History
More than 80 years ago, 17 students made history.
In June 1945, the first formal Commencement ceremony of what would become Old Dominion University was held at the new Larchmont School Auditorium. Seventeen students received Associate of Arts degrees, marking the beginning of a Commencement tradition that continues to celebrate the achievements of Monarchs today.
But ODU’s Commencement story began even earlier. The University traces its roots to 1930, when the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary was established. At the time, students typically completed their first two years of study in Norfolk before transferring to the Williamsburg campus of William & Mary, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, or other colleges and universities across the country.
The Norfolk Division’s first formal recognition of student achievement came in May 1943, when eligible students received completion certificates during final convocation exercises at the close of the academic year. While these ceremonies were not yet a Commencement Exercise, they brought the college community together through academic programs, special speakers and celebrations of student accomplishment.
Two years later, the Norfolk Division held its first official Commencement. Seventeen graduates. One ceremony. The beginning of a tradition.
The institution reached another milestone in 1956, when it awarded its first four-year bachelor’s degrees to 15 students. This marked a significant step in the evolution of the Norfolk Division and the institution that would eventually become Old Dominion University.
From that first Commencement ceremony in 1945 to the thousands of graduates who cross the stage today, the tradition has continued to mark a defining moment in the lives of Monarchs—a time to recognize achievement, celebrate perseverance and look ahead to what comes next.
As Old Dominion grew, so did its Commencement traditions. The first winter Commencement was held in December 1985. From 1985 through 1990, an additional ceremony was held each August, but the University eventually returned to two ceremonies each year, with August graduates joining the December Commencement. From 1945 through 2002, Commencement ceremonies were held at locations throughout Norfolk, including the former Norfolk Arena, Foreman Field and Norfolk Scope.
In December 2002, Commencement moved to campus and was held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The COVID-19 pandemic brought another change. No Commencement ceremonies were held in 2020, and the Class of 2020 celebrated at in-person ceremonies in May 2021 at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Since May 2023, the spring undergraduate Commencement ceremony has been held at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Traditions
During the Commencement Exercise, students walk from Webb Student Center, through Kaufman Mall, and down Hampton Boulevard dressed in academic regalia towards the ceremony in Chartway Arena. All graduating seniors step across the University Seal on the mall as new alumni of the University.
The University Mace is carried during the Commencement ceremony by the University Marshal to lead the academic processional and recessional, and is displayed on the platform during the ceremony. The mace was commissioned by the University for the inauguration of Joseph M. Marchello as the fourth president in 1985. It was designed by William Wagner and was created by Dianne DeBeixedon, both professors of art at ODU, and features a silver head with a three-dimensional evolution of the elliptically-shaped University Medallion. The shaft was crafted from Brazilian rosewood.