Commencement Ceremonies

Each ceremony will begin promptly as scheduled. Doors close at the start of each ceremony to allow for the proper respect of our national anthem and to allow us to honor our graduates as they enter.

Lee Arena

1901 SW Mulvane Street

Graduates

• Please enter Lee Arena through the Southeast doors and check in with Washburn staff upon arrival.
• The accessibility entrance is located at the south end of the arena.
• Graduates will assemble in the North and West halls outside the arena. Signage will be provided to help you find your place in line.
• Plan to arrive 45 minutes prior to your ceremony start time.

Guests

• Please enter through the Southeast doors of Lee Arena.
• The accessibility entrance is located at the south end of the arena.
• Doors will open for guests approximately 30 minutes before the ceremony begins.

White Concert Hall

1700 SW Jewell Avenue

Graduates

• Please enter White Concert Hall through the West doors and check in with Washburn staff upon arrival.
• The accessibility entrance is located at the Southwest front door facing Jewell Avenue.
• Graduates will assemble in Hurd Recital Hall. Signage will be provided to help you find your place in line.
• Plan to arrive 45 minutes prior to your ceremony start time.

Guests

• Please enter through the main doors on the west side of White Concert Hall.
• The accessibility entrance is located at the Southwest front door facing Jewell.
• Doors will open for guests approximately 30 minutes before the ceremony begins.
• No food or liquids are allowed in White Concert Hall. If you have an accommodation, please reach out to washburnpresident@washburn.edu at least two weeks in advance of the ceremony.

• Graduates are encouraged to arrive wearing their academic regalia, as there will be no changing stations available.
• Regalia should be purchased through the Ichabod Shop. A pop-up Ichabod Shop will be on-site in case you forget any items on the day of commencement.
• No lockers or storage rooms will be available. Please leave valuables at home, locked in your vehicle, or with a trusted guest.

View campus map

Please note: With multiple ceremonies taking place at Lee Arena and White Concert Hall, increased traffic and congestion are expected. We kindly ask all graduates and guests to allow extra time and remain patient when arriving and departing the event.

Lee Arena Parking

The following lots are located near Lee Arena:

• Lot 2
• Lot 3
• Lot 4
• Lot 5 – Reserved for ADA-accessible parking for graduates and guests
• Lot 16

Accessible entrances: Please note the accessible entrances into Lee Arena are directly from Parking Lot 5 (use the path around the tennis complex) and the doors at the northeast side, closest to Parking Lot 2.

White Concert Hall Parking

The following lots are located near White Concert Hall:

• Lot 9
• Lot 10 – Closest ADA-accessible parking for graduates and guests
• Lot 11

Accessible entrance: The main entrance into White Concert Hall is accessible.

Guest seating at Lee Arena and White Concert Hall

Washburn University is proud to welcome graduates and their guests to White Concert Hall and the newly renovated Lee Arena. With more than 1,000 seats in White Concert Hall and over 2,000 seats available on the south, west, and east bleachers in Lee Arena, family and friends can enjoy watching their graduate cross the stage in celebration.

Please note:

• All seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Saving or reserving rows of seats is not permitted.
• No food or liquids are allowed in White Concert Hall.

Accessible seating

• Accessible seating for guests with mobility impairments or in wheelchairs is located in:
  • the east and west bleachers in Lee Arena.
  • the front row of White Concert Hall and also at the midway aisle on each side of the Concert Hall.
• These areas are also first-come, first-served and cannot be reserved in advance.

For Washburn University graduates, professional photographers will be on site to capture key moments during the ceremony, including:

• The presentation of your diploma or certificate cover
• Hooding ceremonies (for master's and doctoral graduates)
• An individual portrait after you cross the stage

These souvenir photos are available for optional purchase—there is no obligation to buy. After commencement, the photography company will contact you directly with ordering information.

Washburn Tech graduates can access Washburn Tech commencement photos from the first, second and third ceremonies online.

Washburn Tech Spring 2026 Graduation Program 1 (3:30pm)
Washburn Tech Spring 2026 Graduation Program 2 (5:30pm)
Washburn Tech Spring 2026 Graduation Program 3 (7:30pm)

Celebrate your achievement by taking photos at some of Washburn University’s most iconic campus spots, including:

1. The Ichabod statue in front of Morgan Hall (north side, facing 17th Street)

2. Ichabod statue on the bench outside of the west side of Morgan Hall (facing Garvey Fine Arts Center)

3. There is a media wall with photography lighting inside the lobby of Morgan Hall

4. The Kuehne Bell Tower at the center of the Washburn University campus, the walkway near the Veterans Memorial allows for a nice photo with the Kuehne Bell Tower in the background

5. Native Plant Garden behind Stoffer Science Hall

6. Stairs outside of the west side of the Mulvane Art Museum

7. The courtyard between the Garvey Fine Arts Center and White Concert Hall

8. Stairs on the east side of Memorial Union

9. The koi pond located behind the Art Building

10. Yager Stadium; Spirit W inside Yager Stadium

11. The garden west of the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center

12. The waterfall on the northeast corner of campus, at the corner of 17th and Washburn Ave.

13. Reading room of the Washburn Law Library in Robert J. Dole Hall

14. Native Plant Garden outside of Robert J. Dole Hall

15. The eagle in front of Robert J. Dole Hall

View campus map

Show off your Ichabod pride by sharing your grad photos, memories and shoutouts on social media using #WashburnGrad. Don't forget to tag @WashburnUniversity or @Washburn_Tech!

Washburn Tech graduates and their families are invited to a dinner buffet on May 14 from 4:30-8 p.m. at Lincoln Dining Hall. The all you care to eat buffet includes carved roast beef au jus and chicken parmesan with all the sides, as well as Lincoln's pizza, pasta, salad, deli and grill stations. Assorted desserts and soft serve ice cream are also included. Tickets are $8.49 for graduates and $14.49 for adults.

Reserve your graduation dinner buffet tickets

Latin honors are awarded to students seeking their first baccalaureate degree who have met their degree requirements by completing undergraduate course work and achieving a high cumulative grade point average. There are three levels of Latin honors:

• Summa cum laude
  • Blue/white cord
  • 3.8 - 4.0 GPA
• Magna cum laude
  • Gold cord
  • 3.6 - 3.79
• Cum laude
  • Silver cord
  • 3.4 - 3.59

Students receiving University Honors have completed requirements set forward by the University Honors Program. This program provides highly motivated and academically talented students with enriched educational experiences in and out of the classroom, enabling and empowering them to realize their full potential as critical thinkers, and informed global citizens and agents of change. Toward this end, the program provides curricular and co-curricular experiences supporting, promoting and rewarding excellence in academic rigor, research and scholarship, leadership and service learning. Honors students wear green stoles to indicate their level of achievement and distinction.

Students receiving University Honors are recognized at one of three levels, based on the number of Honors credits they have completed. Honors credits are curricular experiences designed by faculty to encourage increased rigor, innovation and depth. Honors courses unite faculty and students in a critical examination of the world and foster student independence and creativity. Honors Associates complete 12 hours of Honors credit, Honors Scholars complete 18 hours of Honors credit and Honors Graduates complete 24 hours of Honors credit.

Honors students may also achieve distinction or high distinction in services, with the completion of 50 or 100 hours of service to the community.

Times are tentative

Washburn Tech
Thursday, May 13, 2027
12 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Note: Program list, TBD

Washburn University
Friday, May 14, 2027
11 a.m. - School of Nursing
2 p.m. - School of Business
5 p.m. - School of Law

Saturday, May 15
10 am - School of Applied Studies
2 pm - College of Arts and Sciences