VLGS Commencement Ceremony

Registration

Students participating in the Commencement ceremony this spring must register by Monday, February 2, 2026.

Regalia

The deadline for ordering Commencement Regalia is also Monday, February 2, 2026.

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 14, 2026, following the mandatory Class Meeting.

Students who miss the February 2 deadline for registration and/or regalia should contact 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 invitations on your behalf. Students will provide this information in the registration form.

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

Formal Grad Photos

Graduates can sign up for professional, formal photos in their regalia. Check back later for further details.

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. Please 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-toed 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 Town 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 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 they 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 as 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.

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 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 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 green) invites guests to use its restrooms. Portable toilets will be stationed on the town green.

What if it rains?
We are excited to celebrate this special occasion with you! Please note that Commencement and the reception that follows are scheduled to take place outdoors under a marquis tent. However, in the event of inclement weather, we reserve the right to adjust plans to ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees.

• Primary Plan: Commencement will proceed as scheduled unless weather conditions make it unsafe or impractical.
• Rain Plan: The Commencement ceremony will proceed as scheduled under the marquis tent but the reception will be moved indoors.
• Severe Weather Contingency Plan: If conditions are severe, or lightning is expected, Commencement may be rescheduled to Sunday to allow for safer conditions. If severe weather extends into Sunday and rescheduling is not feasible, the ceremony may be canceled completely. We understand this would be disappointing, but these decisions will be made with the well-being of all attendees in mind.
• Travel Advisory: Please keep the severe weather contingency plan in mind when making travel arrangements. We recommend booking flexible accommodations and transportation whenever possible.
• Notification: Any changes to the primary plan will be communicated promptly via email, the Commencement website, and social media channels.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we work to create a memorable and safe celebration for everyone.

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 posted to our YouTube channel 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 2026 Commencement events, contact:

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

BETHEL
Apple Branch Guest House
Vermont Rout 14
Bethel, VT
802-763-7615
https://www.airbnb.com/

WASHINGTON
Vermont Grand View Farm
1638 Scales Hill Road
Washington, VT
802-778-0492
https://www.grandviewfarmvt.com/

BARNARD
The Fan House
6297 VT Rout 12
Barnard, VT
802-234-6704
https://www.thefanhouse.com/

Twin Farms
452 Royalton Turnpike
Barnard, VT 802-234-9999
https://www.twinfarms.com/

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION
White River Inn & Suits
91 Ballardvale Drive
White River Junction, VT
802-295-3015
http://www.whiteriverinnandsuites.com/

Holiday Inn Express
121 Ballardville Drive
White River Junction, VT
802-299-2700
https://www.ihg.com/

Hampton by Hilton
104 Ballardvale Drive, White River Junction, VT
802-296-2800
https://www.hilton.com

The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm
1119 Quechee Main Street, Quechee, VT
802-295-3133
https://www.quecheeinn.com/

Inn at Clearwater Pond
984 Quechee-Hartland Road
Quechee, VT
802-296-0606
https://innatclearwaterpond.com/

The Norwich Inn
325 Main Street, Norwich, VT
802-649-1143
https://www.norwichinn.com

WOODSTOCK
Deer Brook Inn
4548 W. Woodstock Road
Woodstock, VT
802-672-3713
https://deerbrookinn.com/

Jackson House Inn
43 Senior Lane
Woodstock, VT
802-457-2065
https://jacksonhouse.com/

Lincoln Inn at the Covered Bridge
2709  W. Woodstock Road
Woodstock, VT
802-457-7052
https://lincolninn.com/

The Shire
46 Pleasant Street
Woodstock, VT
802-457-2211
https://shirewoodstock.com/

The Village Inn of Woodstock
41 Pleasant Street
Woodstock, VT
802-457-1255
https://villageinnofwoodstock.com/

Woodbridge Inn
5763 W. Woodstock Road
Woodstock, VT
802-396-0077
https://woodbridgeinnvt.com/

LEBANON
Hilton Garden Inn
35 Labombard Road, Lebanon NH
1-877-STAYHGI
https://www.hilton.com

Courtyard by Marriott
10 Morgan Drive, Lebanon, NH
1-603-643-5600
https://www.marriott.com

HANOVER
The Hanover Inn
2 East Wheelock Street
Hanover, NH
603-643-4300
https://www.hanoverinn.com/

Six South
6 E. South Street
Hanover, NH
603-643-0600
https://sixsouth.com/