March 2, 2022

Dear Graduating Students,

Thank you to everyone who completed our Commencement Week survey. We had a fantastic response rate and appreciate that so many of you took the time to give us your feedback. Your answers helped us to finalize the schedule as well as provided valuable insight about information we will need to effectively communicate to students and guests.

We have finalized the 2022 Commencement Week Schedule. Please read the information below so that you have a better understanding of how everything will work so you can plan accordingly.

The Commencement Ceremony is a Law Center-wide event on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. on the Hilltop Campus in which students process onto Healy Lawn. Dean William M. Treanor and our honorary degree recipient will address the class, and Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia will ceremoniously confer degrees. The Commencement Ceremony is a meaningful tradition and a wonderful capstone to your Law Center education.

Celebration Days are a series of program and section-specific ceremonies hosted on the Law Center campus on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21. They begin with a ceremony on the Eleanor Holmes Norton Tower Green, where along with remarks from Dean Treanor and a student speaker, your name will be read aloud as you cross a stage for individual recognition of your achievements. There will be a photographer present to capture this special moment. Following each section or program ceremony, you will be invited to a party on the Library Green, where there will be food, music, giveaways, and other exciting ways to celebrate.

Can I bring guests?

We are excited to invite your family and friends to celebrate your amazing accomplishments this May. Graduates are welcome to invite as many guests as they would like for both the Celebration Days and the Commencement Ceremony. 

While guests to the Law Campus Celebration Days are unlimited, we can only guarantee that four guests per graduate will be able to have a chair under the tent. We will have standing room outside the tent as well as various livestreaming locations across the Law Center campus for any additional guests. Everyone is welcome to attend the closing reception on the Library Green.

There are no seating limits for guests at the Sunday, May 22, Commencement Ceremony on Hilltop Campus’ Healy Lawn. However, the number of guests will be limited if inclement weather should force us to move the Commencement Ceremony indoors.

What do I wear?

Information on renting regalia to wear at the Celebration Days and Commencement Ceremony is available here. Please note that graduates are not required to wear regalia to participate in any event.

Why don’t we read individual names at the Commencement Ceremony?

Due to the size of our graduating class, we do not read individual student names at the Commencement Ceremony. Instead, we host individual section and program-specific celebrations –Celebration Days– to provide an intimate way to recognize each graduate. We are very excited to host these Celebration Days on the Law Center campus for the second year and are looking forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.

What if I want to switch to a different section? Or my guests won’t be here during my Celebration Days event?

If these past years have taught us anything, it is the importance of flexibility and creativity. Graduates are always welcome to attend another section or program ceremony, whether it is in place of their assigned time (switch a section), or in addition to their original ceremony (so guests can hear their graduate’s name read and see them walk across the stage). We will send additional information in the coming weeks on how this will work.

Are we having a Graduation Gala?

Yes! The Gala will be held on Saturday, May 21, at 8:00 p.m. at the National Portrait Gallery. Additional details will be sent to you in the coming weeks.

As always, please reach out to lawcommencement@georgetown.edu with any questions. We will also keep our Law Commencement website updated with the latest information and announcements.

Sincerely,
The Georgetown Law Commencement Team