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CLASS OF 2025 COMMENCEMENT

law commencement ceremony

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Class of 2025 Commencement

Saturday, May 17, 2025
10:00 AM
The Finneran Pavilion
Reception to follow at John F. Scarpa Hall

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Charles Widger School of Law Commencement
10:00 AM | Finneran PavilionÌý

Tickets are not required for the Law School ceremony and reception. At this time, there is no limit to the number of guests that may attend. Guest seating opens at 9:00 a.m. The Commencement Ceremony is approximately 1.5 hours long. Following the ceremony, there will be a reception at John F. Scarpa Hall.

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FRIDAY, MAY 16

Baccalaureate Mass
10:00 AM | Rowen Campus Green

All bachelor, master, doctoral and law graduates and their guests are welcome at this beautiful event that brings the community together. A special Augustinian blessing offered at the end of the Mass is one of ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥'s most treasured traditions. No RSVP required. More details can be found on the University's website.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Graduate Assembly/Name Card Pick-up
9:15–9:45 a.m.

  • Beginning at 9:15 a.m., graduates’ name cards will be available in the Assembly Area of the Finneran Pavilion, on the lower level near the Fitzgerald Club.Ìý
  • Graduates should report to the Assembly Area no later than 9:45 a.m.ÌýGraduates should arrive wearing robes and caps. Tassels are worn to the right. Staff volunteers will be on hand to assist graduates with hooding, etc.
  • Graduates must pick up their name cards from the designated table before the line-up begins.
  • There is no place in the assembly area for personal belongings, so please leave valuables with your guests or in a secure location. Be sure to silence cell phones when the procession begins.

Graduate Line-up
9:50 a.m.

  • Graduate line-up will begin at 9:50 a.m.
  • Graduates will form two lines. You may line up in any order you wish. (Note: the classmate you wish to sit next to should line up in front or behind you.)
  • The two lines will break once you arrive at the seating area. Graduates in the right line will be seated on the right side of the graduate seating facing the stage, and graduates in the left line will be seated on the left side of the graduate seating facing the stage.
  • JD graduates are at the front of the line, then LLM graduates, followed by MT graduates.

Graduate Procession and Seating
10:00 a.m.

  • The procession will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.ÌýDean Lund will lead the procession to the graduate seating area on the floor of the Finneran Pavilion.
  • There is a program at every graduate’s chair, so you do not need to carry a program with you in the procession.
  • Staff floor marshals will direct you to your seats. Do not skip seats and follow the guidance of the staff marshals, as they will count you off based on the number of seats in each row. Depending on the number of chairs per row, you may be separated from your classmate in front of/behind you.

Calling of the Names

  • Following the student address, JD graduates will be called forward to receive their degree one row at a time. As your row is called forward, please follow the floor marshals' directions to approach the stage area.
  • PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR NAMECARD.
  • A professional photographer will take each graduate’s photo at the stage area before each graduate crosses the stage.
  • When you approach the stage, graduates will give your name to a staff member who will scan your namecard. Graduates should continue across the stage as your name is read.
  • As you cross the stage, graduates will receive your scroll from Deans Alexander and Lund. You will then return to your seat, following the guidance of the marshal in that area.

Recessional

  • After the Blessing, graduates will recess row by row following the faculty and stage party out of the arena to the Fitzgerald Club area.

Reception

  • The reception will be held at the Law School in the Arthur M. Goldberg '66 Commons.

Parking for graduates and guests will be in the law school garage; no parking passes are needed.ÌýShuttle buses will be running continuously throughout the day for guest who wish to take the shuttle, otherwise it is a short walk to the various locations on campus.

Guests with special needs who have a disability placard/plate should use the entrance to the Finneran Pavilion on Lancaster Avenue. Please see the map for more details. Ìý

Guest seating opens at 9:00 a.m.

There are no tickets required or any limit to the number of guests per student for the Law School Commencement. Note: if you are in the JD/MBA or JD/MPA program you may see reference limits and ticket but that does not apply to the Law School ceremony.

There is no reserved or special needs seating as all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Entrance to the Commencement Ceremony will include a walkthrough metal detection screening for all graduates, guests, faculty and staff. All attendees and their belongings are subject to secondary screening by event staff if indicated by the metal detectors. Attendees who decline screening or who are in possession of prohibited items may be denied entry.

Bags of reasonable size and outside food/drink, with the exception of alcohol, are permitted in the Commencement Ceremony. All items will be subject to search by event staff. Hard coolers, backpacks, luggage, duffels and large multicompartment bags are not permitted. Other large bags and items may not be permitted at the sole discretion of event staff. A list of prohibited items is available on theÌýÌýwebsite. ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ does not provide storage or lockers for prohibited bags or items.

The Law Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed. Please see the University's Streaming Information for more details. Ìý

Graduation announcements, thank you notes and other commemorative items are available via ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University through Graphic Services.ÌýFor ordering information and further details, contact Graphic Services at 610-519-5914, 610-519-7461,Ìývia email or visit theÌý.

Professional photographers from Pro Pics will be at the Law Commecement Ceremony to take portraits of graduates as they walk across the stage.ÌýAfter crossing the stage, graduates will proceed to the graduate portrait station to have a quick portrait taken in cap & gown.ÌýPortraits will be available for purchase from Pro Pics following the ceremonies.ÌýQuestions?ÌýContact Pro Pics.

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This page will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

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QUESTIONS?

If you have specific questions, please contact the ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Law Commencement Team. For LLM and MT degrees, questions can be directed to the Graduate Tax Program.Ìý

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ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University Charles Widger
School of Law
299 N. Spring Mill Rd.
ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥, PA 19085
610-519-7000Ìý ÌýContact Law

ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University Charles Widger School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-6738