Convocation 2019
Watch the full video of the 2018 Convocation ceremony from Tuesday, May 22, 2018.
2018-19 Conferral Dates*
August 24, 2018 for Summer graduates
December 28, 2018 for Fall graduates
May 23, 2019 for Spring graduates
* The School's Convocation Ceremony and the University Commencement Ceremony are held once a year in May.
May 2019 Conferral
All 2018-19 graduates are invited to attend the May 2019 Convocation and Commencement ceremonies. Diplomas for Summer and Fall graduates will be mailed directly to you.
Regalia Ordering
All graduates participating in Convocation or Commencement are required to wear a cap, gown, and hood. Regalia ordering is open now through April 13, 2019, through Oak Hall at
https://jhu-sph.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome. Students are encouraged to order regalia even if participation is not a certainty. Please keep in mind that students who do not have regalia will not be permitted to participate in the graduation ceremonies.
Convocation Speaker
The 2019 Convocation speaker will be Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist and author, Ms. Laurie Garrett. Her bio is available here.
Graduating Student Checklist
Use the checklist to help identify administrative details that may need to be taken care of before you leave campus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I plan on graduating in May 2019. When will the graduation application be available?
The graduation application for is currently available in Self-Service and will close on February 22.
I graduated in either August 2018 or December 2018. Are graduation ceremonies held during these months?
No. The School and University-wide graduation ceremonies are held once a year in May. August 2018 and December 2018 graduates are welcome to participate in the May 2019 ceremonies.
Are tickets required for Convocation?
No. This is not a ticketed event. Expected graduates may invite as many friends and family as they wish.
When and where will the May 2019 Convocation ceremony be held?
The Convocation ceremony will take place at 3pm on Tues., May 21 at the Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore.
Are there hotels close to the venue?
Yes. The Hotel page has a map and a list of hotels offering special rates to Johns Hopkins guests.
Where can I park for the May 21 Convocation ceremony?
Public parking is limited near the arena.
You can find information at Royal Farms Parking & Mass Transit.
Additionally The Royal Farms Arena is accessible via taxi or via ride share service. For more information about Uber or Lyft, please visit their websites or download their apps, which can be found in the App Store on iOS devices or the Google Play Store on Android devices. The zTrip service can be used to book a sedan or a taxi for pickup immediately, later in the day or at a future date. For more information about zTrip, please visit the zTrip website or download the zTrip app, which can be found in the App Store on iOS devices or the Google Play Store on Android devices.
Is there accessible parking available near the area?
Accessible parking spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis are located in the garage attached to the arena and in other nearby parking facilities. Parking in these spots requires a state-issued license plate or hangtag. Drop off areas are available at the Royal Farms Arena Baltimore Street and Howard Street entrances.
Please note that the Hopkins Place entrance is the accessible entrance into the arena.
Will there be accessible seating?
The ceremony will have designated seating areas for persons using wheelchairs and up to three companions on a first-come, first-served basis. This seating is located on the Level 1 Concourse behind sections 103 and 104. For assistance finding seating, please see one of the ushers inside the arena.
For other guests with mobility disabilities, it is strongly recommended that you arrive early to ensure you are able to find a seat that meets your needs.
Elevators are on the southeast and southwest corners of the buildings. Please see a Royal Farms Arena staff member for assistance upon entering the building.
Please Note: The arena is a large facility and a considerable distance must be traveled to get to all of the seats. Guests for whom walking long distances is difficult are strongly encouraged to rent a wheelchair for the day. Wheelchairs will not be available at the arena. Information about renting one is in the next section: “Will wheelchairs be available?”
Will wheelchairs be available?
Wheelchairs are not available at the arena. To rent a wheelchair, you may call Northern Pharmacy at 410-254-2055, press “0” to speak to the operator and ask for medical equipment rentals; or email Northern Pharmacy.
Will an ASL interpreter and/or captioning be provided?
Sign Language Interpreters are available upon request. Please contact the JHSPH_graduation@jhu.edu by April 23 to request ASL Interpreters. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
Assisted listening devices are available at Royal Farms Arena Guest Services, which is located behind section 227. A driver’s license will need to be left in exchange for the device.
Additionally, large screens will project the ceremony and each graduate as he/she crosses the stage, so guests need not sit close to the stage to have a “good seat.” The ceremony will be captioned on the large screens on either side of the stage.
How long is the ceremony?
We expect the ceremony to run between 3 and 3.5 hours.
When will I receive additional information about the May 2019 graduation ceremonies?
Early 2019.
How do I provide my consulate with a letter for guests I wish to invite from outside of the U.S.?
Please complete the request for a consulate letter found here: http://jhsph.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eFIbd9XkfXZTPpj
I plan on graduating in May 2019. When will the graduation application be available?
The graduation application for is currently available in Self-Service and will close on February 22.
I graduated in either August 2018 or December 2018. Are graduation ceremonies held during these months?
No. The School and University-wide graduation ceremonies are held once a year in May. August 2018 and December 2018 graduates are welcome to participate in the May 2019 ceremonies.
Are tickets required for Convocation?
No. This is not a ticketed event. Expected graduates may invite as many friends and family as they wish.
When and where will the May 2019 Convocation ceremony be held?
The Convocation ceremony will take place at 3pm on Tues., May 21 at the Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore.
Are there hotels close to the venue?
Yes. The Hotel page has a map and a list of hotels offering special rates to Johns Hopkins guests.
Where can I park for the May 21 Convocation ceremony?
Public parking is limited near the arena.
You can find information at Royal Farms Parking & Mass Transit.
Additionally The Royal Farms Arena is accessible via taxi or via ride share service. For more information about Uber or Lyft, please visit their websites or download their apps, which can be found in the App Store on iOS devices or the Google Play Store on Android devices. The zTrip service can be used to book a sedan or a taxi for pickup immediately, later in the day or at a future date. For more information about zTrip, please visit the zTrip website or download the zTrip app, which can be found in the App Store on iOS devices or the Google Play Store on Android devices.
Is there accessible parking available near the area?
Accessible parking spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis are located in the garage attached to the arena and in other nearby parking facilities. Parking in these spots requires a state-issued license plate or hangtag. Drop off areas are available at the Royal Farms Arena Baltimore Street and Howard Street entrances.
Please note that the Hopkins Place entrance is the accessible entrance into the arena.
Will there be accessible seating?
The ceremony will have designated seating areas for persons using wheelchairs and up to three companions on a first-come, first-served basis. This seating is located on the Level 1 Concourse behind sections 103 and 104. For assistance finding seating, please see one of the ushers inside the arena.
For other guests with mobility disabilities, it is strongly recommended that you arrive early to ensure you are able to find a seat that meets your needs.
Elevators are on the southeast and southwest corners of the buildings. Please see a Royal Farms Arena staff member for assistance upon entering the building.
Please Note: The arena is a large facility and a considerable distance must be traveled to get to all of the seats. Guests for whom walking long distances is difficult are strongly encouraged to rent a wheelchair for the day. Wheelchairs will not be available at the arena. Information about renting one is in the next section: “Will wheelchairs be available?”
Will wheelchairs be available?
Wheelchairs are not available at the arena. To rent a wheelchair, you may call Northern Pharmacy at 410-254-2055, press “0” to speak to the operator and ask for medical equipment rentals; or email Northern Pharmacy.
Will an ASL interpreter and/or captioning be provided?
Sign Language Interpreters are available upon request. Please contact the JHSPH_graduation@jhu.edu by April 23 to request ASL Interpreters. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
Assisted listening devices are available at Royal Farms Arena Guest Services, which is located behind section 227. A driver’s license will need to be left in exchange for the device.
Additionally, large screens will project the ceremony and each graduate as he/she crosses the stage, so guests need not sit close to the stage to have a “good seat.” The ceremony will be captioned on the large screens on either side of the stage.
How long is the ceremony?
We expect the ceremony to run between 3 and 3.5 hours.
When will I receive additional information about the May 2019 graduation ceremonies?
Early 2019.
How do I provide my consulate with a letter for guests I wish to invite from outside of the U.S.?
Please complete the request for a consulate letter found here: http://jhsph.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eFIbd9XkfXZTPpj
More questions? Please contact the Office of Records and Registration at jhsph_graduation@jhu.edu
