Public health means working to improve the conditions that allow people and communities to be healthy and thrive. It’s about preventing and addressing the systems and environments that impact health.
May 2026 Commencement
Congratulations to our May 2026 graduates!
As we wrap up the Spring 2026 semester, we are excited to celebrate our newest Health Sciences graduates who are about to begin another step in their journey. Together, these students have accomplished so much personally and professionally while learning and working to improve health and well-being.
Our graduates’ inspiring stories and lifetime commitment to serving others is an opportunity to reflect on our individual purpose and our collective mission at Health Sciences and West Virginia University.
We can’t wait to see all that these graduates will accomplish, and we are so excited to cheer them on. We hope the lessons they’ve learned along the way provide guidance and reassurance in their new adventures.
Remember, country roads will always lead you back home.
Schedule of events
Commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed on this website, as well as graduation.wvu.edu. Archived recordings will also be available on both websites.
May 15
-
Schools of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health Commencement Ceremony,
, Hope Coliseum -
School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony,
, Hope Coliseum
Information for attendees
Parking
For attendees, free ceremony parking is available at the Hope Coliseum. Members of the WVU Police Department will be directing traffic.
The Coliseum is ADA compliant with ADA parking in the front of the building. A valid handicap placard will be required for handicap parking. Handicap placard should be visible upon entry to help parking staff direct you to the designated accessible parking area. Shuttles and golf carts will be running through the parking lots to assist guests who may have mobility issues and be parked farther away. More parking information can be found on the WVU Parking Map.
The PRT closes for summer break Saturday, May 9, and will not be an option for transportation to and from Commencement Weekend ceremonies.
Guest entrances
Guests may enter through any of the gates at the Coliseum. Doors will open one hour prior to ceremony start time.
Graduate entrances
Graduates should check-in at the Basketball Practice Facility 60 minutes prior to the ceremony time.
No one other than the graduates will be permitted into the check-in areas.
Clear Bag Policy
The University’s Clear Bag Policy will be enforced for Commencement activities. Attendees may bring in one clear bag no larger than 12"×6"×12" or a 1-gallon plastic storage bag. Attendees are limited to one clear bag per person, along with a small clutch bag (no larger than 4.5"×6.5") for privacy.
Accessibility Services
Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Once you have arrived at the graduation venue, University volunteers stationed at Guest Services will be available to direct you to the designated accessible seating areas. Guest Services are located at the Gold and Blue Gates at the Coliseum.
Captioning will be provided, and sign language interpreting is available by request at least one week prior to the ceremony.
Assistance
Volunteers will be stationed at Guest Services tables at the Gold and Blue Gates at the Coliseum, before, during and after events.
Flowers
Flowers will be available for purchase. Flower sales benefit the WVU Horticulture Club.
Lost and Found
For commencement ceremonies, please call 304-293-7132 to report lost and found items. Items will be kept for 90 days.
Program Length
Each ceremony will last approximately two hours.
Seating
Tickets are not required. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Seats cannot be reserved or held ahead of time.
Guests should not approach the stage to take photos, present gifts or congratulate graduates.
Signs
To avoid disrupting the view of others in the audience, signs will not be permitted inside the Coliseum.
Guests Traveling from out of Country
Please contact International Students and Scholar Services directly at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu for more information. If your guest(s) will need a visitor visa, ISSS can provide you a template you may use to write your own personal support letter for their visa interview. Per ISSS guidance, visa issuance is solely determined by the Department of State. ISSS, nor the university, can write support letters to embassies or intervene in the visa process.
Professional Photography
West Virginia University has partnered with GradImages to help capture the special memories of graduation. A photograph of each student will be taken as he or she crosses the stage. Other shots may be offered, depending on the venue.
Graduates will be sent electronic copies of their photo proofs to the email address indicated by the graduate. You may pre-register your information by clicking “Pre-Registration” on the GradImages website.
Should you have any questions about your photos, please contact GradImages directly.
WVU Photography
Photos of all ceremonies can be found at the WVU Photos website.
Personal Photography
Guests are not permitted to approach the stage to take personal photos.
