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College of Arts and Sciences

Prospective students.

We understand that learning how to navigate the system and locate resources can sometimes be challenging. That's why we have listed helpful links to pages frequently viewed by prospective students. Information about: visiting our college, our degree and program offerings, admissions, financial aid, and more can be found here.

Helpful Contacts

Office of Admissions Howard University 2400 6th Street, NW Washington, DC 20059 Phone: (202) 806-6100 Email: [email protected] [email protected]  

Website:   https://www2.howard.edu/admission

Additional Resources

• Undergraduate Admission Process
• Transfer Application Guide
• Freshman Application Guide

Directions & Maps

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Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts

Where creativity makes history., get to know chadwick a. boseman.

The newly reestablished College of Fine Arts is named in honor of alumnus  Chadwick A. Boseman , whose remarkable career as an actor, director, writer, and producer inspired millions around the world. 

Featured Events and News of the College

2024 recognition ceremony dates & information.

Congratulations Class of 2024 Graduates! Chadwick A.

Category: Homepage Featured, News

Alumni: Connect With Us!

Iconic alumni, chadwick a. boseman.

Award-winning actor and producer, Class of 2000, Bachelor of Fine Arts

A native of South Carolina, Chadwick Boseman graduated from Howard University and attended the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford, after which he began his career as an actor, director and writer. Boseman starred as T'Challa/Black Panther in the worldwide phenomenon Marvel Studios' "Black Panther," which has shattered box-office records both domestically and internationally. Boseman made his debut as the African superhero Black Panther in Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War,” in May 2016. He reprised the role for Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” in 2019.Boseman's breakout performance came in 2013 when he received rave reviews for his portrayal of the legendary Jackie Robinson in Warner Bros’ “42.” He previously starred in the title role of Open Road Films’ “Marshall,” which tells the story of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases as the Chief Counsel to the NAACP. His other feature film credits include: the revenge thriller “Message from the King,” Summit Entertainment's “Draft Day,” the independent psychological post-war drama, “The Kill Hole” and Gary Fleders’ drama, “The Express.”Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016. During his four-year battle with cancer, he continued his work, persevering through the production of several films between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. Boseman passed away in August of 2020, surrounded by his wife and family. 

Purpose is the essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.

Jessye Norman

Opera Singer & Humanitarian, Class of 1967, Bachelor of Music

Jessye Norman was a Grammy Award-winning operatic singer, humanitarian, and Howard alumna known for her powerful voice and stage presence. She was born in 1945 in Augusta, Georgia to a musical family that nurtured her budding talent. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Norman helped to integrate local businesses, participating in sit-ins at segregated lunch counters. At the age of 16, Norman’s performance at a vocal competition earned her a full scholarship to Howard University. She graduated from Howard in 1967 with a degree in music, then went on to complete her graduate education at the Peabody Conservatory and later at the Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Over the course of her lifetime, she earned several honorary degrees from a number of other prestigious institutions.Norman’s opera career took off in Europe. She made her debut in 1969 in Germany, then continued to perform at famous opera houses around the world. Her worldwide success as a Black woman on the operatic stage was both rare and groundbreaking. Though billed as an operatic soprano, Norman had an impressive vocal range and a diverse range of musical interests, including popular music, gospel, blues, and more. As a humanitarian, Norman addressed hunger, homelessness, youth development, and arts education. In 2003, the Jessye Norman School of the Arts opened in her hometown of Augusta to provide free education in the arts   to underprivileged children. After a long and successful career, she died of complications related to a spinal injury in 2019. Thanks in part to her trailblazing efforts, Norman left the opera world a more inclusive place than when she entered it.

One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.

Alma Thomas

Artist, first graduate of the Department of Art, Class of 1924, Bachelor of Science

Alma Thomas was an artist and educator best known for her colorful abstract paintings. Born and raised in Columbus, GA., her family moved to Washington, D.C. when she was 15, seeking relief from the racial climate of the South. Thomas graduated from Howard University in 1924, becoming the first person to graduate from the newly-formed Department of Art. Though Thomas’s early artwork was realistic, her Howard professor James V. Herring and peer Lois Mailou Jones—both notable artists in their own right—encouraged her to experiment with abstract styles. Thomas taught art for 35 years and pursued painting in her free time. After retiring from teaching, Thomas developed her signature abstract style and debuted her first exhibition at Howard University at the age of 75. Her mosaic-like paintings translated art history, nature, and personal aesthetic in simple compositions influenced by the pointillism and abstract expressionism movements. Thomas was the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American art. In 2015, 37 years after her death, Thomas's piece “Resurrection” (1966) became the first piece of artwork by a Black woman to hang in a public space in the White House and enter the permanent collection. 

My real belief is in my art, in beauty. I say everyone on earth should take note of the spring of the year coming back every year, blooming and gorgeous.

David Driskell

Artist, professor, curator, Class of 1955, Bachelor of Fine Arts

A 1955 graduate of Howard, Professor David C. Driskell began his studies in 1949 as a history major, however, his outstanding work in the drawing class of Professor James Wells not only led him to become an art major and afforded him a full scholarship. It was Professor James A. Porter who then urged him to switch to art history, stating: “You just can’t afford to be an artist, you must also show the world what our people have contributed.”

Driskell excelled in the rigorous art history curriculum, as well as in design, drawing, painting, and printmaking. He soon achieved his greatest triumph as a student—a scholarship to the prestigious summer program at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, where he won the 1953 Leonard Bacour Progress Prize in Art. In the Fall, Dr. Driskell assigned his own painting studio by the Howard University College of Fine Arts and studied under Dr. Albert Carter (1915-1977) the Curator of the Art Gallery, who Dr. Driskell assisted with the a major exhibition of African Art.

After earning his B.F.A. from Howard in 1955, and his M.F.A from Catholic University in 1962, Dr. Driskell looked to university teaching. His professorial career began at Talladega College in 1958. In 1961, he exhibited at the Howard’s new art gallery in the show, “New Vistas in American Art.” Over time, he evolved into a true art historian, a curator and author, art consultant, and most importantly, a practicing artist.

In 1962, Dr. Driskell was selected as a full-time faculty member at Howard; and in 1963-64, he was appointed Acting Chairman of the Art Department and Director of the Art Gallery during Professor Porter’s sabbatical year. During this period, Dr. Driskell published a complete informational brochure of the Art Department for the public. As a member of the American Federation of Arts, he secured funding for the purchase of 15 modern masterworks for the permanent collection.

In 1966, Professor Driskell became Chairman of the Art Department and Director of the Carl Van Vechten Gallery at Fisk University. As gallery director, Professor Driskell cultivated a relationship with two of Americas’ greatest artists. Georgia O’ Keeffe (1887-1986) was known as the “mother of American Modernism” and her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946) pioneered urban nocturnal views as fine art. 

In the 1970s, Professor Driskell exhibited his own work widely and he cataloged the Fisk University collection with Professor Earl Hooks. His greatest achievement of this period was the curation of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art exhibition: “Two Centuries of Black American Art, 1750-1950,” which included 200 works by 63 artists. It was a monumental undertaking that exposed black artistic achievement to the masses on a grand scale. The 1970s also saw Professor Driskell’s departure from Fisk to assume a professorship at the University of Maryland, where he became Chairman of the Department of Art in 1978. In 1980 he was honored with a solo exhibition at the gallery there: “David C. Driskell, a Survey”; and in 1981, his alma mater, Howard, bestowed upon him the Distinguished Alumni Award.

His most ambitious undertaking in the fields of exhibiting and teaching African American art and contextualizing black art history occurred in 1999. Sponsored by the Andover Academy of American Art and the Studio Museum in Harlem, “To Preserve a Legacy: American Art from Historically Black Colleges and Universities” was an eight city, two year journey, exhibiting the collections of six institutions: Howard, Fisk, Hampton, Clark-Atlanta, Tuskegee and North Carolina Central. Not only were their collections shown at the major civic museums adjacent to each school but, the ancillary shows of additional masterpieces from their permanent collections helped to continuously spark headlines. This undertaking embodied the passion that Professor Driskell had for black art institutions, especially HBCUs.

Source: Scott W. Baker

Taraji P. Henson

Actress, Producer, Mental Health Advocate, Class of 1995, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated actress, producer, and mental health advocate. She was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in an apartment that she described as “one step up from the projects”. Henson’s path to an acting career was not always clear-cut. After graduating high school, she pursued a degree in electrical engineering at North Carolina University, but dropped out after failing a math class. Henson transferred to Howard University, where she studied theater while working two jobs to support herself and her newborn son.

After graduating from Howard in 1995, Henson moved to Los Angeles, where she took on an office job and landed small roles in various television series. Her breakthrough role came in 2001, when she starred in the film, “Baby Boy .”  From there, her repertoire of film roles grew, and in 2008, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as the titular character’s mother in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button . ” She focused primarily on film until 2015, when she returned to television in “Empire” as Cookie Lyon, a role for which she received an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe award. Her 2016 role as Katherine Johnson in the critically acclaimed film “Hidden Figures” cemented Henson’s popularity and iconic status.  In 2018, Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, a nonprofit committed to challenging the perception of mental illness in the African American community. 

Roberta Flack

GRAMMY award-winning musician, Class of 1958, Bachelors in Music Education

Classically trained on the piano, GRAMMY Award-winning musician Roberta Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University. She was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann while singing at the Washington, D.C. nightclub, Mr. Henry's, and was promptly signed to Atlantic with a string of hits, including, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Where Is the Love” (a duet with former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway), “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “Feel Like Makin' Love,” “The Closer I Get to You,” “Tonight I Celebrate My Love,” and “Set the Night to Music.” In 1999, she received a star on Hollywood's legendary Walk of Fame. Flack regularly performs for audiences around the world, and has had the pleasure of appearing with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. In February 2009, Flack performed with critically acclaimed orchestras in Australia, including the Melbourne, Queensland, and Sydney Symphonies. She is currently involved with a new venture — an interpretive album of Beatles' classics. As a humanitarian and mentor, Flack founded the Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, providing an innovative and inspiring music education program to underprivileged students free of charge.

My hope is that out of all the anger and seeming hostility that we hear in some of today's music will come some sort of coalition that will become politically involved.

Howard University’s 18th President Ben Vinson III, Ph.D. Shares Key Insights and Lessons from Campus Community Gatherings

Howard university celebrates 'a different world' for popularizing hbcu culture on television, the hu orchestra strings together the howard community, women’s history month spotlight: how alumna jane carpenter-rock depicts multiple americas at the smithsonian’s american art museum.

Fair & School Visit Invitations

The health of our campus community, and the public, is of paramount importance to howard university. in light of the global coronavirus disease-2019 (covid-19) concerns and the recent impacts of the public health situation on the washington, d.c. area, we are unable to issue mailed items. we thank you for your patience and understanding during this time., fair invitations/college visits, general procedure.

Howard University welcomes fair invitations and school visit requests from educators and community organizers. All fair invitations may be sent via email to  [email protected] , and should be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the scheduled event date. We will do our best to provide a response at least 10 business days prior to the event. For school visit requests, we do encourage counselors to sign up for one of our virtual admission sessions. Our webinar sessions allow prospective students to connect with us virtually to learn more about our admission process, and the exciting opportunities Howard University has to offer. To learn more about our virtual admission sessions, please see our  Visit  webpage.

Additional Resources

All admission information can be found on our website, and can be downloaded as PDF files via our  Admission Profile & Resources  webpage. Please also feel free to follow us on our social media pages for the latest admission updates! If you have any additional questions, please contact us at  [email protected] . 

Student Affairs

Explore residence halls, howard residences reflect the diversity of our students..

Howard University has nine Residence Halls on campus and 2 Residence Halls off-campus in private apartment complexes. Each residence hall has 24/7 controlled entry, laundry facilities, and other amenities. The halls are managed by our Campus Apartments and WISH partners with additional facilities support from REDCAM.

Traditionally, our first-year residence halls are single-gender identity and our continuing residence halls are available for all genders. Our current housing policy guarantees housing for all 1st-year freshmen and 2nd-year sophomores. Transfer students are prioritized each semester but must confirm housing availability at the time of receiving enrollment confirmation as beds may be sold out closer to the semester's start. 

Each hall includes programming, helpful resources, and visitation during approved times. The hours for visitation are 12 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 p.m. - 12:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Visitation typically opens one week after the close of registration each semester and is only open to Howard University students. 

Looking for Summer School Housing 2024? Complete the summer housing form https://forms.office.com/r/fTPdPijBu5 . Summer housing is reserved only for Howard University students taking summer classes at the University. 

Always contact your Resident Assistant, Graduate Assistant, and Building Manager first. They can answer your questions most efficiently.

Office of Residence Life [email protected]

202-806-6131 Monday - Friday, 9:00AM to 5:00 PM

2205 4th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20059

*Closed during holidays and breaks.*

If you require additional facilities assistance, please contact the REDCAM team.

Student Housing Facilities - REDCAM [email protected]

202-250-7689 Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Residence Hall Style Definition

Bathroom type definition, room type description, t ake a look at our residence hall room rates and options for first-year and continuing students. to view room rates and more, click the plus sign (+) next to the residence hall listed below., the harriet tubman quadrangle - ftic, type: unit style.

Gender: Female

Meal Plan Required: Yes

Parking: No

888-409-1042

2455 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059

Building Manager: Ms. Lawal (she/her)

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request: https://thequadhoward.residentportal.com/

2024 - 2025 Room Rates

Description.

The Harriet Tubman Quadrangle (The Quad) is comprised of five halls: Baldwin, Crandall, Frazier, Truth, and Wheatley Halls.

24 Hour Security, Air Conditioning, ATM, Fitness Center, Internet / Ethernet / Wireless, Communal Kitchenettes,  Laundry Facilities, Lounge Areas, Study Rooms, Vending Machines

College Hall North - FTIC

888-600-4660 | ext. #1

2229 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059

Temp Building Manager: Dr. Moore (she/her)

Contact: [email protected] 

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://collegehall.residentportal.com/

College Hall North is a seven-story building with over 16 fully furnished lounges. Located on Fourth Street and College Street, you will be close to Howard University Hospital, the Main Campus, and The Yard.

Drew Hall - FTIC

Gender: Male

888-409-0118

511 Gresham Place, NW, Washington, DC 20059

Building Manager: Temp Manager

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://drewhall.residentportal.com/

The Charles R. Drew Hall is an all freshman male residence hall with approximately 330 beds. Students are provided with twin size bed and extra long mattress, dresser, and desk.  Amenities include a study room, computer Lab, vending machines, a microwave in the snack room, a student lounge, a large screen TV room,  and a pool table. Front desk service is provided 24/7.

24 Hour Security, Air Conditioning, ATM,  Game Room, Internet / Ethernet / Wireless, Laundry Facilities, Lounge Area, Study Room, Vending Machines

Cook Hall - FTIC & 2nd Year

Type: suite & unit style.

888-409-0182

601 Fairmont Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://cookhall.residentportal.com/

2024 - 2025 Room Rates 

George W. Cook Hall is a residence hall that houses approximately 200 undergraduate students. Students are provided with a twin size bed and extra long mattress, desk, and dresser. Rooms have wi-fi service. Other amenities include a Club Room —used for official hall programs—mailboxes, and a computer lab. Front desk service is provided 24/7.

24 Hour Security, Computer Lab, Internet / Ethernet / Wireless, Laundry Facilities, Lounge Area, Vending Machines

The Axis - Continuing Student

Gender: All genders

Contact Information

888-409-1012

2225 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Building Manager: Ms. Onawola (she/her) 

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://theaxishoward.residentportal.com/

College Hall South - Continuing Student

888-600-4660 | ext. #2

2205 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059

Temp Building Manager: Ms. Giboney (She/her)

Contact: [email protected]

Click for a College Hall South Tour  

2024 Summer School Room Rates

Early Move-in for Fall 2024 is not available.

Bethune Annex - Continuing Student

Parking: Yes by registration 

*Parking based on availability*

[email protected]  

888-409-0097

2225 Fourth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059

Building Manager: Mr. Scarborough (he/him) 

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://bethuneannex.residentportal.com/

The Mary M. Bethune Annex is a co-educational, suite-style living option with approximately 550 beds for undergraduate students. Students are provided with a twin-size bed and extra long mattress, desk, chest of drawers, and central heating and air conditioning.  Within the building, there is a Cafeteria and convenience store, a computer lab, and a student study room. Front desk service is provided 24/7.

24 Hour Security, Air Conditioning, ATM, Computer Lab, Fitness Center, Game Room, Internet / Ethernet / Wireless, Kitchens / Kitchenettes, Laundry Facilities, Lounge Area, Student Parking with Registration, Study Room, Vending Machines

Parking availability is at the discretion of the property and/or The Office of Residence Life. Students who inquire will be able to receive information on parking if available. Parking requires registration and payment of associated fees that may change year over year. 

Howard Plaza Towers East - Continuing Student

Meal Plan Required: No

Parking: Yes by registration

Must register through the building management.

888-409-0224 Ext 331271

2251 Sherman Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

Building Manager: Ms. Glenmore (She/her)

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://howardplazatowers.residentportal.com/

The Howard Plaza Towers—East is a co-ed living complex. Shared efficiencies, doubles, and singles may be available. All units have shared common areas and well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms. 

24 Hour Security, Air Conditioning, ATM,  Computer Lab, Internet / Ethernet / Wireless, Kitchens / Kitchenettes, Laundry Facilities, Lounge Area, Student Parking with Registration*, Study Room, Vending machines

*Parking availability is at the discretion of the property. Students who inquire will be able to receive information on parking if available. Parking requires registration and payment of associated fees that may change year over year. 

Howard Plaza Towers West - Continuing Student

888-409-0224 Ext 331235

Building Manager: Mr. Hobson (He/Him)

Contact:[email protected]

2024 Summer Room Rates

Early Move in for Fall 2024 is not available

The Howard Plaza Towers—West is a  co-ed living complex. Shared efficiencies, doubles, and singles may be available. All units have shared common areas and well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms. 

24 Hour Security, Air Conditioning, ATM,  Computer Lab, Internet / Ethernet / Wireless, Kitchens / Kitchenettes,  Laundry Facilities, Lounge Area, Student Parking with Registration*, Study Room, Vending

WISH Woodley Park - Continuing Student

Type: apartment style.

WISH Main Office:  (202) 548-2720

2807 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Maintenance Requests:  [email protected]  and cc [email protected] on all maintenance tickets. 

General Inquiries:  [email protected]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

24/7 Maintenance Emergency:  (202) 446-3117

Howard Building Manager: Rev. Ross

Contact: [email protected]

Mazza Grandmarc - Continuing Student

888-568-9177

9530 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

General Manager: Ms. Frazier 

Contact: [email protected]

Submit Maintenance Request:  https://mazzagrandmarc.residentportal.com/

Mailing Addresses

Visit the Auxiliary Enterprises site for information about addressing your packages.

FEBRUARY 29, 2024 ATLANTA, GA

Hosted By: Atlanta University Center Spelman College Clark Atlanta University Morehouse College

APRIL 9, 2024 WASHINGTON, DC

Hosted By: Howard University ‍

FALL 2024* MONTGOMERY, AL

Hosted By: Alabama State University & Tuskegee University

Exciting News adw fans!

public events are coming soon!

Howard University's News & Stories Hub

Howard university school of law and u.s. department of justice host panel on international public defense.

The event exposed law students to careers at the intersection of U.S. public defense, international law and development, and civil and human rights

WASHINGTON – On April 15, the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office for Access to Justice visited the Howard University School of Law and participated in a panel discussion entitled “From Local Advocacy to Global Impact: Expanding Career Options in American Public Defense and Advancing the Rule of Law.” The Office for Access to Justice works to break down barriers to the DOJ’s founding principle and enduring promise of equal justice under the law. 

This panel exposed law students to careers at the intersection of U.S. public defense, international law and development, and civil and human rights. Moderated by Rick Jones , chief executive officer and founder of public defense organization Neighborhood Defender Service, the panel featured Nicole Taylor (J.D. ’04) , fellows advisory council member at the International Legal Foundation and former Philadelphia public defender; Jody Mullis , the DOJ Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) resident legal advisor in Ghana and former public defender; and Edmund Foley , executive director of Ghana’s Legal Aid Commission. 

“Being a public defender lays a good foundation for understanding legal systems. The ILF does very practical work. As a public defender in Philadelphia and ILF fellow, I traveled to Nepal, Tunisia, Palestine’s West Bank, and Myanmar and worked hand in hand with public defenders in those countries to inject best practices in criminal defense into individual cases and do strategic litigation to hold the governments accountable to their constitutions, criminal codes, and international human rights codes,” said Taylor. 

As public defense systems globally face recruitment and retention issues and issues of burnout due to high caseloads, the panel emphasized the importance of public defense as an essential arm of any legal system. Over the last 8 years, the DOJ’s OPDAT – with funding from the U.S. Department of State – has supported justice sector development in Ghana. This has included training and technical assistance for Ghana’s criminal defense bar, and support for the development and launch of the country’s first Public Defender Division in May 2023. 

“I’ve always been interested in public interest work, but not necessarily public defense. Coming to this event today and hearing from the panelists about their experiences as public defenders has inspired me to do more research on that area of the law, join the civil rights clinic next year, and really get involved in this type of work,” said Spencer Jones , a first-year law student from West Memphis, Arkansas. 

“I think it's important as a 1L to get exposure to as many different pathways as possible to help understand what a career as an attorney could look like. I'm very interested in criminal defense and public defense, so it was exciting to hear that this career path can allow me to do that work in the states as well as internationally,” said Jazmene McMillan , a first-year student from Little Rock, Arkansas. “I really appreciated Mrs. Taylor’s perspective on what it’s like to be an American attorney in another country. She emphasized how it is important to be respectful of the work already being done and to go in with a service mindset focused on improving and building on what is already happening.” 

About Howard University  

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university comprising 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced three Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu . 

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Find more stories like this, are you a member of the media.

Our public relations team can connect you with faculty experts and answer questions about Howard University news and events.

Commencement 2024

Tickets & regalia, 2024 commencement convocation ticket pick-up schedule.

The 156th Commencement will celebrate the largest graduating class yet at Howard University. Each graduate will initially receive five (5) tickets for guests, with the possibility that more tickets may become available. Please check back for updates, as we're committed to accommodating as many guests as possible to share in this special milestone for the Class of 2024.

Howard University Main Campus Bookstore Monday, May 6, 2024 – Friday, May 10, 2024 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Ticketing and Admission

GENERAL ADMISSION

Howard University is honored to host TIAA president and CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett as the convocation oratrix . Security protocols require that all attendees of the commencement ceremony present a ticket to access seating at the event.   

Graduates, faculty, staff, and guests will require a ticket and a valid photo ID to enter the Capital One arena. Graduates who are academically and financially cleared for participation by the University and faculty participating in the processional may enter the venue without a ticket if they are in full academic regalia.

Please refer to the pick-up schedule below for details on the designated regalia and ticket pick-up days throughout Bison commencement week for graduates of specific colleges and schools. All tickets will be accepted at Capital One Arena for admission into the commencement ceremony.

The academic costume consists of a cap, gown, hood, tassel, and black shoes. The cap is an essential part of the academic costume and is to be retained on the head throughout the academic exercises, except during prayer and the singing of the Alma Mater. In particular, the cap is not to be removed at any point during the Conferring of Degrees. The hood is not to be worn until the actual Conferring of Degrees by the president of the University.

Academic costume pre-order opportunities have passed. However, there will be extra costumes available for every graduate type for purchase at the Howard University Bookstore during each regalia and ticket pick up time period outlined below. Each candidate must complete all academic and financial requirements before academic costumes can be purchased. Candidates may receive further instruction via the HUB (Howard University Bookstore) Graduation Center.

Graduates who pre-ordered regalia may pick it up along with commencement convocation tickets during their designated time on the schedule below.

Important: to assure receipt of a properly fitting academic costume, you should know your head or hat size, and your height and weight. A size chart will be provided online or at the HUB to assist you in selecting the appropriate costume size.

Ticket Pick-Up Schedule

Office of the President

2024 commencement convocation oratrix and honorary degree recipients.

Dear Howard University Community,

I am excited to announce  Howard University's  156th  Commencement Convocation will be held at the Capital One Arena on Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 am.  This change in venue will allow the Class of 2024 – which is among our largest graduating classes – to celebrate this momentous occasion with even more of their loved ones. Arena doors will open to guests at 7:30 a.m. Please be advised of the arena’s policies , especially as it pertains to bags.

Learn more about Commencement 2024

I am equally thrilled to announce that Thasunda Brown Duckett , president and CEO of TIAA, will be the distinguished speaker for our upcoming 156th Commencement Convocation. Throughout her illustrious career, Mrs. Duckett has demonstrated exemplary leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

As the head of TIAA, she oversees a company that provides secure retirements and investment solutions to millions of individuals and institutions. Mrs. Duckett’s extensive experience includes key executive roles at JP Morgan Chase, where she served for 17 years, including as CEO of the Consumer Bank and Auto Finance. Her leadership extends beyond the corporate world, as she actively contributes to various boards and organizations, including NIKE, Inc., Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, and the University of Houston Board of Visitors, among others.

As an appointee to President Joseph R. Biden’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Mrs. Duckett understands the importance of institutions like Howard University in shaping future leaders and fostering inclusive communities. Mrs. Duckett’s remarkable achievements, commitment to financial inclusion, and dedication to empowering communities align seamlessly with the values and mission of Howard University. Her presence and words at our Commencement Convocation will undoubtedly inspire our graduates as they embark on their own journeys of impact and success.

Additionally, Howard University will bestow degrees upon four honorary graduates alongside the Class of 2024: the former vice president of Costa Rica Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr ; astronaut Victor J. Glover, Jr .; attorney and activist Fred D. Gray, Esq. ; and hotelier J. Willard Marriott, Jr. .

2024 Commencement Convocation Honorary Degree Recipients

Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr

Dr. Campbell Barr became the first woman of African descent to serve as vice president in the Americas upon her election as Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica in May 2018, a position she occupied until May 2022. She has also been a two-time Congresswoman and has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship. Her dedication to empowering Afro-descendant communities extends beyond her country’s borders, as she has helped found organizations such as the Network of Afro-Latin American and Afro-Caribbean Women, the Center of Afro-Costa Rican Women, the Black Parliament of the Americas, and the Women’s Forum for Central American Integration.

Dr. Campbell Barr is currently the president of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the president of the Pan American Health Organization’s High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19. As an advocate against systemic racism, Dr. Campbell Barr leads the charge as the principal propeller of the Global Coalition Against Systemic Racism and for Reparations. Her work has garnered international recognition, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Justicia for her efforts in advancing Afro-descendant rights.

Victor J. Glover, Jr.

Mr. Glover was selected as an astronaut in 2013 while serving as a United States Senate Legislative Fellow. He most recently served as pilot of the Crew-1 dragon spacecraft, named Resilience, which flew to the International Space Station where Mr. Glover also served as Flight Engineer for Expedition 64/65. In 2023, Mr. Glover was assigned as pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission around the Moon.

The Ponoma, Calif. native earned his undergraduate engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) as a two-sport student athlete, while serving his community. Glover is a Naval Aviator and was a test pilot in the F/A‐18 Hornet, Super Hornet and EA‐18G Growler. He, his wife Dionna, and their four children have been stationed in many locations in the United States and Japan and he has deployed in combat and peacetime.

Fred D. Gray, Esq.

Mr. Gray is the Senior Managing Partner of the law firm of Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray, Gray & Nathanson, P.C., with offices in Montgomery and Tuskegee, AL. Mr. Gray is a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, a native of Montgomery, and currently resides in Tuskegee with his lovely wife Carol. He has practiced law since 1954 and continues to practice today at the age of 93, specializing in civil rights and other civil litigation.

Mr. Gray has been a cooperating attorney with the NAACP and Legal Defense Fund, Inc. since 1956. He represented many civil rights icons and organizations including the victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, Congressman John Lewis, the Freedom Riders and Walkers, Selma to Montgomery Marchers, NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and others.

J. Willard Marriott, Jr.

Mr. Marriott is Chairman Emeritus of Marriott International, Inc, where he served as Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board before retiring in May 2022. Mr. Marriott’s leadership spanned 66 years, as he guided what was a family-run root beer stand and restaurant chain to a global hospitality company that is today comprised of more than 8,800 properties across over 30 leading brands in 139 countries and territories. Mr. Marriott served 40 years as Marriott’s Chief Executive Officer before stepping down on March 31, 2012.

Mr. Marriott serves on the board of trustees of The J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation. In February 2021, the Foundation, together with Howard University, established the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership in memory of former Marriott International President and CEO, Arne Sorenson. The Foundation provided a $20 million endowment to launch the Center, which is housed in Howard University’s School of Business and features a best-in-class program that expands educational and professional opportunities for Howard students and aims to develop future executives in the hospitality industry. In addition, Marriott International announced the creation of the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund, which supports some of the programmatic and career development elements of the Center.

Join me in welcoming Mrs. Duckett as our 2024 Commencement Convocation speaker, and Mr. Glover, Mr. Gray, Mr. Marriott, and Dr. Campbell Barr as our honorary degree recipients! Their insights, leadership, and dedication to excellence will undoubtedly resonate with our community as we celebrate the achievements of our graduating class.

Committed to Truth and Service, Ben Vinson III, Ph.D. President

Biden officials will have a minimal presence at college graduations as campuses erupt in protests

WASHINGTON — Amid growing protests on college campuses by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, the White House is planning for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to have a minimal presence for a traditional rite of spring: delivering commencement addresses.

Biden is scheduled to speak at Morehouse College and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in May, while Harris is only slated to give a graduation speech at the Air Force Academy. First lady Jill Biden, who teaches at a community college, is expected to deliver a commencement address, though no school has been named.

Two White House officials noted that the number of speeches for Biden and Harris is similar to the two previous years. By comparison, when then-President Barack Obama was seeking re-election in 2012, he delivered addresses at the Air Force Academy, Barnard College and Joplin High School. That same year, then-Vice President Biden spoke at West Point and high schools in the battleground states of Virginia and Florida.

Another White House official declined to preview how Biden might address the campus unrest. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters this week that Biden always views these addresses “as a special time to deliver a message — an encouraging message, a message that’s hopefully uplifting to the graduates and their families.”

“He is going to do his best to meet that moment as it relates to what’s going on, the pain that communities are feeling,” she said.

Biden campaign officials say that despite the media focus on campus protests, public polling and their own research show that young voters are more concerned with other issues. A new Harvard University poll found that inflation and health care topped the list of issues most important to voters ages 18-29. Gun violence, protecting democracy, climate change and women’s reproductive rights also were higher than the war in Gaza.

But John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, said polls and other research he’s conducted underscore the challenges Biden faces in this environment, as well as potential opportunity for him to shore up support by addressing concerns about Gaza head-on in a setting like a commencement ceremony, where students but also their parents, faculty and administrators are gathered together.

“That’s an important opportunity to try to bridge these divides, perhaps like only Biden can do. Because there are divides on this issue,” he said.

While the situation in Gaza may not be high on the list of topics identified by young voters as priorities, Della Volpe compared it to an issue like climate change where if a candidate doesn’t share their view, voters won’t engage with them on other issues.

“One of the first things that a young person tells me is that they don’t feel understood,” Della Volpe said. “There needs to be a recognition that we’re working seriously toward a permanent cease-fire. There needs to be recognition that we’re moving toward a two-state solution. There needs to be recognition that we do everything humanly possible to free the hostages and give people dignity.”

For months, the Biden campaign has been “obsessed” with finding new and innovative ways to motivate younger voters, according to a senior official. The campaign notes that it launched a young voter program earlier than past presidential campaigns and has already begun deploying staff to start organizing a presence at colleges in targeted states.

Eve Levenson, the Biden campaign’s national youth engagement coordinator, said the physical outreach on campuses is just one part of the strategy for reaching young voters. The campaign is putting a heavy emphasis on targeting college students online through its digital program and paid advertising on major social media apps. She also said there is a major emphasis on reaching young voters who aren’t enrolled in college, both through an organizing program and by having a presence at major public gatherings like music festivals and sporting events.

The campaign next week will launch a major effort targeting young voters on abortion rights timed to the end of the school year, Levenson said.

“We know from the conversations we have that young voters are planning to vote, and voters are planning to vote for us,” she said. “I think that there are always going to be things that not all people agree with us on. And it’s our job to make it clear what the contrast is, what the stakes of this election are. And to remind people of that.”

Last fall, Harris conducted what the White House called a “Fight for Our Freedoms” tour of colleges, where she visited nine different campuses and spoke to a combined 15,000 students. Biden has held some recent events at smaller colleges, with small and carefully vetted audiences. Large-scale campaign-style rallies on or near campuses have been a staple of general election campaigns, especially for Democratic candidates, but the Biden campaign has been focusing on more intimate gatherings that can be filmed and distributed by its digital team.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., visited multiple Wisconsin college campuses this week as a member of the Biden campaign’s national advisory board. He said he found, as the Harvard poll showed, that inflation and health care were top concerns among students, but that the situation in Gaza was often a subject of respectful debate.

“Gaza is a challenging issue. And we can’t just wish it away,” he said in an interview. “It would be wrong to think that’s not impacting organizers and activists who are engaged in helping get support for the president.”

He also said Biden should not be reluctant to address the issue directly with young voters.

“It’s not the only issue by any means. It’s not even the No. 1 issue. But it’s in the conversation,” he said. “That kind of engagement shows students that they matter, that their voices are being heard.”

Mike Memoli is an NBC News correspondent. 

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Spotlight on... Jeff Howard

This week we meet Jeff Howard, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science & School of Public Policy. Jeff chats to us about his research into the proper governance of online communications and generative AI, as well as his enthusiasm for musical theatre.

What is your role and what does it involve? 

I am an Associate Professor in UCL’s Department of Political Science & School of Public Policy. I currently direct UCL’s Digital Speech Lab , funded through a Future Leaders Fellowship from UKRI. The Lab hosts projects on the proper governance of online communications. It brings together scholars from philosophy, law, social science, and computer science to think through difficult dilemmas about how best to respect free speech while preventing harm in the digital age. In undertaking this research, we engage with tech companies, civil-society organisations, and policymakers. 

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role? 

I have taught at UCL for eight years. Previously, I was a faculty member in the Department of Government at the University of Essex, where I designed and led the THINK programme . I did my postgraduate studies at Oxford, and I was an undergraduate at Harvard.  

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of? 

My three kids are my most demanding current initiative! (Stella is 8, Trudy is 6, and Eli is 2.) Professionally, I often return to my article “Dangerous Speech” (published in Philosophy & Public Affairs ) to develop insights I first articulated there. I’m also happy with my recent entry on freedom of speech for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy . (If you want to kill some time learning about the state of the philosophical literature on free speech, you can check that out here )  

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list 

My team and I are currently producing work on the proper governance of generative AI. We’ve just finished a policy report (co-produced with the thinktank Demos) entitled “Synthetic Politics: Preparing Democracy for Generative AI” . A few weeks ago we presented a related paper at Yale Law School, discussing what social media companies’ rules should be for AI-generated content; so we’ll be getting that ready to submit to a journal in the coming weeks. We’ve been feeding insights from this work into calls from Meta’s Oversight Board; for example, we offered input into its judgement on how Meta should treat AI-manipulated content on Facebook and Instagram, which the Board cited several times in its final judgement. 

What is your favourite album, film and novel? 

Tough. Let’s go with: Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 (the album by The Sixteen is stellar); Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park ; and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Remains of the Day . 

What advice would you give your younger self? 

Take it easy! 

What would it surprise people to know about you? 

I am a keen tenor, singing in choirs and performing in musicals for much of my life.  

What is your favourite place?   

A close toss-up between Newfound Lake in New Hampshire, and Valentia Island off the southwest coast of Ireland.