We are proud to invite our 2023 doctoral and master’s degree candidates to participate in the University’s December Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony on Friday, December 8th, at 3:30 p.m. in the Greensboro Coliseum. To prepare for the 2023 December Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony, follow the checklist below.
We congratulate you on your accomplishment and look forward to seeing you at the ceremony. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions about the ceremony.
Student Check List
RSVP. All students who plan to participate in the ceremony MUST RSVP. Emails will be sent to your UNCG inbox beginning in September prompting you to submit your RSVP. If students fail to RSVP by the deadline, their names will not appear on the jumbotron in the Coliseum.
Doctoral students must RSVP by November 1st.
Master’s students must RSVP by November 12th.
Order Regalia.
Master’s regalia purchases may be made onlinehereor at the Bookstore, located in the Elliot University Center by November 6.
All doctoral regalia purchases must be completed in person or by telephone, 336-334-5563. To ensure on-time receipt of purchased regalia, doctoral graduates/candidates must complete their purchases 8 weeks before the event, by September 29.
Pay the graduation fee. $85.00 must be paid to the Cashiers and Student Accounts Office no later than November 6—thirty days prior to your graduation date.
Watch your email! Additional messages will be sent as the ceremony date nears. Final instructions will be emailed in November to all students who RSVP that they will attend.
Doctoral Hooding Spring 2022
What to expect the morning of the ceremony
The UNCG Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony is a formal, traditional, academic exercise. The ceremony will begin with a processional of all participants, followed by greetings and speeches from academic dignitaries, the conferring of degrees, recognition of graduates as names are called, hooding of the doctoral students, and the recessional. The UNCG School of Music will provide music. The ceremony is expected to last about 2 hours.
Participating Students
Arrive at the Special Events Center no later than 1:30 p.m. for check-in and lineup (expect heavy traffic). Click here for a map of your assembly area and entrance.
There is NO rehearsal.
No guest tickets or parking passes are required.
All students will be required to go through a metal detector before entering the lineup area. Please take note of the Coliseum Complex bag policy and full list of prohibited items here.
Large golf or non-telescopic umbrellas are prohibited from entering the Coliseum Complex.
Commencement programs will be provided in a digital, print-ready format and distributed as a PDF on the Commencement Website. Names of the August 2023 graduates and the Fall 2023 graduation candidates will be included in the program.
All student names will be called, and students will walk across the stage to be recognized. Doctoral students will be hooded by faculty.
The processional begins promptly at 3:30 p.m.
Tips for an Enjoyable Commencement Experience
Eat breakfast! The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours.
Please note: Students will stand in the lineup space prior to processing into the Coliseum, thus shoes that you feel comfortable in for standing on a concrete floor and walking across the stage are recommended.
If you, a friend, or family member has restricted mobility or is deaf or hard of hearing, we have information listed here. We ask that you submit requests for accommodations in our RSVP form. All requests will be reviewed by event organizers and reasonable accommodations will be made. The requester will be notified of approved accommodations. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions or concerns.
Parking is free and no passes are required for students or guests.
Expect heavy traffic on the day of Commencement.
ADA drop off points are indicated on the Coliseum parking map here.
If a friend or family member has restricted mobility or is deaf or hard of hearing, we have information listed here.
We will follow University and UNC System COVID-19 protocols that are in place at the time of the ceremony. Closer to the date, please visit the Shield our Spartans for the current protocols.
Guests will be required to enter the Coliseum through a metal detector. Click here to view a full list of prohibited items and the Coliseum bag policy.
Security and emergency medical personnel will be available to provide a safe environment for all commencement participants and guests.
All electronic devices should be turned off to help ensure that all guests can hear and enjoy the ceremony.
The Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony will begin promptly at 3:30 p.m. and is expected to last approximately 2 hours.
Click here for a link to the guest parking map and ADA drop off locations.
Be sure to come back to Commencement Central on December 8th at 3:30 p.m. to watch the Commencement livestream. Following the ceremony, the video will be available on the Commencement YouTube page.
Restricted mobility
The Greensboro Coliseum is adequately equipped with seating to accommodate guests in wheelchairs. When guests arrive at the Coliseum, they should proceed to one of the following restricted mobility seating area sections: 106, 112, 116, 118, 124, or 128 (see map). Guests with restricted mobility should enter the Coliseum from the ground floor of the East Wing of the Special Events Center (see map). ADA drop-off locations are located in front of the ACC Hall of Champions and in front of the Special Events Center (see map). The elevator will be clearly marked. Contact the Guest Services Manager of the Greensboro Coliseum, 336.373.7461, for more information.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Reserved seating for guests who read American Sign Language will be available in section 127; e-mail [email protected] to reserve seats in this section.
The Coliseum offers Assistive Listening Devices—for those who are hard of hearing but do not read sign language—which work in any area of the Arena. Upon arrival, go to the Guest Services booth on the Concourse at Section 103 to secure an ALD. Guests should be prepared to leave a North Carolina Driver’s License or other form of ID, which will be returned when the device is returned.
For more information about the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and the ADA standards in place, please visit their website here or contact [email protected].
Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Livestream
Be sure to come back to Commencement Central on December 8thth at 3:30 p.m. to watch the Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony livestream. Following the ceremony, the video will be available on the Graduate School YouTube page.
Faculty Information
If you expect to participate in the Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony by hooding a student, you will be contacted by the Commencement Coordinator when your student has submitted their RSVP. These emails will be sent in November.
For questions about faculty participation, please contact [email protected].
There is no faculty processional at the Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony. Faculty and staff attending as guests do not need to wear regalia. No tickets will be required for faculty attending as guests.
Faculty members that are expecting to participate in the ceremony by hooding a students, you will be contacted separately.
For questions about faculty participation, please contact [email protected].
Students completing all degree requirements by the end of the spring semester are encouraged to participate in the May Commencement ceremony.
Students completing all degree requirements by the end of the fall semester are encouraged to participate in the December Commencement ceremony. Students completing all degree requirements by the end of the Summer Session may participate in either the May or December Commencement ceremony by applying to graduate, paying the graduation fee, and notifying The Graduate School. Degree candidates will not earn degrees nor be graduated from the University until they have completed all degree requirements.
Participation in a commencement ceremony does not presume graduation from the University. Only those master’s candidates whose degree requirements are completed by the established deadlines are authorized to participate in the formal December or May Commencement ceremony. Students who do not apply for graduation before the published deadline for any semester may apply for graduation during the next semester. Students who have applied for graduation but fail to meet the requirements must reapply for graduation by the published deadline for the semester in which they will fulfill the requirements. Degrees are conferred only after all requirements are completed and the Board of Trustees has taken official action.
Only those doctoral candidates who have successfully defended their dissertation may participate in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. Students defending in the spring semester are expected to participate in the May ceremony. Students defending in the fall semester are expected to participate in the December ceremony. Students completing all degree requirements by the end of the Summer Session may participate in either the following December or following May ceremony. Students must apply before required due dates (see Academic Calendars) to graduate, pay the graduation fee, and notify the Graduate School.
Students who plan to defend after the cut-off date for graduation may apply to participate in that semester’s hooding ceremony but will not be listed in the program. These students will be listed in the commencement program during the semester in which they complete all degree requirements. Participation in the hooding ceremony does not presume graduation from the University. Doctoral candidates will not earn degrees nor be graduated from the University until they have completed all degree requirements.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has core values of Honesty, Fairness, Trust, Respect, and Responsibility. In keeping with our values of Respect and Responsibility, all graduating students are to respect the dignified nature of the ceremony. Formal academic regalia is required for all degree candidates participating in the University of North Carolina at Greensboro commencement ceremonies. It is the responsibility of the degree candidate to secure academic regalia prior to the ceremony from the University Bookstore and to bring it to the ceremony. Only adornments provided and/or approved by the university, such as stoles and cords, are allowed.
Candidates for degrees must wear robes appropriate to their degree.
Graduate candidates for master’s or doctoral degrees wear the appropriate hoods around their necks and down their backs.
Undergraduate degree candidates who will graduate with Commencement Honors wear colored stoles and tassels provided by the university. Only one tassel is worn during the commencement ceremony.
Cords or stoles representing registered student organizations, University recognized honor societies, students with an international affiliation, members of recognized social fraternities and sororities, military and veteran students, and members of athletic teams are allowed.
Undergraduate degree candidates place tassels on the right side of the mortarboard until their degrees are conferred at the commencement ceremonies. The tassels are switched to the left side as a part of the ceremony and are worn on that side any time thereafter.
Mortarboards may be decorated on the top only and must be non-distracting to the ceremony and other graduates.
No modifications may be made to the regalia gown.
FAQ
Diplomas are mailed out approximately 12 weeks after the commencement ceremony. Please contact the Graduate School for questions and information.
Contact the Cashiers and Student Accounts Office at 336.334.5831 or [email protected].
Contact the Graduate School to change your name in our system. Be sure to also enter your preferred name in your commencement RSVP to ensure your name is called correctly at the ceremony.
No, tickets are not required for students or guests.
Yes, students who attend the commencement ceremony will have their name called. Doctoral candidates will be hooded and have their names called.
The Grad Team is pleased to provide this complimentary service for each graduate during the commencement ceremony. Please do not contact the school with inquiries related to photographic service. For information about commencement photographs, go to The Grad Team UNCG webpage.
Please submit this form no later than November 1st if you have guest in need of a visa invitation letter.
Click here to view the graduation participation policies.
Doctoral Summer graduates who wish to walk in the Spring ceremony, please contact the Graduate School to confirm eligibility.
