History
The University traces its roots to 1930, when the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary was established.
At the time, students typically completed their first two years of study in Norfolk before transferring to the Williamsburg campus of William & Mary, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, or other colleges and universities across the country.
The Norfolk Division’s first formal Commencement ceremony of what would become Old Dominion University was held at the Larchmont School Auditorium in May 1943, when eligible students received completion certificates during final convocation exercises at the close of the academic year.
In June 1945, the first degree ceremony took place where 17 students received Associate of Arts diplomas, marking the beginning of a Commencement tradition that continues to celebrate the achievements of Monarchs today.
The institution reached another milestone in 1956, when it awarded its first four-year bachelor’s degrees to 15 students. This marked a significant step in the evolution of the Norfolk Division and the institution that would eventually become Old Dominion University.
As Old Dominion grew, so did its Commencement traditions. The first winter Commencement was held in December 1985. From 1985 through 1990, an additional ceremony was held each August, but the University eventually returned to two ceremonies each year, with August graduates joining the December Commencement. From 1945 through 2002, Commencement ceremonies were held at locations throughout Norfolk, including the former Rollins Hall, Foreman Field and Norfolk Scope.
In December 2002, Commencement moved to campus and was held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The COVID-19 pandemic brought another change. No Commencement ceremonies were held in 2020, and the Class of 2020 celebrated at in-person ceremonies in May 2021 at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Since May 2023, the spring undergraduate Commencement ceremony has been held at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
From that first Commencement ceremony in 1943 to the thousands of graduates who cross the stage today, the tradition has continued to mark a defining moment in the lives of Monarchs—a time to recognize achievement, celebrate perseverance and look ahead to what comes next.
Traditions
During the Commencement Exercise, students walk from , through , and down Hampton Boulevard dressed in academic regalia towards the ceremony in . All graduating seniors step across the on the mall as new alumni of the University.
The University Mace is carried during the Commencement ceremony by the University Marshal to lead the academic processional and recessional, and is displayed on the platform during the ceremony. The mace was commissioned by the University for the inauguration of as the fourth president in 1985. It was designed by William Wagner and was created by Dianne DeBeixedon, both professors of art at ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, and features a silver head with a three-dimensional evolution of the elliptically-shaped University Medallion. The shaft was crafted from Brazilian rosewood.