AUIB First Graduation
Commencement of Class 2025
Commencement of Class 2025
Resources
We invite all graduates to use these hashtags to celebrate your Commencement journey: #AUIBGrad | #AUIBProudGraduate | #AUIBGrad2025 | #ClassOf2025
Share your favorite memories, celebrations, and cap & gown moments with your friends, family, and the AUIB community on social media. We can’t wait to see them!
About the Event
Commencement 2025 isn’t just a ceremony, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. This special day marks AUIB’s very first graduation, a major milestone in our story and a proud celebration of everything we stand for.
Since opening our doors, AUIB has been on a mission to bring world-class, American-style education to the heart of Baghdad, blending academic excellence with a bold spirit of innovation and a deep respect for Iraq’s rich intellectual heritage. Now, we get to see that mission come full circle as we celebrate our very first graduating class.
It’s a day for students to shine, families to cheer, and the whole AUIB community to come together in celebration. These graduates aren’t just receiving diplomas, they’re stepping into the world as future leaders, creative thinkers, and changemakers.
So get ready to clap, cheer, cry (just a little), and make some unforgettable memories. Join us in celebrating this landmark occasion, reflecting on the journeys undertaken, and looking forward to the impactful contributions our graduates will make in Iraq and beyond.
Regalia Guidelines
- Bachelor’s Degree Students:
- Cap: Black mortarboard with gold tassel
- Gown: Black bachelor gown
- Hood: Based on college-specific colors
No modifications or decorations allowed on the Cap, Gown or Hood
- Master’s Degree Faculty/Administrators:
- Cap: Black mortarboard with gold tassel
- Gown: Master’s gown with 2 sleeve stripes and embroidered AUIB logo
- Hood: Based on college-specific colors
- Doctoral Degree VIPs and Faculty:
- Tam: Six-cornered black tam with gold tassel
- Gown: Black gown with 3 velvet sleeve stripes and embroidered AUIB logo
- Hood: College-specific velvet trim and black lining
No decorations, cords, pins, or modifications are allowed on any regalia components to maintain the formality and dignity of the ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Graduates
Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the front of the College of HCT
Yes. Rehearsal is on May 22, 2025, at 3:30 P.M.
Business or formal attire and comfortable shoes.
No modifications or decorations allowed on the Cap, Gown or Hood.
Each graduate may bring up to 8 guests.
Yes, professional photos and videos will be taken, and shared after the event.
For Guests
Guests should arrive by 4:15 PM; doors close at 4:45 PM.
Business or business casual attire is recommended.
Children under the age of 13 are not permitted.
Yes. Parking is available at the second main gate with shuttle services.
Yes, a welcome reception and a post-ceremony reception will be hosted.
Schedule of the Event
AUIB Campus, Airport Road , Baghdad- Iraq
Saturday, May 24, 2025
| Time | Activities |
| 4:00 PM | Campus gates open for graduates and guests |
| 4:00 – 6:30 PM | Welcome reception with light refreshments |
| 5:30 PM | Graduates report to the Food Court (Guest access restricted) |
| 6:30 PM | Guests must be seated |
| 6:50 PM | Commencement Ceremony begins |
| Post-Ceremony | Reception hosted by AUIB Alumni Association at HCT College |
Please note that doors will close at 4:45 PM, and no entry will be permitted after that time. All participants are requested to respect ceremony protocols.
Grounded in Pride, Growing with Purpose
To honor, celebrate, and preserve this historic moment, the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB) has planned a meaningful activity led by its very first cohort of graduates—an event that will become part of the university’s legacy: its inaugural commencement ceremony.
As a symbol of growth, renewal, and the beginning of a lifelong journey, the graduates will plant an evergreen tree beside a commemorative plaque at the heart of AUIB’s beautiful campus. This act not only celebrates their achievements but also leaves a lasting mark for future generations.
AUIB selected this tree-planting ceremony as a living tribute to its pioneering graduates, a reminder of their first steps on campus and the pride they felt upon joining the university in Spring 2021. It is also a message to future students, encouraging them to aspire, persevere, and one day reflect proudly on their own legacy.
The ornamental peach tree—chosen for its beauty and symbolism—will serve as a lasting representation of success, vitality, and continuous growth for years to come.
