Information, Protocols, & Key Roles
Faculty are encouraged to participate in the Commencement ceremonies. If you plan to participate, please let your College or School's Commencement representative know as soon as possible. Your representative will inform you when the deadline is to declare your participation. The Commencement office needs to have an accurate count of attending faculty from each College or School so that appropriate seating can be arranged.
Doctoral Advisors
Doctoral advisors who are hooding their students should plan to meet their students in the doctoral candidate line up area in the Webb Student Center. If you cannot attend, please contact a colleague to arrange for someone to hood your advisee. In the event of inclement weather, students will lineup in the Big Blue Room in Chartway Arena.
Marshals
Each College or School will identify a team of marshals to serve in the ceremony. If you are interested in serving in this role, please contact the Commencement office at commencement@odu.edu.
Roles include:
- Lead Marshal: The College lead marshal assists with assembling graduation candidates, lining up of the processional, and directing candidates to the stage.
- Trailing Marshal: Assists the lead marshal with assembling graduation candidates, lining up and movement of the processional, and directing candidates to the stage.
- Doctoral Marshal: Assists in lining up, and directing doctoral/MFA candidates to the stage.
- Faculty Marshal: Coordinates the processional lineup of faculty and alumni, leads faculty and alumni to seating.
- Floater Marshal: Assists the lead and trailing marshal with assembling graduation candidates, lining up and movement of the processional, and directing candidates to the stage.
- ADA Marshal: Assists candidates with ADA support needs.
Reporting Place & Time
Faculty and Alumni Association representatives will assemble for robing in S.B. Ballard Stadium. This takes place in the visiting locker room located near the Northwest gate of S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Please arrive at least one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.
Faculty and Alumni Association representatives will assemble for robing in the the River Rooms of Webb Student Center.
Please arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Faculty and Alumni Association representatives will assemble for robing in S.B. Ballard Stadium. This takes place in the visiting locker room located near the Northwest gate of S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Please arrive at least one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.
Faculty and Alumni Association representatives will assemble for robing in the the River Rooms of Webb Student Center.
Please arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, details of the weather plan will be shared on the ODU homepage and Know Before You Go at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony. In the case of inclement weather, faculty will process inside Chartway Arena and the academic processional across campus will be canceled. Faculty and Alumni Association representatives will assemble for robing in the Chartway Arena. This takes place in the East lobby of the arena.
Regalia
Faculty, doctoral advisors, and Alumni Association representatives are responsible for providing and bringing their own academic attire. Academic regalia is available to rent or purchase from Herff Jones. More information can be found on the Regalia webpage.
Processional
Faculty and Alumni Association representatives will join the processional following the platform party. If there is inclement weather, faculty will process inside Chartway Arena instead, and the campus processional will not take place.
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Contact the Commencement office at commencement@odu.edu.