FAQs

Doctoral candidates, Master’s candidates and Graduate Certificate candidates will attend Friday morning’s Graduate School Commencement ceremony. Undergraduate candidates will attend the ceremony for their college. The colleges and ceremony schedule are listed here.

University policy: Students must complete their degree requirements in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.  Undergraduate students who wish to attend commencement must attend the ceremony within their college; graduate students (including certificates) who wish to attend commencement must attend the Graduate School ceremony.  All students must have a valid UNC Charlotte ID or a government issued photo ID and their UNC Charlotte ID number to participate in commencement.

Graduates will line up in the practice gym located on the ground level of the Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC). DO NOT report to the SAC food court. You may enter the building from the lower level ATAC entrances – the SAC entrances closest to the Cato College of Education building or near Woodward Hall. Signs will be posted. Arrive at the SAC practice gym 90 minutes prior to your ceremony. Graduates for the morning ceremony arrive at 8:30 a.m. For the afternoon ceremony, graduates arrive at 1:30 p.m.

Each ceremony will last approximately two hours. Conferring of Degrees begins approximately one hour into the ceremony.

If your majors are in colleges with different ceremonies, you may choose to participate in one or both.

If your majors are in colleges with the same ceremony, you will need to choose which major you will walk with.

You will receive additional information from the Office of the Registrar a couple of days prior to the ceremony.

All Commencement ceremonies are held in Dale F. Halton Arena which is inside the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC).

All parking lots and decks will be open for Commencement. Parking is free for everyone. Parking attendants and police officers will be stationed around campus to help direct traffic.

Candidates for graduation who do not have a student ID card must have a valid government-issued photo ID and their UNC Charlotte ID number to participate in commencement.

There is no commencement rehearsal for undergraduate, master’s, or graduate certificate candidates. The Graduate School will inform doctoral candidates of rehearsal.

Each graduating student will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar (graduation@uncc.edu) a few days prior to Commencement indicating their row assignment and also including ceremony information.

Seating and parking information for guests with disabilities can be found in the Accessibility section.

Strollers are not allowed in Halton Arena. However, guests may bring their strollers into the Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC) and check them with Guest Services, located in the SAC Food Court area, prior to entering Halton Arena.

All guests attending the ceremonies will need a ticket to enter the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center, Dale F. Halton Arena. Students who will be completing their degree requirements during spring 2020 are eligible to reserve Commencement e-tickets during the ticket distribution.

For your safety, metal detectors and bag checks will be conducted at entry points.

Please see Remote Viewing Options.

Graduates do NOT need a ticket and should enter the Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC) near the lower level ATAC entrances – the SAC entrances closest to the Cato College of Education building or near Woodward Hall.

Children aged two and under who can sit comfortably on an adult’s lap for two hours will not need a ticket. Children over the age of two will require a ticket.

All guests will need a ticket to enter Dale F. Halton Arena. There are no designated accessible seating tickets. Limited accessible seating is available on the arena entrance level for guests who use wheelchairs or who are unable to climb stairs, plus one accompanying person. Wheelchair assistance to accessible seating will also be available. Guests who cannot transfer to a seat and need to remain in a wheelchair are encouraged to bring or rent their own. Wheelchairs are generally available for short-term rental from medical supply stores and some pharmacies.  

Accessible seating is limited so early arrival is strongly recommended.  Doors open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony.

Additional information can be found on the Accessibility page.

The number that appears on some tickets is for control purposes only and does not represent a specific seat. All e-tickets are for open seating. 

The TicketReturn website refers to tickets for guests as ‘Student Tickets’. Graduating students will not need a ticket.

The University is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. In regards to the health and well-being of our students and staff, the commencement fair has been cancelled.  The University has not made any decisions about spring commencement at this time, but we continue to monitor conditions closely.

Check back for instructions on how to receive your cap and gown.

Your student fees already paid for your cap and gown (and hood). There are no additional fees.

If you have earned Graduation with Distinction, you may purchase the honor cord (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude) from the Bookstore.  Please note: Final determination of graduation with honors is made upon completion of the student’s final term.  Therefore, the honor may change based on the final semester grades. For other honor cords, please contact your National Honor Society, Honors College and/or department.

The University is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. In regards to the health and well-being of our students and staff, the commencement fair has been cancelled.  The University has not made any decisions about spring commencement at this time, but we continue to monitor conditions closely. We know how hard our students (and families) have worked for this moment, and we pledge to be in touch with you as soon as possible if plans for the day change.

For a nominal fee, the cap and gown vendor, Oak Hall, will ship your cap and gown to your home address. Please check back for the Oak Hall link.

Balfour is the exclusive producer of the official UNC Charlotte class rings. Check the Bookstore’s calendar or ask the store manager for specific dates.

Your class ring is a lasting symbol of your academic accomplishments and time spent on campus.  Please visit 49er Ring Ceremony for updated information.

GradImages will be at the Commencement Fair to take formal graduation portraits.  No appointment is necessary and there is no sitting fee.

GradImages is the official photographer for Commencement.  Three photos will be taken of each student: one prior to walking on stage, one on stage shaking hands, and one after exiting the stage.  Proofs will be emailed to students a few days after the ceremony. Pictures may be ordered online, by phone, or by mail.

If you have questions, please visit the GradImages website or contact GradImages Customer Service at 800-261-2576 (USA), 850-907-2740 (everywhere) or by email at ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.

A DVD of your ceremony can be ordered through GradImages.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact GradImages Customer Service at 800-261-2576 (USA), 850-907-2740 (everywhere) or via email at ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.

Commencement:
Phone: 704‑687‑8021
Email: Commencement@uncc.edu

Cap and Gown:
Phone: 704‑687‑7050
UNC Charlotte Bookstore

Printing E-Tickets:
Phone: 704‑687‑4949
TicketReturn.com/49ers

The Center for Graduate Life:
Phone: 704‑687‑5661
The Graduate School

International VISAS and other related information:
International Student/Scholar Office

Campus Accessibility:
Phone: 704‑687‑0040
Campus Accessibility