduation Services).

  4. NameCoach and Recognition of Graduates. NameCoach will create a professionally recorded reading of your diploma name, which will play when you cross the stage at commencement. Eligible graduates will receive a unique NameCoach registration link. The link allows each graduate to record their name to ensure it is pronounced correctly. The deadline to submit a name pronunciation is November 10. If a student made eligible for graduation does not submit a recorded name, NameCoach name readers will pronounce their diploma names as accurately as they can.

  5. Complete the Grad Census. This annual survey asks main campus graduate and undergraduate students about experiences at AU and their postgraduation plans. This provides a basis for improving services and support for students and alumni. We hope you will complete the Grad Census you receive by email invitation.

  6. Graduating Seniors Only: Review your transcript online. Undergraduates eligible for Latin Honors (3.67 cumulative GPA as of the fall term and 60 of 120 credits at AU), can pick up their gold honors cord on October 25 in the Mary Graydon Center Marketplace, 2:00-7:00 p.m.

  7. Collect your Tickets. Registered students will receive a unique link to their AU email to access their electronic tickets and parking pass beginning November 14. Tickets are required for admittance to the commencement ceremonies. Each participant will receive six (6) electronic guest tickets and one (1) parking pass.

  8. Check back for more updates on plans to celebrate our graduates.

Student Speaker Applications Due October 9

American University is seeking two undergraduate and two graduate student speakers for the Fall Commencement ceremonies. Eligible students must have graduated in August or September 2023 or have been made eligible for graduation in December 2023.

Applicants must submit their entry by 11:59 p.m. on October 9:

  • Résumé
  • A bio-sketch (150-word maximum)
  • Draft of the speech they would like to deliver at Commencement if selected (speeches must be no longer than 3 minutes)
  • Headshot (for use by the Special Events team only; will not be shared with the judges)
  • Availability to deliver your speech on October 24, 25, or 26, in person or online, to the final round judges, if selected.

Apply Now

2023 Fall Commencement Update Emails

Commencement update emails are sent to students who are potential graduates based on earned credits and applications to graduate.

Update #1 - September 12, 2023

Regalia Orders

Your regalia order serves as your registration to participate in the Commencement ceremony and signs you up for your tickets and parking pass (which you will receive access to approximately three weeks prior to your ceremony).

Regalia may be ordered beginning October 3 for August and September graduates and fall applicants made eligible to participate in commencement. November 7 is the deadline for best price shipping and on-campus pick-up orders. November 22 is the deadline for ship-to-home orders. Students will be sent a link to order regalia.

(If you are borrowing regalia from a past graduate, please email commencement@american.edu.)

 

  Includes Pricing (before tax) Needs to be returned?
Bachelor’s Regalia Cap, gown, and tassel $44 No
Master’s Regalia Cap, gown, tassel, and hood $77 No
Juris Doctor and LLM Regalia Tam (cap), gown, and hood $123 Yes, immediately following the ceremony
Doctoral Regalia Rental Tam (cap), gown, and hood $123 Yes, immediately following the ceremony
Doctoral Regalia Custom Purchase Tam (cap), gown, and hood Begins at at $900 N/A

Please note: AU regalia is ordered through an online website.

Doctoral degree recipients may opt to purchase custom regalia (pricing starts at $900). The deadline to order custom doctoral regalia is October 23. Please contact commencement@american.edu to request the custom doctoral regalia order form.

Students in the Military: Students serving on active duty, joining the Armed Forces, or authorized to wear military uniforms may wear formal dress uniforms in lieu of rental regalia. Since tickets will not be distributed to students who do not purchase regalia, you must email commencement@american.edu to qualify for commencement ceremony tickets and a parking pass.

Covid-19 and Commencement

  • Vaccinations: COVID vaccinations and boosters are strongly recommended, but not required for AU community members and guests. Vaccination and booster shots are readily available near campus, including pharmacies and grocery stores, and can be located on the CDC’s vaccine location webpage.
  • Good Health Practices: To support our community and your personal health, you are strongly recommended to stay home when you are sick, get tested if you exhibit COVID symptoms or have been exposed to a confirmed case, and wash your hands often.
  • We have developed updated FAQs that provide additional information. If you have questions, please contact covidhealth@american.edu. Thank you for your continued support for the health and well-being of our AU community.

International Grads & Guests

Students participating in commencement or their guests who are not in the U.S. at the time of graduation and do not have a U.S. passport may require documentation in order to secure a visa to attend commencement. All requests must be submitted by the graduate via a written request to the Registrar's Office with the following information:

  1. Name of the graduating student

  2. Major or course of study

  3. Date of ceremony

Submission Options
Mail:
Degree Clearance Team, Office of the Registrar
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016

Fax: 202-885-1016

Email: Graduation Services
(Email submissions must have a PDF attachment of the request which includes the student's signature)

This page will be updated as additional Commencement details become available.