Commencement Ceremony - Celebrate Your Achievement at UMT
Mark your calendars! The University of Management and Technology 2026 Commencement Ceremony and Reception is scheduled for Saturday, October 24th at the GMU Conference Center in Arlington, VA, just minutes away from the vibrant and historic city of Washington, DC.
RSVP for 2026 Commencement
The University of Management and Technology cordially invites current students who will have completed all degree and financial requirements by September 30th, as well as any UMT alumni who graduated in the last five years, to attend the commencement ceremony and reception being held on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.
Please complete and return the Commencement Registration RSVP by Wednesday, September 30th to reserve your space!
RSVP Form
2026 Commencement Instructions
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A cap, gown, and hood are required or the ceremony. They can be purchased through Jostens online. General guidelines on how to wear your cap, gown, and hood:
The cap is worn flat on the head.
Tassels are usually worn on the right side and shifted to the left when graduates receive their diplomas.
The gown should fall midway between the knee and ankle.
The hood should be placed over your head with the small tapered end in front, so that it drapes off your shoulders and over the back of your gown. The velvet side should be on the outside. Be sure to turn out the lining colors. To secure the hood, you could wear the tie over the front of the hood or pin the hood to your gown on the shoulders using safety pins. One pin for each should adequately secure the hood.
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General guidelines on what to wear under your cap and gown:
Men generally choose to wear long pants with dark colored dress shoes, and a dress shirt with a tie under the gown.
Women generally wear a lightweight dress or a blouse and a skirt shorter than the gown so that it does not hang below the gown.
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Please arrive at the Van Metre Hall, George Mason Univeristy Mason Square one hour prior to the Ceremony, on Saturday, 24 October 2026. Check-in is in the lobby and directions will be posted on-site. All graduates must be checked-in 15 minutes prior to the Ceremony.
You will receive a card with your name at the sign-in area. The card will have a number and your basic information on it. Please take some time to complete the information on the card; the information on the card will be read as you walk across the stage. -
Fifteen minutes prior to Commencement, you, along with the other participating graduates, will line up for the procession into the theatre according to the number on your card. UMT staff members will assist with the process.
After you are lined up, please DO NOT rearrange your order in line. Once inside the theatre, remember to keep your place and sit in your assigned seat before and after going across the stage.
If a graduate shows up after the march has begun, he/she should go to the end of the line, regardless of alphabetical order. -
There is no rehearsal, but you must check-in before the Ceremony to receive instructions and find your place in the graduate line-up.
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After the Ceremony and reception, the graduates will have the option to participate in a group photo session at the Iwo Jima Memorial. The Iwo Jima Memorial is less than a mile away from our reception site. Shuttle services will be available for our graduates and guests.
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Contact Student Services at (800) 924-4883 or by e-mail at studentservices@umtweb.edu.
2026 Commencement FAQs
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10:00 AM on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
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09:00am Graduate and Guest Check-in Begins
09:30am Graduate Rehearsal
09:45am Graduate Check-in Ends
10:00am Ceremony Begins
Processional of Faculty
Processional of Graduates
National Anthem
Welcome by UMT President
Graduate Representative Speech
Special Remarks from the Dean
Conferral of Degrees
Recessional of Graduates
11:00am Reception
11:45am-12:15pm Group Photo at Iwo Jima*
*weather permitting -
Van Metre Hall, George Mason University Mason Square, 3351 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA 22201-4426
View map -
All UMT alumni who graduated in the past five (5) years and current students who will have completed all academic and financial requirements by September 30, 2026, are invited. All outstanding balances must be paid by September 30th. Student Accounts can be reached at 703-516-0035, ext. 1500.
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All graduates who plan to attend commencement must RSVP by Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
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The Commencement Fee of $95.00 must be paid. The fee is refundable prior to September 30th. The Commencement Fee will be added to your account after we receive your RSVP form. Please wait for an email from us confirming that it is ready for you to pay in your Student Portal.
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Graduates should arrive: one hour prior to the ceremony. Check-in begins one hour prior to the ceremony. All students must be checked-in 15 minutes prior to the ceremony.
Family and guests should arrive: At least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony for admission into and seating for the ceremony. Arrive early for best seating. -
Graduates: Van Metre Hall lobby, George Mason University Mason Square
Family and guests: Van Metre Hall lobby, George Mason University Mason Square -
A cap, gown and hood are required for the ceremony. They can be purchased through Jostens online. You will purchase your cap and gown based on your height. You will also specify your major/curriculum for appropriate hood. Make your purchase at least one month prior to commencement to ensure you receive them in time for the event.
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All students who RSVP before the posted deadline AND are in good academic and financial standing are included in the Commencement Ceremony program. The commencement program is only available at the Commencement Ceremony and is for registered students who are participating in the Ceremony and their guests.
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Bachelor’s candidates whose grade point average is 3.5 or greater and Delta Epsilon Tau International Honor Society (DET) members will have an honor designation printed on their name card, which will be read aloud upon crossing the stage.
Latin honors are as follows: cum laude 3.5-3.69, magna cum laude 3.7-3.89, summa cum laude 3.9-4.0.
DET International Honor Society is by invitation only. Currently UMT graduates whose GPA average achieves the top fifteen percentile are invited to join DET International Honor Society as a member.
Honors designations are not listed in the Commencement program -
It is not traditional for graduate-level students to graduate with a Latin honors designation. At UMT, and most other institutions, Master’s and Doctoral students do not have honors distinctions read aloud during the Commencement Ceremony and they are not printed on the diplomas. However, qualified graduate students do receive an invitation to join the DET International Honor Society.
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Approximately 1 hour.
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No one will be allowed to accompany graduates during the Commencement Ceremony as they will be seated separately from their family and friends. For safety reasons, please arrange for family and friends to care for your children and infants while in the theatre.
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A reception is planned after the Commencement Ceremony. The reception is approximately 45 minutes.
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A photo session is planned at the nearby Iwo Jima Memorial after the reception. UMT will provide shuttle service to the Iwo Jima Memorial and back to the commencement venue for graduates. Graduates and family can also take photos with the UMT President, Academic Dean, faculty and staff during reception. Professional photos are taken during the event and posted on UMT social media sites a few weeks after the commencement.
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Parking is available in the Van Metre Hall Parking Garage at a daily flat rate of $10 all day Saturday. Once parked, please take the elevator to the lobby.
Parking garage entrance is accessible via Founders Way North.
View map -
Special accommodation seating can be arranged for disabled guests by emailing studentservices@umtweb.edu as early as possible.
Handicapped parking is available in the parking garage. Once parked, take the elevator to lobby. Alternatively, a ramp is available at the front of the building. -
There are many choices nearby. A couple of them include:
Hilton Arlington - next to the Ballston metro station (1 metro stop away)
Residence Inn - near the Courthouse metro (2 metro stops away)
Hyatt Place Arlington Courthouse - near the Courthouse metro (2 metro stops away) -
DC area has three airports:
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – 5 miles from Courthouse. It is conveniently located by a Metro stop and is the closest airport to DC and the commencement site.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – 25 miles from Courthouse. It provides bus service to several Metro stops.
Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) – 45 miles from Courthouse. -
The DC area has a metro transit system, which makes getting around easy. The Court House metro stop connects to the Orange and Silver lines. For more information please visit the official Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website.
Take the Orange Line to the Virginia Square/GMU station. The George Mason University is approximately 2 blocks. Take the escalator to the street level, and turn to face Fairfax Drive. Across the street and to the right, you will see the FDIC building. Cross the street and continue past the FDIC building. The George Mason University Van Metre Hall is on the left. -
To Van Metre Hall (3351 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington) from Washington, DC
Cross over the Roosevelt Bridge; follow signs to the George Washington Parkway. Once on the parkway, exit at Spout Run (left exit). Cross over Route 29 (Langston Blvd). Spout Run is now Kirkwood Road. Cross over Washington Boulevard. The Van Metre Hall is on the right, at North Fairfax Drive.
To Van Metre Hall (3351 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington) from I-66 heading East
Exit I-66 at Glebe Road/Fairfax Drive (exit 71). The exit ramp turns into Fairfax Drive. After traveling one mile on North Fairfax Drive, you will see the FDIC building on the left. The Van Metre Hall is past the FDIC building.
*Note: All eastbound lanes of I-66 inside the Beltway are restricted to HOV-2 from 6:30 am to 9:00 am and all westbound lanes of I-66 inside the Beltway are restricted to HOV-2 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm, M-F.
To Van Metre Hall (3351 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington) from I-66 heading West
Exit I-66 at Glebe Road (exit 71). Turn left onto Washington Boulevard. Stay on Washington Boulevard until you pass the Giant Supermarket; then turn right onto Kirkwood Road. The Van Metre Hall is on the right, at North Fairfax Drive.
*Note: All eastbound lanes of I-66 inside the Beltway are restricted to HOV-2 from 6:30 am to 9:00 am and all westbound lanes of I-66 inside the Beltway are restricted to HOV-2 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm, M-F.
To Van Metre Hall (3351 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington) from I-395
Exit I-395 at Glebe Road North. Continue on Glebe Road, passing Ballston Common Mall on the right. Cross over Wilson Boulevard, then turn right onto Fairfax Drive. After one mile you will see the FDIC building on the left. The Van Metre Hall is past the FDIC building.
To Van Metre Hall (3351 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington) from Fairfax and Points West, via Route 50
Go east on Route 50 (Arlington Blvd.). Exit at Glebe Road, and turn left on Glebe. Turn right on Fairfax Drive. The Van Metre Hall is one mile down on North Fairfax Drive, past the FDIC building, on the left. -
Contact Student Services at (800) 924-4883 or by e-mail at studentservices@umtweb.edu.
Release Form
Invitation for Personal Stories to Showcase on Commencement Day
To celebrate UMT graduates at our annual Commencement, we invite all graduates and alumni—whether or not you plan to attend—to submit one or two photos along with a brief story, reflection, or personal or professional achievement from during or after your studies at UMT.
Please complete the Testimonial and Endorsement Release Form and submit your story and photo. Stories should be 250 words or fewer.
Your photos and stories will be featured in a slideshow displayed on the main stage and throughout various places at UMT Commencement venue.