FAQ
The ceremony will include:
- The National Anthem
- Congratulatory messages from EVMS President Richard V. Homan, MD and EVMS Board of Visitors Rector, Mark R. Warden, MBA
- Remarks from EVMS Alumni Representative
- Remarks by School of Health Professions Student Representative Matthew Cissell, DHSc Class of 2020
- Remarks by School of Medicine Student Representative Ehsan Jafree, MD Class of 2020
- Remarks and Presentation of Degree Candidates by C. Donald Combs, PhD
- Remarks and Presentation of Degree Candidates by Ronald W. Flenner, MD
- The Physician Assistant Professional Oath
- The Oath of Hippocrates
- Graduate Slides in Alpha Order
- Congratulatory Video Messages from EVMS Faculty & Staff
- Build Your Graduate Slide
- Order Souvenir Regalia
- Download the Commencement App
- Look for your Commencement Box in the mail
- Tune in to the Ceremony on Saturday, May 16 at 10:00 AM on the EVMS homepage
- Share with Others
Find information on creating your slide on this page.
Find information on how to order regalia on this page.
Find instructions on downloading the app here.
You will receive a Commencement Gift Box in the mail the week of May 11. Enclosed you will find printed programs, your alumni pin and other items to help you celebrate your special day. Please note that this box will be shipped directly to the address that you provide when you order your Souvenir Regalia by the April 30 deadline. If you decide not to order regalia or do so AFTER April 30, your box will be shipped to the address you provided to the EVMS Registrar for your diploma.
For questions or to provide an updated address to send your gift box, please email events@evms.edu.
The ceremony will be streamed on Ustream, which you can find easily on the EVMS website’s home page. The recorded ceremony will be posted to view after the ceremony airs.
Yes, all students that were deemed eligible for Commencement by the EVMS Registrar and Program Directors prior to COVID-19 will be included in the Virtual Ceremony. Diplomas and covers, however, will only be mailed to students’ addresses on record after they have successfully completed all of the necessary academic requirements.
For questions about MarchingOrder and creating your virtual ceremony slide, as well as the Countdown to Commencement mobile app, contact Melissa Fuquay, Assistant Director of Special Events, at FuquayMA@evms.edu.
For questions about ordering Souvenir Regalia, contact Julie Seals, Assistant Director of Special Events, at SealsJM@evms.edu.
General Information
In response to COVID-19 and in accordance with guidelines established by the CDC and our governor, EVMS had to make the difficult decision to transition the 2020 Commencement to a virtual format. It is our priority to keep you, your loved ones and our community safe. (For more details about EVMS’ response to the pandemic, visit the COVID-19 section of the EVMS website.)
EVMS will host a virtual ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.. As you may know, this option was the top choice of EVMS graduates who were surveyed about alternatives. We hope it will offer you a meaningful experience —and one that you can share easily with your family and friends. Additionally, EVMS invites the Class of 2020 to cross the stage in person at any Commencement in the next 5 years. If we have enough participants in May 2021, we will create a separate Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020.
All 2020 graduates are invited to cross the stage in person at any Commencement in the next 5 years. If we have enough participants in May 2021, we will create a separate Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020. Additionally, you will be invited to attend a Class of 2020 New Alumni Party. You will receive a poll later this year to get your input on dates and ideas for the parties.
With the cancellation of the Commencement ceremony, all other Commencement-week events such as the MD and HP Receptions are also canceled. However, certain departments or academic programs may be in the process of planning a virtual event. As those details become available we will update the Commencement webpages.
No, your degree was already approved by EVMS’ governing body or Board of Visitors even if you choose not to participate in any virtual or in-person ceremony. Your diploma and cover will be mailed out to your address of record upon successful completion of your academic requirements. For additional questions, contact the EVMS Registrar at registrar@evms.edu or 757.446.5890.
Your diploma and complimentary cover will be mailed out upon successful completion of your academic requirements to the address you provided to the registrar. For additional questions, contact the EVMS Registrar at registrar@evms.edu or 757.446.5890.
Students who received a graduation award will initially receive a PDF award certificate via email. Framed certificates will be assembled and mailed after the EVMS campus is safely reopened and staff can return to work. Certain awards come with stipends, which will be mailed to preferred addresses on file. A staff member will reach out via email with additional information and instructions.
EVMS plans to return funds to graduating students for fees paid related to Commencement. If fees were paid by another entity, such as the Veterans Administration, funds will likely have to be returned to that entity. Students with balances due to EVMS will have these fees deducted from their outstanding balance.