S-CAR students may participate in three ceremonies to celebrate the completion of their degree: the official Mason graduation, S-CAR Spring Degree Celebration, and/or Winter Graduate Recognition Ceremony. See below for more information.
Please visit our Degree Celebration Event Page for up-to-date information!
S-CAR Degree Celebration
Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 6:30pm
Concert Hall, Fairfax Campus
S-CAR's Degree Celebration of graduating students is separate from the main George Mason graduation ceremony (Commencement).
- Degree Celebrations are celebrated by individual schools and colleges
- Individual school, college, and institute graduates only
- All guests are welcome; tickets are not required
- All graduates are individually recognized and photographed on stage
- Degrees will officially be conferred at GMU Commencement.
- The hooding of doctoral candidates by their advisors is also reserved for the Commencement
Ceremony. - Caps and gowns are required
This event generally runs about 2 hours. At this ceremony all PhD, MS, BA, and BS students graduating from S-CAR will be individually recognized and awards will be presented to selected students. Graduates are requested to arrive one hour early, check in, and will then be arranged by degree, in alphabetical order. It is essential that you arrive by 5:00pm for the ceremony to ensure your name is read. (Undergraduate, Graduate, and PhD speakers please arrive by 4:45 to have time to practice your speeches) The doors open for family members to take a seat at 5:45p.m.--again, no tickets are required; and you may have as many friends and family as you would like to invite to attend the event! Graduating students should arrive at the Center for Fine Arts by 5:00 p.m. with your green robes, hats, etc. and proceed to the staging area (staff will guide you to the correct location). Please note that food and drinks are not allowed in the staging area.
In addition, you will be responsible for all of your belongings throughout the event; we don’t have any secure locations for purses, book bags, etc. We suggest you leave these items with your family before the ceremony begins.
Individual photos of each graduate will be taken during the ceremony and you will automatically be contacted by the photographer for the opportunity to purchase copies. Afterward, there will be a reception with light food and drink.
If you have not already done so via the online Google form, please send any special assistance needs that your family members may need in terms of being seated for the ceremony (wheelchair access, sign language interpreter, etc.) to Lisa Shaw at [email protected] by Friday, May 5, 2017 at 5 p.m.
For information particular to undergraduate and graduate students, please follow the links to their respective pages where you will also find the forms required to participate in the ceremony.
Location:
George Mason University
Center for the Arts
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Parking for the event will be available at the Mason Pond Parking Deck adjacent to the Center for Fine Arts. If full, all campus parking lots are available for guest parking on that day. Important: Do not park at University Mall. It is private property, and your vehicle may be towed.
Tickets are not required for the Degree Celebration ceremony on Thursday, May 18, and you may have as many friends and family as you would like to invite to attend the event!
We strongly encourage students to attend the S-CAR Degree Celebration and the GMU Commencement Ceremony!
If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].
Driving Directions **parking information included**:
Click here for directions to the Fairfax Campus from the Capital Beltway
Click here for directions to the Fairfax Campus from I-66 E and I-66W
Click here for directions to the Fairfax Campus from I-95
Click here for directions to the Fairfax Campus from Washington, D.C. & Arlington via Route 50
Click here for directions to the Fairfax Campus from Airports (Dulles and Regan)
Click here for directions to the Fairfax Campus from Vienna Metro Station
March 7-9, 2017
Johnson Center Atrium, Fairfax Campus
One-stop shopping for all of your graduation needs; sponsored by the University Bookstore.
Where you can purchase:
- Regalia: Caps, gowns, cords, hoods, etc.
- Announcements
- Rings
- Memorabilia
A photographer will be available for having your photo taken in regalia. You may also pick up commencement information packets during the Grad Fair.
Additional information on the Commencement ceremony, guest tickets, college/school/institute Degree Celenrations, caps and gowns, guest parking and GMU-TV Commencement air schedule can be found on GMU 2017 Graduation webpage.
Mason Commencement
George Mason University holds a formal graduation ceremony in both the Spring and Fall at the Eagle Bank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. The information for this event can be found at the following link: http://events.gmu.edu/commencement/
Winter Recognition Ceremony
In place of Spring Convocation, S-CAR holds an annual, informal recognition ceremony every December to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates with students, families, faculty and staff.
Join the S-CAR Community Network and Forum, an online academic, professional, and social network
Donate to the S-CAR Alumni Scholarship Fund
Host an S-CAR Alumni social gathering
Update your contact information on the Mason Alumni Affairs Website
Keep us informed of where you are and where you are going