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Commencement
Commencement is one of UNCP’s proudest traditions — a time to honor your hard work, reflect on your journey and celebrate this important milestone with family, friends and the community. UNCP hosts commencement ceremonies twice a year: each winter for summer and fall graduates, and each spring for spring graduates.
Watch the Livestream
Winter Ceremonies
Graduate
Friday, Dec. 12, 2025| GIvens Performing Arts Center (GPAC)
The ceremony will begin with the processional at 6:45 p.m.
- Venue opens at 5:30 p.m. Guests should be seated by 6:30 p.m. Accessible parking is available in lots 10, 12, 16, 16A, 17 and 19. Handicapped accessible parking is available in Lots 16A and 22. Please refer to the campus map for parking locations.
- The UNCP Bookstore will offer roses, balloons, alumni gifts and apparel prior to the ceremony.
- Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate during the event and made available for purchase. Details will be emailed to graduates..
For more information about the undergraduate commencement ceremony, please contact the Registrar at 910.521.6298 or registrar@uncp.edu
| 5:30 p.m. |
Graduates check-in at the Auxiliary Gym in the Jones Athletic Center for preparation and instructions. A short presentation will begin promptly at 6 pm with important details related to the ceremony. Venue opens for guests. |
| 6:30 a.m. | Entrances close and guests should be seated. |
| 6:45 p.m. | Processional of graduates, faculty and platform party begins. |
Graduates check-in at the Auxiliary Gym in the Jones Athletic Center for preparation and instructions. A short presentation will begin promptly at 6 p.m. with important details related to the ceremony.
Undergraduate
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025| The Main Gym of the Jones Athletic Center
The ceremony will begin with the processional at 8:45 a.m.
- Venue opens at 7:30 a.m. Guests should be seated by 8:30 a.m. Accessible parking is available. Please refer to the campus map for parking locations.
- The UNCP Bookstore will offer roses, balloons, alumni gifts, and apparel prior to the ceremony.
- Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate during the event and made available for purchase. Details will be emailed to graduates..
- Overflow seating with a livestream will be available at the Givens Performing Arts Center.
For more information about the undergraduate commencement ceremony, please contact
the Registrar at 910.521.6298 or registrar@uncp.edu
| 7:30 a.m. |
Graduates check-in at their assigned location. Entrances open for family and guests. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Entrances close and guests should be seated. |
| 8:45 a.m. | Processional of graduates, faculty and platform party begins. |
Undergraduate students are to meet in the Auxiliary Gym of the Jones Athletic Center.
Spring Ceremonies
Graduate
Friday, May 8, 2026 | The Quad (between Livermore Library and Old Main)
The ceremony will begin with the processional at 6:45 p.m. Tickets will not be issued unless inclement weather is expected and the ceremony is moved indoors.
- Venue opens at 5:30 p.m. Guests should be seated by 6:30 p.m. Accessible parking is available in lots 10, 12, 16, 16A, 17 and 19. Handicapped accessible parking is available in Lots 16A and 22. . Please refer to the campus map for parking locations.
- The UNCP Bookstore will offer roses, balloons, alumni gifts and apparel prior to the ceremony.
- Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate during the event and made available for purchase. Details will be emailed to graduates..
| 5:30 p.m. |
Graduates check-in at the Auxiliary Gym in the Jones Athletic Center for preparation and instructions. A short presentation will begin promptly at 6 pm with important details related to the ceremony.
Venue opens for guests. |
| 6:30 a.m. | Entrances close and guests should be seated. |
| 6:45 p.m. | Processional of graduates, faculty and platform party begins. |
*A reception will be held near the water feature following the ceremony.
Graduates check-in at the Auxiliary Gym in the Jones Athletic Center for preparation and instructions. A short presentation will begin promptly at 6 p.m. with important details related to the ceremony.
If thunderstorms or heavy rain should occur,, a decision will be made no later than 6 a.m. the day of commencement as to whether the ceremony should move indoors. This decision will be broadcast onsite, via email, on UNCP’s Emergency Information Hotline (910.521.6888), on social media and on the University’s website.
Should commencement move indoors, tickets will be required for the indoor ceremony and will be given to each graduate at check-in on the day of the commencement ceremony. They will receive four (4) guest tickets for the Givens Performing Arts Center, and the rest of their party will be seated in our overflow area in the main gym where they may enjoy the ceremony via livestream. It is recommended that you bring a small umbrella as you process from the gym to GPAC. A reception will be held in the University Center Annex immediately following the ceremony.
*Please email gradcommencement@uncp.edu with questions related to commencement.
Undergraduate
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | The Quad (between Livermore Library and Old Main)
The ceremony will begin with the processional at 8:45 a.m. Each graduate will receive eight (8) guest tickets.
- Venue opens at 7:30 a.m. Guests should be seated by 8:30 a.m. Accessible parking is available in Lot 14. Please refer to the campus map for parking locations.
- The UNCP Bookstore will offer roses, balloons, alumni gifts, and apparel prior to the ceremony.
- Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate during the event and made available for purchase. Details will be emailed to graduates..
- Overflow seating with a livestream will be available at the Givens Performing Arts Center.
For more information about the undergraduate commencement ceremony, please contact the Registrar at 910.521.6298 or registrar@uncp.edu
| 7:30 a.m. |
Graduates check-in at their assigned location. Entrances open for family and guests. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Entrances close and guests should be seated. |
| 8:45 a.m. | Processional of graduates, faculty and platform party begins. |
*A reception will be held near the water feature following the ceremony.
Graduates will meet at their assigned check-in locations according to the table below. Detailed information about the check-in process will be emailed to each graduate.
An information tent will be set up at the front of the North Lawn by the University Center Annex on graduation day.
|
GOLD FLAG College of Arts and Sciences North Lawn – Near the University Center Annex |
American Indian Studies |
|---|---|
|
BLACK FLAG College of Arts and Sciences North Lawn – Near the University Center Annex |
Applied Physics |
|
College of Arts and Sciences North Lawn – Near the Jones Health & PE Center |
Applied Education Studies |
|
School of Education North Lawn – Near the Jones Health & PE Center |
Birth-Kindergarten |
|
College of Health Sciences North Lawn – Near the Jones Health & PE Center |
Exercise & Sport Science |
|
College of Business & Economics North Lawn – Near the Jones Health & PE Center |
Accounting |
If thunderstorms or heavy rain should occur,, a decision will be made no later than 6 a.m. the day of commencement as to whether the ceremony should move indoors. This decision will be broadcast onsite, via email, on UNCP’s Emergency Information Hotline (910.521.6888), on social media and on the University’s website.
Should commencement move indoors, four abbreviated graduation ceremonies will occur at the Givens Performing Arts Center (GPAC) as follows:
- 9 a.m. College of Arts and Sciences graduates receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Music degree.. This includes graduates with the following degrees: American Indian Studies; Art; Criminal Justice; English; English: Theatre Arts; History; Philosophy and Religion; Political Science; Social Studies Education; Sociology; Spanish; Music and Music Industry and Music Education.
- 11 a.m. College of Arts and Sciences graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree. This includes graduates with the following majors: Biology; Applied Physics; Chemistry; Computer Science;Cybersecurity; Environmental Science; Geo-Environmental Studies; Science Education; Information Technology; Mass Communication; Mathematics; Math Education; Psychology.
- 1 p.m. College of Health Sciences graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a Bachelor of Social Work degree. School of Education graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree. This includes graduates with the following majors: Elementary Education; Special Education; Health and Physical Education; Birth-Kindergarten.
- 3 p.m. Thomas College of Business and Economics graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree and College of Arts and Sciences students receiving a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. This includes graduates with the following majors: Accounting; Business Administration. degree includes graduates with the following majors: Applied Education Studies; Applied Management Information System; Applied Professional Studies; General Studies; Hospitality; Public & Non-profit Administration.
Receptions will be held in the University Center Annex immediately following each ceremony.
Graduates waiting for their college or school’s graduation ceremony should assemble in the auxiliary gym of the Jones Health and P.E. Center 45 minutes before their ceremony is scheduled to begin. It is recommended that you bring a small umbrella as you process from the gym to GPAC. Each graduate may invite eight (8) guests to attend the ceremony in GPAC.
Family and friends attending the 9 a.m. commencement will go directly to GPAC. All others may wait in the main gym and the University Center until the appointed time of their ceremony. Livestreaming of each ceremony will be available in the main gym.
In lieu of a processional, faculty will sit in their designated area in GPAC prior to the start of commencement.
*Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email at graduation@uncp.edu if you have any questions.
Eligibility
Only students who have completed the requirements for the bachelor’s or master’s degrees may participate in commencement exercises. Undergraduate degree requirements are outlined in the Academic Catalog and graduate requirements are detailed in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Undergraduate students who are within three credit hours of completing their degree may request special permission to participate by submitting a written request to the Office of the Registrar.
Attire
Bachelor’s degree candidates wear a traditional black gown with long, pointed sleeves and a square mortarboard. Master’s degree candidates also wear a black gown and mortarboard, along with a velvet-trimmed academic hood representing their field of study.
Graduation cords, stoles, and sashes may be worn to recognize academic honors, university-affiliated organizations and honorary societies. Any requests to modify regalia must be approved in advance by the Office of the Provost.
Decorum
Graduates are expected to uphold the dignity of the ceremony by conducting themselves with respect and professionalism. Disruptive behavior — including excessive noise or physical demonstrations such as dancing, stomping, yelling, etc. while in procession, seated or crossing the stage — is not permitted.
Commencement is a formal university event, and all graduates are subject to the Student Code of Conduct.
The Mace
Commissioned in celebration of UNCP’s 130th anniversary, the university’s ceremonial mace reflects its deep roots, mission and enduring connection to the Lumbee people and southeastern North Carolina. Carried by the faculty grand marshal, the mace is a powerful symbol of academic tradition and institutional authority at each commencement ceremony.
Topped with a 13-inch red-tailed hawk, the four-foot mace honors students taking flight into the future and alumni returning home. Sculpted by local artist Ed Walker and cast at Carolina Bronze, the hawk is plated in 24K gold, as is the pinecone-shaped footer, a nod to the longleaf pine.
Carved from wood sourced from the Lumber River basin, the staff is etched with symbols of regional identity: pine needle baskets, tobacco leaves and the university seal.
Accessibility and Accommodations
UNCP is committed to ensuring all graduates and guests can fully participate in commencement. Those needing accommodations—such as accessible seating, parking, interpreters, or alternative formats—should contact the Accessibility Resource Center at least one week before the ceremony. While advance notice is preferred, the university will make every effort to assist with requests made up to the day of the event.
Parking and Transportation
Wheelchair-accessible parking is available for vehicles with a handicap placard. Courtesy
golf carts will also be in service for guests who need assistance traveling from parking
areas to the ceremony site.
Reserved Seating
Accessible seating is available for guests using wheelchairs and their companion.
Seating for those with mobility or hearing needs will be offered in designated areas,
including priority seating near the interpreter. Early arrival is encouraged, and
reservations are recommended to guarantee space.
Interpreter Services and Assistive Devices
A sign language interpreter will be present, and assistive listening devices are available
by request through the Accessibility Resource Center.
Meet Our Graduates
Commencement is a time-honored tradition — rich with history, symbolism and celebration. While the rituals remain familiar each year, the graduates crossing the stage are anything but ordinary. Each class brings a new wave of bold thinkers, problem solvers and leaders, ready to make their mark with knowledge, skills and determination that build on the BraveNation legacy of those who came before them. Here are a few of their stories.
