Friday, May 19, 2023
Lawn, DE Campus
In celebration of the achievements of the graduates of December 2022, May 2023 and August 2023, the commencement ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19, on the lawn in front of Geesey House and Polishook Hall. Graduates should report to the Law Building by 12:30 p.m. Guest seating does not require a ticket; all seating is first-come, first-served. Saving seats prior to the ceremony by marking chairs is prohibited; signs on chairs will be removed.
The commencement ceremony will be broadcast live online for family and friends who will not be able to attend in person. The webcast will begin streaming approximately five minutes before the event begins. A link will be available on the Delaware Law homepage. The ceremony will be broadcast into the Law Building and Polishook Hall.
While we are planning for unlimited guests per graduate, limits may be imposed if the global pandemic worsens or other unforeseen circumstances arise.
We reserve the right to make changes to all commencement plans in response to the global pandemic or other unforeseen circumstances.
Special Needs Parking and Seating
Forms to obtain tickets to the special needs seating area are available at the Registrar’s Office or online. Completed forms must be returned by Friday, May 12. Upon receipt of the completed form, the graduate will receive a pass for their guest and one additional family member to access the designated seating area, as well as one parking pass. Requests received late will be honored on a space-available basis. A live video feed of the entire ceremony will be viewable from all rooms in Polishook Hall. Guests with special needs and families with very young children are encouraged to make themselves comfortable in Polishook Hall if outdoor conditions are not favorable.
Flower Sale
Delaware Law’s Student Bar Association has arranged for flowers to be sold at the ceremony. There is also an option to pre-order these items online. If you would like to pre-order, please use this link: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/widenerlaw/
Yard Signs
If you would like to purchase a yard sign for the Class of 2023, please use the following link: https://delaware-law.itemorder.com/shop/category/454758/
Turnaround time for the yard signs is about 7-10 days after the order is placed, not including shipping time. However, we cannot guarentee signs if placed by a certain date- so the earlier the better! For the next thirty days (March 20th until April 20th) we will run a Free Shipping promo for all items, including the signs.
Tobacco-Free Campus
Widener University has adopted a Tobacco-Free Policy on all campuses. Use of any tobacco product is prohibited on campus.
Security Policy: No Backpacks, Large Purses, Bags, etc., at Graduation
The safety of our students, staff, faculty, and guests is important. We ask that all graduates and their guests refrain from bringing bags, backpacks, large purses, or containers to the commencement ceremony. Please leave these items at home or in your vehicle. For the safety and security of our community, Campus Safety officers may search bags and containers that are brought to graduation. Please do not leave your belongings unattended at any time. Report any unattended bags or suspicious packages to a Campus Safety officer. These security precautions are for your protection.
Legacy
Degree candidates who are the children of Delaware Law School (DLS) alumni are referred to as “Legacy Students”. As a way of recognizing those who have carried on the proud DLS tradition within their families, Legacy Students are invited to include their DLS alumni parents in the commencement ceremony.
Legacy Students should submit their alumni parent information to the Office of the Registrar by Friday, May 5, 2023. For questions or additional information, please contact Tammy Graham, Registrar, at tlgraham@widener.edu.
Handshake Photograph
A commercial photography studio will take photos of each graduate receiving his or her diploma. Information for accessing the photos will be emailed to your Widener email address within two weeks of the ceremony.
JD Composite Photograph
A composite photograph of the JD graduating class will be given to each JD graduate.