Date

May 09 - 10 2025

Time

6:30 pm

2025 Graduation Mass & Commencement Exercises

DIVINE MERCY UNIVERSITY 2025 COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND

Pre Graduation Events
Friday, May 9, 2025

Program Activities
Location: DMU Campus 45154 Underwood Lane, Sterling VA

Please contact your specific program for details and to RSVP

President’s Reception 6:30-8:30
2025 President’s Reception RSVP  COMING SOON.  Information will be sent to your DMU email.

Mass and Commencement Exercises
Saturday May 10, 2025

Mass and Commencement Exercises
10:00 am (graduates to arrive at 8:30 am- Rehearsal at 8:45)
Location: St John Neumann Catholic Church
Address: 11900 Lawyers Rd, Reston, VA 20191

  • Graduates to arrive by 8:30 am
  • Faculty with a part in the Commencement are to arrive at 8:30
  • Rehearsal at 8:45 am
  • All other faculty to arrive at 9:30 am
  • Guests to be seated by 9:45 am
  • Mass and Commencement to begin at 10:00 am

REGALIA and WALKING IN THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

NOTE: Every student who would like to walk in the ceremony will need to purchase regalia through Oak Hall.(https://oakhallcg.com/pages/divinemercy) This is a requirement to walk, If you do not have regalia you will not participate in Commencement. Deadline is April 1, 2025

Hotel Reservations

Book your group rate for DMU Graduation
You will find the information for your online reservation link below. If you have questions or need help with the link, please do not hesitate to ask.

Event Summary:

  • DMU Graduation
  • Start Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • End Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
  • Last Day to Book: Tuesday, April 9, 2025
  • Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:
    • Fairfield Inn & Suites at Dulles Airport for $119 USD per night

Book your group rate for DMU Graduation

Commencement FAQ

Preparing for Graduation: Graduates


How will I receive information regarding Graduation Events and Commencement?
You will receive information regarding graduation events Commencement through your DMU email. It is important to make sure you are regularly checking your inbox to make sure you receive this information. Comprehensive information will be available on both the DMU as well as in the emails sent to you from graduation@divinemercy.edu, registrar@divinemercy.edu.

Where can I purchase my cap and gown?
Every student who would like to walk in the ceremony will need to purchase regalia   (i.e., your cap and gown) through Oak Hall. https://oakhallcg.com/pages/divinemercy. This is a requirement to walk, If you do not have regalia you will not participate in Commencement.

The portal to order regalia is currently open.  This will be shipped directly to your home address (we will not allow it to be shipped to the University). This must be purchased no later than April 1, 2025. The Oak Hall website will shut down after this, as they will not have time to make and ship regalia.

What if I miss the deadline to order my regalia?
Regalia can be ordered until April 1, 2025. The company requires sufficient time to make and mail the regalia.  DMU is not able to extend this deadline.  Failure to order regalia by this deadline will result in not being able to walk into the Graduation ceremony.  There are no exceptions to this policy. Please make sure your order is complete (cap, tassel, robe, hood) before arriving at the ceremony.

What does my graduation fee cover?
Our Academic Catalog states that “the Graduation Fee covers all aspects of the degree completion process and will be applied to all student accounts of degree candidates, regardless of participation in the Commencement ceremony,” (Graduation Requirements Policy). The graduation fee covers the cost of such expenses as diplomas, diploma covers, printing costs, and postage. The graduation fee is a one-time fee of $75. It is applied to every student’s account the last semester the student is enrolled prior to graduation, regardless of whether or not they attend the ceremony.

Participation in the University and/or school exercises is afforded at no additional cost to graduates and their guests.

Do my guests need tickets for the Mass and Commencement Ceremony?
You do not need tickets for your guests. Seating is first come, first serve so make sure your guests arrive early for the best seats! All guests should be seated prior to the beginning of the processional at 10:00 am.

Will there be a Mass and Commencement rehearsal?
Yes, there will be a rehearsal at 8:45 am on the day of graduation at St John Neumann Catholic Church. Please ensure that you arrive by 8:30 and are ready for rehearsal to begin promptly at 8:45 am. Further, it is extremely important that you read all emails regarding graduation and commencement to receive any and all updates.

When will I receive my diploma?
All diplomas and diploma covers will be mailed out by our third-party vendor. You will receive an email from them the day it is mailed out.

International students: please take note that there is a significant delay in overseas mail. If we are unable to mail your diploma due to current mailing restrictions, we will notify you immediately.

How do I RSVP?
All eligible graduates will be asked to submit an Application to Graduate. There is a section on the application that asks for your RSVP for the ceremony. The deadline to RSVP or change your RSVP is April 1. Please contact the Registrar’s office with any questions regarding your RSVP.

Day before Graduation
Are there other events taking place that I should be aware of?
Yes! On Friday, May 9th, all programs will host their own program event at Divine Mercy University. This will be a great opportunity to meet your cohort and professors to conclude the program experience and to connect with fellow grads as new alumni. More information will be shared in the coming weeks!

Day of Graduation: General

When is Commencement?
Divine Mercy University’s 2025 Commencement will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, May 10th, 2025  at St John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston, VA. The procession will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Guests should plan to arrive by 9:45 am.  Graduates should note that they must arrive at 8:30 and be ready for rehearsal by 8:45

Who participates in the Commencement Ceremony?
Currently enrolled students who will receive degrees in  January through September  2025, are invited to participate in Commencement Exercises. Students not currently enrolled but who received their degrees earlier in the academic year (October 2024, December 2024 or March 2024) are also invited to participate. It is recommended that those who graduated earlier in the year contact the Registrar’s Office about their participation in the May exercises. Graduates from the Psy.D. (Doctorate in Psychology), MSC (Masters in Counseling),  and MSP (Masters in Psychology), will all be participating in this ceremony. All eligible graduates will receive an Application to Graduate from the Registrar’s Office informing them of their candidacy and formally inviting them to participate. 

How can I order the professional pictures from graduation?
DMU contracts photographers to capture the whole ceremony, including pictures of the graduates receiving diplomas and hoods. After graduation, the University will make all graduation and Commencement related pictures available for free to all DMU graduates through an external website. Graduates can access and download pictures from this website free of charge. Photography is allowed during the Commencement events. However, guests may not disrupt the Mass or ceremony or block the views of other guests.

How long does the Commencement Ceremony last?
The length of the ceremony is approximately 1.5 hours, with Mass being about 1.5 hours beforehand. Start to finish will be approximately 3 hours.

Day of Graduation: Graduates

Where do I go on the morning of Commencement?
 When you arrive at St John Neumann Catholic Parish signs and/or volunteers will direct you to the staging area. It is important to arrive by 8:30 am for rehearsal at 8:45 am and be in place for the processional prior to 9:45 am.

On which side of the cap does the tassel go?
Before graduating, tassels should be on your right. After graduating, tassels should be moved to your left.

Will I be recognized individually?
Students will be recognized individually during their academic school’s diploma ceremony during the Commencement.

Day of Graduation: Friends and Family

Can friends and family attend the Commencement Mass if they are not Roman Catholic?
Absolutely!  The ceremony is open to all graduates, and their friends and families. However, please note that only practicing Catholics in a state of grace should receive the Eucharist during the time of Communion at the Mass.

What is the appropriate dress for the weekend’s events?
Family members and guests are encouraged to dress nicely and comfortably for the weekend, taking the weather conditions into account. Most guests tend to dress up more (what might be worn to a religious service, for example) for the Mass and the Commencement Exercises, but there is still a wide range of attire at those events. There are no formal expectations for what guests should wear during the weekend.

Will the Commencement Ceremony and Mass be live-streamed?
Yes. The main Commencement Ceremony will be broadcast via live stream on the DMU website. Students will be sent a link via their DMU email to share with family and friends in the days just prior to the Ceremony.  The link will also be available on DMU’s graduation website.

Travel and Parking

How can I find directions to Campus?
For directions to DMU’s new building in Sterling, click HERE. This link will direct you to DMU’s building’s location on Google Maps. Simply enter your point of departure to receive directions to the school.

What are the parking options at the Parish?
The parish offers ample free parking to visitors.

What is the best airport to fly into?
Dulles is the closest airport, however, the Metro now runs between Dulles and Reagan.

  • Air Travel: There are 3 major airports that are near the DMU campus in Sterling, VA
    • Dulles International Airport (IAD)
      • 5 min drive to DMU Campus (Sterling) and the Fairfield Inn and Suites
      • 20 min drive to St. John Neumann Catholic Church
    • Reagan National Airport (DCA)
      • 32 min drive to DMU Campus (Sterling)
      • 35 min drive to St. John Neumann Catholic Church
    • Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
      • 70 min drive to DMU Campus (Sterling)

Book flights as early as possible!

We recommend booking travel and accommodations as early as possible since the spring is a busy travel season in the Washington D.C. area.

Do you have a list of recommended accommodations?
A courtesy block of rooms has been made at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Sterling, VA (walking distance to the University). Please be sure to check out this option as you consider your housing arrangements for the weekend. Individuals can click the link below to make their reservation.

Click this link to make your reservation

Ground and Local Travel

Is there anything else I should know about transportation?
Students and their guests are completely responsible for arranging their own transportation throughout their stay in the Northern Virginia area. Please specifically note the following:

  • For travel between DMU’s Campus and Saint John Neumann Catholic Church:
    DMU’s campus and the Fairfield Inn of Sterling are approximately 9 miles from Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston, VA. The commute time is approximately  20  minutes depending on the route and traffic conditions.
  • For travel between DMU’s Campus and the Fairfield Inn and Suites:
    The hotel is within walking distance of the University. Please use caution when walking between the two locations as there are double-lane roads.
  • The Metro: The Silver Metro line is now open with a stop at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and the vicinity. If you intend to use public transportation to travel from/to that area, it will require some planning, and most likely multiple modes of transportation.
  • Ride Sharing  Consider connecting with other graduates for a budget friendly option.
    • Rental car
    • Uber/Lyft
    • Taxi

What if I have additional questions?
Please contact us by emailing registrar@divinemercy.edu. If your question is time sensitive, please call the University at 703.842.3489.

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