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.
Celebrate with us from anywhere! Tune in to UNC Pembroke's commencement ceremonies live and watch our graduates cross the stage in real time. Experience the pride, joy and BraveNation spirit — no matter where you are. (A digital copy of the program for each Spring ceremony is available here: Graduate / Undergraduate).
Commencement is more than a ceremony — it’s a milestone worth revisiting and sharing.
Whether you’re celebrating from afar or reliving the day, we’ve made it easy to stay
connected.
Watch the celebration
Catch full commencement ceremonies anytime on our — perfect for sharing with family and friends who couldn’t attend in person.
Relive the memories
Browse official photo galleries from this year and past ceremonies on . Find your moment, download favorites and celebrate your achievement again and again.
Access the program
View a digital version of the most recent printed commencement program — including
ceremony details, speaker information and graduate listings.
Get your digital diploma
Graduates now receive a certified electronic diploma, known as a CeDiploma. This secure, official document makes it easy to share your achievement with employers,
family and your professional network — anytime, anywhere.
From crossing the stage to sharing your success beyond it, UNCP helps you hold on to what matters most.
Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 | Givens Performing Arts Center (GPAC)
The ceremony will begin with the processional at 6:45 p.m.
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 p.m. with important details related to the ceremony.
Venue opens for guests.
6:30 p.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.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 | The Main Gym of the Jones Athletic Center
The ceremony will begin with the processional at 8:45 a.m.
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.
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.
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 p.m. with important details related to the ceremony.
Venue opens for guests.
6:30 p.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.
Undergraduate students are to meet in the Auxiliary Gym of the Jones Athletic Center.
If inclement weather (including heavy rain or thunderstorms) occurs, the university may implement the graduate commencement rain plan.
Decision Timeline and Notification
A decision to move the ceremony indoors will be made during the week of the event. If the rain plan is implemented, the ceremony will be moved to the Givens Performing Arts Center (GPAC). Notification of the decision will be posted on this page.
Indoor Ceremony Location and Ticketing
If commencement is moved indoors to GPAC:
Graduate Instructions
Graduate check-in procedures will remain the same unless otherwise communicated:
Guest Information
Additional Information
Professional photographs of graduates will continue to be taken during the ceremony. Information on purchasing photos will be emailed to graduates after commencement.
Following the ceremony, a post-commencement reception for graduates and guests will be held as scheduled unless otherwise announced.
For questions regarding the graduate commencement ceremony, please contact:
The Graduate School
Phone: 910.521.6271
Email: grad@uncp.edu
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.
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.
Undergraduate students are to meet in the Auxiliary Gym of the Jones Athletic Center.
If thunderstorms or heavy rain occur on the day of undergraduate commencement, a decision to move the ceremony indoors will be made no later than 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026. This decision will be broadcast onsite, on UNCP's Emergency Information Hotline ( 910.521.6888 ), on social media and on the university's homepage at www.uncp.edu.
Should commencement move indoors, four abbreviated graduation ceremonies will occur at the Givens Performing Arts Center (GPAC) as follows:
| Bachelor of Arts majors include: | |
|---|---|
| American Indian Studies | Art |
| Criminal Justice | English |
| English: Theatre Arts | Music |
| Music Industry | History |
| Philosophy and Religion | Political Science |
| Social Studies Education | Sociology |
| Spanish | |
| Bachelor of Music majors include: | |
| Music Education | |
| Bachelor of Science majors include: | |
|---|---|
| Applied Physics | Biology |
| Chemistry | Computer Science |
| Cybersecurity | Environmental Science |
| Geo-Environmental Studies | Science Education |
| Information Technology | Mass Communication |
| Mathematics | Math Education |
| Psychology | |
| Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies majors include: | |
|---|---|
| Applied Education Studies | Applied Management |
| Information System | Applied Professional Studies |
| General Studies | Hospitality |
| Public & Non-profit | Administration |
| Bachelor of Science majors include: | |
| Accounting | Business Administration |
| Bachelor of Science majors include: | |
|---|---|
| Exercise Sport Science | Nursing |
| Social Work | Elementary Education |
| Special Education | Health and Physical Education |
| Birth-Kindergarten | |
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. If the rain plan is implemented, guest ticket availability will not be reduced due to indoor seating limitations.
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 Student Center until the appointed time of their ceremony. Livestreaming of each ceremony will be available in the Student Center.
In lieu of a processional, faculty will sit in their designated area in GPAC prior to the start of commencement.
Please contact Dr. Josh Busman (joshua.busman@uncp.edu) in the Maynor Honors College (910.775.4672) if you have any questions.
To participate in commencement exercises, students must complete a in addition to the requirements for the bachelor's or master's degrees.
Degree requirements are outlined in the .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ADA Seating
ADA seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and we do not offer reservations. There will be a designated ADA section with signage clearly posted in all directions.
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.
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.
Nearly three decades after beginning her college journey, Melanie Locklear Duckstein returned to UNC Pembroke on Saturday to finish what she started.
The 517 graduates who crossed the stage Friday night at UNC Pembroke did not arrive there by chance. They came from hospital floors, classrooms, military service, leadership offices and communities where earning a graduate degree means more than adding another line to a resume. For many, the walk across the stage was a promise kept.
Eugenie “Genie” Amidou arrived at UNC Pembroke with a dream shared by many young soccer players growing up in Canada — the opportunity to compete in the United States.