WVU Commencement to Celebrate Thousands of Graduates
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 05, 2026
WHAT: West Virginia University will mark a celebratory gold and blue Commencement Weekend during nine ceremonies over three days in Morgantown.
WHO: Thousands of spring graduates, President Michael T. Benson in his first University May Commencement, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Kreider, Chancellor and Executive Dean for Health Sciences Dr. Clay Marsh, other University leaders, four honorary degree recipients.
WHERE: WVU Hope Coliseum, 3450 Monongahela Blvd., Morgantown
WHEN: May 15-17
Friday, May 15
• College of Law
9 a.m.
Honorary degree recipient: former state Supreme Court Justice Beth Walker
• School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health
Noon
Honorary degree recipient: former WVU Health System President and CEO J. Thomas “Tom” Jones
• School of Medicine
4 p.m.
Saturday, May 16
• College of Creative Arts and Media
9 a.m.
Speaker: Ayana Young, public relations consultant, Young Group LLC, and University alum
• Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
12:30 p.m.
• John Chambers College of Business and Economics
4 p.m.
Honorary degree recipient: Gabriel Brothers Co-Founder Arthur Gabriel
Sunday, May 17
• College of Applied Human Sciences
9 a.m.
Speaker: Gary Quinn, vice president of programming and general manager, NBC Sports and University alum
• Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
12:30 p.m.
Presidential Honorary Degree recipient: Charles E. Lawall Chair of Mining Engineering
Emeritus Syd Peng
Speaker: Sarah Lovell, captain and cyber warfare officer, Maryland Air National Guard
175th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, Fort Meade, Maryland, and University alum
• Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
4:30 p.m.
VENUE INFORMATION: Tickets are not required. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The University’s Clear Bag Policy will be in effect. No signs or noisemakers are permitted.
Find more information about WVU Commencement.
PARKING: For attendees, free ceremony parking is available at the Hope Coliseum. Members of the WVU Police Department will be directing traffic.
The Hope Coliseum is ADA compliant with ADA parking in the front of the building. A valid handicap placard will be required for handicap parking. Shuttles and golf carts will be running in the parking areas.
The PRT closes for summer break starting Saturday, May 9, and will not be an option for transportation to and from Commencement Weekend ceremonies.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS: The Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion will hold the annual Spring Commissioning Ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
The Honors College will host its Honors Recognition Ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Canady Creative Arts Center, Lyell B. Clay Theatre.
