FAQ

The Class of 2025 Advanced Degree Ceremony for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University is Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. EDT at Chartway Arena, 4320 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529.

Tickets for the EVMS Legacy Ceremony are required, but free to graduating students and their guests. Each graduate can claim up to 12 tickets. The graduating student does not require a ticket.

During registration for the ceremony, students are permitted to request a maximum of 4 additional tickets. This is only a request for that number of tickets, not a guarantee. Ticket requests will be reviewed after registration has closed and those who submitted a request will be contacted with more information. We encourage students in need of tickets to check with classmates for any available tickets.

Information about claiming your ceremony tickets will be available soon. Registered students will be sent e-ticket distribution details no later than two weeks prior to the ceremony date.

Graduates:

Graduates should report to the check-in area no later than one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Detailed day-of instructions will be sent to you approximately one week prior to the ceremony.

Faculty:

Participating faculty should report to the check-in area no later than one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Detailed day-of instructions will be sent to you approximately one week prior to the ceremony.

Guests:

Please remember to bring your guest tickets with you to the venue and plan to arrive 30-60 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. If you are providing transportation for your graduate, they will need to be at the registration area no later than 60 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Signage on Hampton Boulevard in front of the campus will direct you to the appropriate entrances.

Graduates:

For ceremonies in Chartway Arena: Students should park in the 49th Street Stadium Garage or 43rd and Bluestone Avenue Garage. Students who utilize a DMV accessibility placard may park on the first level.

Faculty:

Parking instructions will be included in the day-of instructions sent approximately one week prior to the ceremony.

You do need to register to attend the EVMS Legacy Ceremony. Graduates should follow the Graduate Checklist to ensure they keep on track to meet other deadlines and requirements.

Yes. Graduates should follow the instructions to utilize Name-Coach to record their name. Doing so will provide the readers the opportunity to hear your recorded names in advance. Please be sure that the name you record matches the name that you submitted to appear in the printed program and other Commencement-related digital and print materials. 

Name recordings must be completed by Friday, March 7, 2025. For questions or more information, please contact VHS Special Events.

All doctoral hooding by family members must be individually approved according to the administration’s guidelines. View the Doctoral Hooding Commencement Policy.

Those who are eligible will submit a request for approval through the EVMS Legacy Ceremony registration site. Upon approval, eligible graduates will be contacted with all necessary information about your (and your family member’s) role in the ceremony. If you have any questions, please email VHS Special Events. 

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking is available in the 43rd Street and 45th Street Constant Center garages.

Mobility

Guests who cannot traverse stairs, including those in wheelchairs, should park in the accessible parking in the 45th Street Parking Garage and enter as described above. There, an usher will escort you and one guest to the elevator and then to accessible seating.

Due to capacity regulations within the arena, both guests will require a ticket for entrance. The University and the Chartway Arena are unable to provide wheelchairs for guests.

Sign Language

Sign language interpreters will be stationed on the stage. Please advise the ushers if you need to make use of the interpreters and they will seat you in a section with a clear view.

Graduating Students

Graduating students with special needs should indicate their need for accommodation in their ceremony registration. Please contact VHS Special Events if you require additional assistance.

Questions?

If you require any assistance beyond what is listed here, please contact VHS Special Events with your contact information and request and we will make every effort to accommodate you.

General admission seating is available to all on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors for general admission will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Families and guests will not be allowed to enter Chartway Arena before that time. “Seat saving” will not be allowed. A seating chart of the arena floor will be provided to graduates during the Virtual Information Session which indicates where programs are seated.

We ask that you remain seated until the ceremony has come to a close. Every graduate has worked hard to earn this day and having guests leaving during the ceremony is disruptive. Please arrange to meet your graduate or family outside.

There are many photo opportunities on the plaza in front of the Chartway Arena as well as at various locations around campus. There will not be an opportunity for after-ceremony photos in the venue.

Yes. We ask that you do not disrupt the ceremony by taking photographs at inappropriate times and locations and that you exercise restraint, particularly during the processional.

Please note that GradImages® is the authorized vendor for ceremony photos and a professional photographer will take pictures of each graduate. There is no obligation to purchase these photos, but proofs will be sent to the student shortly after the ceremony. Find out how to obtain pictures of your graduate.

Printed programs will be available at the ceremony for all guests. Graduates will receive a program at their seat. We will also have a digital version of the program available online. If you would like an additional copy after the ceremony, please email VHS Special Events.

Graduates will have the opportunity to order regalia (gowns, caps/tams) online directly from Herff Jones beginning in mid-February. Graduates will receive ordering instructions to their student email and can find more information in the Graduate Checklist. Graduates have the option to request in-store pick up at the VHS Bookstore or ship their regalia to a home address.

The ordering deadline for Bookstore pick up is Monday, March 24^th.

The ordering deadline for ship-to-home orders is Friday, April 18^th.

*Ship-to-home orders placed after the deadline may incur expedited shipping fees at the graduate’s expense and are not guaranteed to arrive prior to the ceremony.

In-store pick up orders will be available for pick up at the VHS Bookstore in Lewis Hall from Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 9. Graduates with in-store pick up orders will receive an email with more information when their regalia is ready.

For the Class of 2025, the cost of regalia, as well as the direct shipping costs to your home, will be covered.

Ship-to-home orders typically take between 2-4 weeks depending on location and order date. Please allow additional time for international orders.

In-store pick up orders will be available for pick up at the VHS Bookstore in Lewis Hall from Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 9. Graduates with in-store pick up orders will receive an email with more information when their regalia is ready.

We will have staff onsite to assist graduates. Please be sure to bring all components of your regalia (gown, hood, tassel and mortarboard or tam) with you in ready to wear condition. We highly suggest taking it out of the box and getting it pressed, steamed or at least letting it air out prior to the ceremony. Find more information about required regalia.

View a quick video for how to properly wear Master's & Doctoral regalia.

Since all EVMS legacy candidates for graduation are masters level and above, tassels should always be worn to the left. The transition of tassel (from right to left) is a tradition used in undergraduate ceremonies.

An honor cord designating military service will be provided to registered participants who indicated military service in their registration prior to the ceremony. Honor cords and stoles from Alpha Omega Alpha, Delta Omega, Pi Alpha, Gold Humanism Honor Society and Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society will be provided to eligible graduating students. Honor cords and stoles will be picked up the morning of the ceremony at your program table during check-In. For more information, please contact the faculty advisors for the honor societies.

Find instructions to update your diploma address or request a formal name change.

All students who were deemed eligible for graduation by the VHS Registrar and Program Directors will be included in the ceremony. Diplomas will only be mailed to students’ addresses after they have successfully completed all the necessary academic requirements.

Find diploma information.

All Old Dominion University diplomas (bachelors, masters, doctorate) are displayed horizontally (landscape) at 14" x 11".

We are pleased to provide graduates with Certified Electronic Credentials. You will receive an email with a link to download your credentials when it is available from our trusted partner, CeCredentialTrust. Find additional information about Certified Electronic Credentials.

View local area hotels.

Students who receive a graduation award will have the opportunity to request a PDF award certificate via email. Certificates will be assembled and mailed in late April 2025 or presented at various program ceremonies. Certain awards come with stipends, which will be mailed to addresses collected during registration. A staff member will reach out via email with additional information and instructions. Most award winners (selected before April 1) will be acknowledged in the printed program and in other forms of media related to the EVMS Legacy Ceremony and promotions.

The bookstore will be on the concourse at Chartway Arena before and during the ceremony on Saturday, May 17^th. Please visit the VHS Bookstore website for operating hours during the days leading up to the ceremony.

Alumni Relations is interested in maintaining an ongoing relationship, following your successes after graduation, and keeping you informed of upcoming events or opportunities to volunteer. Access the online alumni community to personalize your profile, network with alumni, learn about upcoming events and more. If this is your first time logging in to the portal, you will need your Constituent ID. Please email VHS-alumni@odu.edu to receive this.

Please contact VHS Special Events.

View the 2025 Commencement Schedule of Events.