It’s graduation week, and a number of events celebrating the Class of 2023 will culminate with Old Dominion University’s 139th Commencement Exercises on Saturday.

More than 1,600 of ODU’s newest alumni will be formally recognized during two ceremonies at Chartway Arena:

9 a.m.: Graduates of the College of Arts and Letters, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Sciences and School of Cybersecurity will receive degrees.

12:30 p.m.: Graduates of the Strome College of Business, Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Graduate School and School of Data Science will get their degrees.

U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott will be the featured speaker. For more information about Scott, go to this link.

Student information:

There is no rehearsal for the ceremony. Information on reporting location and time and Student Information and Instructions were emailed to all participants. Students will report to Webb University Center, North Mall (side closest to stadium and Starbucks). Students in the 9 a.m. ceremony will park in the 43rd Street and Elkhorn Avenue and 43rd Street and Bluestone Avenue garages. Students in the 12:30 p.m. ceremony will park in the 49th Street Stadium Garage.

Families and guests:

Guests should plan to arrive 30-60 minutes prior to the ceremony. Signage on Hampton Boulevard in front of the campus will direct you to the appropriate parking garage entrances. Guests must have a ticket to enter the Chartway Arena. Tickets are only distributed to qualified graduating students. All children over the age of 2 require a ticket. Children 2 and younger are not required to have a ticket if they can sit in the lap of a parent or guardian.

Auxiliary viewing is provided for guests without tickets. Auxiliary viewing is located in the Big Blue Room. If seats are available in the arena, guests will be escorted into the arena and seated 10-15 minutes before the start of the event.

More information about the ceremonies can be found at this link.

Several events are scheduled this week leading up to commencement:

  • Advanced Degree Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Priority Automotive Club at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Sponsored by the ODU Alumni Association and the Graduate School. RSVP is required. 
  • Senior Brunch, 10 a.m. Friday, Chartway Arena. RSVP is required. Cost for guests is $15 per person.
  • Fall NROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 10 a.m. Friday, Center Café at the Webb Center. (Note: The Fall AROTC Commissioning Ceremony will be held Jan. 5 in the Multipurpose Room in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies).
  • LeADERS Medal Ceremony, 4:30 p.m. Friday, Hampton/Newport News Room in the Webb Center.

Additionally, graduating students can participate in the Senior Class Challenge, a fundraising initiative designed to provide a scholarship to assist students who would not be able to complete their ODU degree due to financial constraints. The gifts will go directly to the ODU Student Concordia Award, an endowed scholarship created by University Advancement. You can find more information at this link.

A livestream of Saturday’s ceremonies can be viewed on the University’s main page.