VLGS Commencement Ceremony

Registration

Students participating in the Commencement Ceremony this spring must have registered by Monday, February 3, 2025.

Regalia

The deadline for ordering Commencement Regalia is also Monday, February 3, 2025.

Students do not need to pay for regalia or shipping.

All regalia will be shipped directly to Vermont Law and Graduate School. Regalia will be distributed to graduates on Thursday, May 15, 2025, following the mandatory Class Meeting.

Students who miss the February 3 deadline for Registration or Regalia should contact the Commencement Coordinator, Courtney Potter (cpotter@vermontlaw.edu) as soon as possible.

Invitations and Tickets

There are no tickets for Commencement. Rather, each student will be provided with a total of ten invitations.

The School will mail two (2) guest tickets on your behalf. Students were requested to provide this information in the Registration form.

The remaining invitations will be delivered to student mailboxes in the Chase Breezeway for students to mail on their own.

Formal Grad Photos

Graduates can sign up for professional, formal photos in their regalia. Check back later for a signup link and fee information.

Thursday, May 15

10 – 11 A.M.
Mandatory Class Meeting
Chase Community Center

Be sure to attend this mandatory class meeting where you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Commencement ceremony. We’ll also conduct a quick rehearsal of the lineup and procession to the Town Green. While there will be a Teams link for those who cannot make it to campus by Thursday, an in-person attendance for those here in town will help ensure a smooth ceremony on Saturday morning.

11 A.M. – 12 P.M.
Regalia Distribution
Oakes Hall, Room 107

Following the Class Meeting students will be able to pick up their regalia in Oakes 107. Regalia will be organized in alphabetical order, and we ask that you do not send anyone to collect it on your behalf. If you’re unable to pick up your regalia at this time, please reach out to Courtney Potter at cpotter@vermontlaw.edu.

5:30 – 7:30 PM
Cultural Celebration
Debevoise Back Lawn

Graduating students are invited to a Cultural Celebration Ceremony to honor graduating members of Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and Native American Law Students Association (NALSA). Join us for beverages, traditional fare, and music!

Friday, May 16
1 – 3 P.M.
Formal Grad Photos
Oakes Hall, Room 107

Graduates can sign up for professional, formal photos in regalia. Check back later for a signup link and fee information.

3:30 – 4:30 P.M.
Lecture: Honorary Degree Recipient
Oakes Hall, Room 012

Please join us for a lecture by Honorary Degree recipient. Check back later for more information regarding our honorary degree recipient and the lecture.

5:00 – 6:00 P.M.
Awards Ceremony
Chase Community Center

Bring your families and join your classmates as we recognize a few exceptional students from the Class of 2025 for outstanding service, stewardship, and leadership.

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Commencement Soiree!
Debevoise Back Lawn

The celebration of awards and the upcoming Commencement pomp and circumstance continues at this Commencement Soiree. Free and open graduates and their families immediately following the Awards Ceremony.

Saturday, May 17
8:30 – 9:15 AM
Class Photos
Cornell Library Steps

Graduates should gather in their regalia for class photos on the library steps. Please be prompt so we have sufficient time to get the processional in order.

9:15 – 10 AM
Procession Organizes
Debevoise Front Lawn and Steps

Immediately following the class photos, members of the Registrar’s Office and the Dean’s Office will line students up in marching order for procession to the Commencement tent.

10 AM – 12 PM
Commencement
Town Green

Led by Bagpiper, Ben Montross, the processional will step off from the Debevoise Front Lawn at precisely 10 AM and march to the Town Green to enter the Commencement tent.

12 – 2:30 PM
Commencement Reception
Debevoise Back Lawn

Family and friends are invited to join graduates at this open reception. Enjoy food and champagne as you celebrate all your accomplishments and your special day.

We’ve gathered some frequently asked questions and answers to help you plan a great stay and celebration in Vermont. Please feel free to be in touch with our Commencement Coordinator, Courtney Potter with any questions. She’ll be glad to answer them for you! Email commencement@vermontlaw.edu.

Are Commencement events located indoors or outdoors? How should I dress?
Several Commencement events, including the main ceremony, will be held under a tent. Check the weather for central Vermont and pack accordingly. Layers are good; make sure open-toes shoes are not your only footwear. Bring an umbrella and sunscreen, you may need both in the course of one day! The Reception following the Commencement Ceremony will take place under a tent on the Debevoise back lawn.

Where should I park?
Parking around the Royalton Village Green on Commencement day is reserved for emergency services and guests with special needs. Guests can park in VLGS parking lots located on the north and south ends of campus, just past the bridge when coming into town. If those lots are full, parking is available at the White River Valley High School, two blocks south of the village green. It’s a short walk to the Commencement Tent from any of these parking lots.

A member of my party has mobility impairments. What special accommodations are there?
Accessible parking for the Ceremony is available on South Windsor Street, right next to the tent and adjacent to the Red Door Church. There is also a place on the same side of the Green to drop off and pick up. The left front section of the Commencement tent is reserved to allow easier access to parking. For assistance, please see an usher.

The Commencement Reception will be held on the lawn behind Debevoise Hall. There will be some parking behind the Cornell Library following the ceremony. Please click here to visit our campus map.

What policies are in place regarding COVID-19?
At this time, all COVID-19 policies have been lifted. Proof of vaccination is not required, and masks are optional. Guests and participants should feel comfortable wearing masks at any time during the ceremony (and other related events) if they so choose.

Do I need a ticket to get into the Commencement Ceremony?
No. Tickets will not be required for entrance into the Commencement tent. We expect more than 1,000 guests, so arrive early, as seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you need assistance, ask an usher to help you. Families with young children often sit on the outside of the tent so children can play on the grass – but guests should be able to see and hear no matter where you sit in the tent.

Is there a designated area for taking photographs at Commencement?
A team of professional photographers will photograph each graduate as they receive their diploma and hood. In order to get a great photo of each graduate, it is important that photographers have a
clear line of sight to the platform when each graduate is hooded.

Understanding guests’ desires to try to capture the moment themselves, we will set aside a small area for photographing graduates as they receive their diplomas. Please come to this area moments before your graduate’s name is called and depart as soon as they leave the stage. It is important to keep this area accessible to all guests, and to keep the center aisle and stage area accessible to the graduates as they come forward to receive their diplomas.

Following commencement, please check back for a link to purchase photos.

Can I bring my dog to the Commencement Ceremony?
We ask that you keep your dog at home for the time you will be visiting South Royalton. With the exception of service dogs, the town does not allow dogs on the village green and dogs are not invited into buildings on the VLGS campus. If you do bring your dog, please obey South Royalton’s leash law. Do not leave pets unattended in your vehicle.

Where can I get coffee, flowers, or a gift on Commencement Day?
The South Royalton Market and First Branch Coffee (on the village green) have coffee, tea, and baked goods available. Flowers will be available at Barrister’s Book Shop on the corner of Chelsea and Windsor streets. VLGS diploma frames and other gifts can be purchased at Barrister’s Book Shop as well. The United Church of Royalton (also on the village green) invites guests to use their restrooms. Portable toilets will be stationed on the village green.

What if it rains?
The Commencement Ceremony and Reception will be held outside under a large tent on the Royalton Village Green RAIN OR SHINE. If there is exceptionally heavy rain, the Reception may be moved inside.

Will the Commencement Ceremony be livestreamed?
Yes. But please note because of our rural location, the WiFi can sometimes be unreliable. The Ceremony will be recorded, however, and the video posted to our website within a day or two.

Will my cell phone work in South Royalton?
Wireless Internet access is available for guests of Vermont Law and Graduate School in the Chase Center and the Cornell Library. Wireless Internet is also available at several area businesses, including Barrister’s Book Shop.

How do I get to Vermont Law and Graduate School?Visit our directions page here

For more information about Vermont Law and Graduate School’s 2025 Commencement events, contact:

Courtney Potter
Vermont Law and Graduate School
PO Box 96
South Royalton, VT 05068
802-831-1238
commencement@vermontlaw.edu

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