For Health Sciences and Business Graduate Students
Celebrate the accomplishments of our E&H graduate students!
The Health Sciences Campus has various ceremonies throughout the year for many of The School of Health Sciences academic programs including Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies.
For a complete listing of previously live-streamed ceremonies, view our YouTube playlist.
Reserve Tickets Commencement Program
Graduate Health Sciences & Business Commencement
2026 Commencement Ceremony
The 2026 Commencement Ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, August 8th, at 10 a.m. at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.
Information for Graduating Students
All graduates must arrive by 8 a.m. and be prepared for photos by 8:15 a.m. The doors for guests will open at 8 a.m. Graduates should check with their department/program chair for the following:
- All things graduation reception/dinner – time, location, etc.
- Commencement apparel – pick-up time and location
- Guest tickets – The maximum number of guests is eight. If more are needed, please work with your department/program chair. There will be an overflow auditorium with a live stream of the ceremony that seats approximately 100 for families and guests without tickets.
Information for Guests
Due to seat limitations, guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony. Reserve your tickets online.
The ceremony will be livestreamed on the Emory & Henry University YouTube channel.
Commencement Rehearsal
Commencement rehearsal for School of Health Sciences and School of Business Class of 2025 graduate students is scheduled for Saturday, August 7th, at 3:30 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. The rehearsal will last around 90 minutes.
E&H Graduates are Ready to Change the World
Meet Emory & Henry’s graduate and doctoral students of the class of 2025. Find out their plans after graduation.
White Coat Ceremonies
Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy
For the Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy students, this signifies the beginning of the year-long clinical rotation component of the programs and comes following two years focused on the didactic portion of students’ training. The ceremony is a rite of passage that serves as a symbol of the responsibility, obligations, honor, excellence, accountability, compassion, and inclusiveness required of their chosen professions. The OT White Coat Ceremony & Pinning occurs in April. The PT White Coat Ceremony occurs in June.
Physician Assistant Studies
The White Coat Ceremony for Physician Assistant Studies students signifies their commitment and responsibilities as they prepare to begin supervised practice in a clinical setting. Students also recite the Physician Assistant Professional Oath near the end of the ceremony. The PA White Coat Ceremony occurs in August.
Nursing
The White Coat Ceremony for nursing students signifies the start of their formal nursing education. Students take their professional oath during this milestone program. The Nursing White Coat Ceremony occurs in January with the start of each cohort.
Pinning Ceremonies
Nursing
Students graduating from our Nursing programs participate in a pinning ceremony signifying their completion of the program prior to graduation in May.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy program recognizes the students in their cohorts who have completed the classroom portion of their program with a Pinning Ceremony in conjunction with their White Coat Ceremony.
