May 2016
In just a few short days, you will be putting on your cap and gown and graduating from UNCW. We are so excited to
celebrate this moment with you and your family. Below you will find information that will be helpful for you and your
family next week. As always, feel free to forward this email to your family members.
If you have any questions, review the Commencement website or call the Office of Transition Programs at 910.962.3089.
Ceremonies
Live Stream and TV Broadcasting
What to Expect During the Ceremony
Honors and Distinctions – Undergraduates Only
Decorum and Behavior
What to Wear
What to Bring
Official Commencement Photographs
Parking
Physically Disabled and Hearing Impaired Seating
Departmental Receptions
Diploma
UNCW Commencement Hashtag - #uncw16
UNCW E-Mail Deactivation
Commencement Guidebook App
(If you experience any problems reading this email, please visit: uncw.edu/commencement)
Ceremonies
Undergraduates and graduates should attend the ceremony in which their school, college, department and/or major is
represented. Students who are double major graduates may choose to attend one or both of the appropriate
ceremonies. Doors will open for family and guests one hour prior to each ceremony. Tickets are not required to attend
Commencement ceremonies at UNCW. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each ceremony will
last approximately 1.5-2 hours.
SPRING 2016 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
DATE
COLLEGE/SCHOOL
Friday,
May 6
Cameron School of Business
Friday,
May 6
Watson College of Education and the
College of Health and Human Services
CEREMONY BEGINS
GRADUATES ARRIVE AT
HANOVER GYM
2 p.m.
1 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
Saturday,
May 7
College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences and
Humanities
Biology and Marine Biology, Chemistry and
Biochemistry, Computer Science, Creative
Writing, English, Environmental Studies,
Foreign Languages & Literatures, Geography
and Geology, History, Information
Technology, Math & Statistics, Philosophy
and Religion, Physics and Physical
Oceanography
9:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
Saturday,
May 7
College of Arts and Sciences - Creative Arts,
Social Sciences & Graduate Liberal Studies
Anthropology, Art & Art History,
Communication Studies, Film Studies,
Graduate Liberal Studies, International
Studies, Music, Psychology, Public &
International Affairs, Sociology and
Criminology and Theatre
1 p.m.
12 p.m.
Live Streaming and TV Broadcasts
Both ceremonies will be streamed live for viewing remotely. Rebroadcasts of the ceremonies will be shown via The
Learning Network at a later time. A photo gallery and video of the ceremonies and related events will be posted to the
UNCW homepage the week of May 9.
What to Expect During the Ceremony
UNCW does not have a Commencement rehearsal for graduates. However, staff and student marshals will direct you
through the ceremony. The day of your ceremony, you will report to Hanover Gym one hour prior to the beginning of
your ceremony. This is also the time when the doors will open for your family and friends to come into Trask Coliseum.
When the ceremony begins, student marshals will direct you to your seats. The student marshals will be counting the
number of people in each row to make sure you have a seat. If they ask you to start a new row, follow their directions.
Programs will be on your seat in Trask Coliseum. The ceremony will consist of greetings from University officials, a
Commencement address and the conferral of degrees. At the appropriate time, the student marshals will direct you
when it is time for you to be recognized. You will take a picture in front of the UNCW banner, hand your name card to
the card reader and then shake hands with the Chancellor, Provost or Dean of your college/school. At this time you will
return to your seat. After the ceremony, you will meet your family and friends outside in front of Trask Coliseum.
Honors and Distinctions – Undergraduates Only
Undergraduate students who successfully completed the Honors Program in their major will graduate “With Honors In”
the discipline in which their special work was undertaken. Students who earn a minimum of a 3.50 GPA on all course
work attempted, including transfer courses, will receive a degree with distinction. Distinction is based on your overall
GPA at the end of the fall semester. Those receiving honors and degrees with distinction will be recognized as a group
during the Commencement ceremony. You may pick-up your academic distinction cords in the Office of the Registrar
located in James Hall or in Hanover Gym prior to each ceremony.
There are three levels of distinction:
Cum Laude - overall average of 3.50
Magna Cum Laude - overall average of 3.70
Summa Cum Laude - overall average of 3.90
For information concerning distinction qualifications, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 910.962.3125.
Decorum and Behavior
The Commencement ceremony will be conducted with appropriate dignity and decorum. Do not bring air horns or loud
noise makers to the ceremony. Guests should be considerate of those around them, as Commencement is a meaningful
occasion to all guests in attendance. All family members and guests are asked to remain seated during the entire
ceremony. The use of alcoholic beverages and participation in disruptive activities during the ceremony is prohibited and
will be handled accordingly.
What to Wear
You will be required to wear the appropriate regalia during the ceremony. The appropriate attire under your regalia is
business casual or Sunday’s best. Jeans, t-shirts and flip flops are not appropriate attire for Commencement.
Regalia and Distinction Cord Pick up
Caps, gowns and Master’s hoods are available for pick-up in the UNCW Bookstore until May 5, 2016. Bring your
UNCW One Card to be swiped when you pick-up your regalia. If you are unable to pick-up your regalia by May 5,
then you will be able to pick-up your regalia in Hanover Gym before your ceremony. If you are an undergraduate
or Master’s student, one set of regalia will be provided to you at no cost. Doctoral students will receive an email
with instructions on picking up their regalia. If you do not have a UNCW One Card, contact the UNCW One Card
Office to obtain one as you are required to present it in order to receive your regalia.
What to Bring
Bring your cap, gown, Master’s hood (if applicable) and your name card. Any items you bring with you to Hanover Gym
will remain with you during the entire ceremony. If you are not able to place it under a chair or it is not a necessity, leave
it in your car or with your family and friends. Do not bring air horns, loud noise makers, beach balls, confetti, etc. to the
ceremony. Do not deface your cap or gown with printed signs or messages.
Official Commencement Photographs
Professional photographers from GradImages will take individual photographs of each of the graduates during their
Commencement ceremony. During the presentation of candidates, each graduate will pose for two pictures, one as a
portrait and the other receiving their scroll. Participants will receive a free photo proof and can order copies of their
photograph directly from GradImages.
To receive your photos quickly, pre-register family and friends' email addresses. GradImages will email photographs
when they are available for online viewing and ordering. Pre-register with GradImages by visiting www.gradimages.com,
and clicking on the "Pre-Event Registration" at the bottom of the page. This provides them with the most correct and upto-date contact information and ensures the delivery of your graduation proofs in a timely manner. You may register
your email and up to 6 emails of loved ones who would like to share in your accomplishment by viewing and ordering
photos.
Your proofs will be available after the ceremony. To view your proofs online, please visit www.gradimages.com. Pictures
may be ordered online, by phone or by mail. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at
800.261.2576.
Individuals who do not receive a photo proof within two weeks of the ceremony should contact GradImages at
800.261.2576 or via e-mail at service@gradimages.com. To learn more, visit
www.gradimages.com/universityofnorthcarolinawilmington
Parking
Guests and graduates are encouraged to carpool to maximize the use of all available parking spaces. Parking for
graduates and guests during the Commencement ceremonies will be available in Lot K, adjacent to Trask Coliseum.
Guests with a state issued Handicapped Placard are encouraged to park in Lot K at Wagoner Drive. Obey all posted signs
and refrain from parking on grass or fields. For parking suggestions for departmental events and receptions, visit the
Ceremonies & Receptions webpage. View a map of all parking locations.
Physically Disabled and Hearing Impaired Seating
Special seating arrangements on the lower level of Trask Coliseum will be provided for guests who are physically
challenged and one accompanying family member or care-taker. Bleacher seating may be available for additional family
members on the lower level that is not part of the specialty seating. Due to limited seating, the entire family may not be
able to sit in the bleachers on the lower lever. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A sign language interpreter will be available for individuals who are hearing impaired. Guests who need access to the
sign language interpreter should go to the front of the bleachers on the lower level of Trask Coliseum.
Additionally, there will be a limited number of Sennheiser Tour Guide 2020 series listening devices available for use
during the ceremony. You can request a device by going to the sound board near the front of the bleachers on the lower
level of Trask Coliseum.
Departmental Receptions
The location of the departmental events along with parking suggestions is listed on the Commencement website. If you
have specific questions related to the departmental events, contact the individual department.
Diploma
Undergraduate and graduate diplomas will be mailed from the Office of the Registrar to the graduate's permanent
address within eight weeks of Commencement. Review your permanent address on SeaNet or in the Office of the
Registrar and correct if necessary.
UNCW Commencement Hashtag - #uncw2016
You've got plenty to do between now and Commencement, so offering congratulatory messages, words of wisdom, or
general declarations of merriment shouldn't take more than a minute - or 140 characters, if we're talking about
Twitter...and we are! Just include #uncw2016 in any posts up to and including The Big Day for a chance for your Tweet
or Instagram photo to be featured on UNCW's Commencement site or onscreen in Trask Coliseum ahead of the
graduation ceremonies (barring technical difficulties).
UNCW E-Mail Deactivation
According to UNCW policy, students’ UNCW email is deactivated upon graduation. Students graduating in May will have
their UNCW email is deactivated in mid-September. If you do not have an additional email account, it is imperative that
you create a professional email account and include that email on job applications, resumes, etc.
Academic related exceptions can be requested through the Office of the Registrar. Examples of exceptions are a student
expecting to register for classes (possibly graduate school) within one year, or other academic reasons such as
volunteering in a lab or a Fulbright scholar needing to maintain access to the library.
Commencement Guidebook App
Download the UNCW App from the Apple App Store or the Android Marketplace using the key words UNCW Guide.
Once you have the app, click Download Guides, and click on Commencement to access information on ceremonies and
other resources.
Office of Transition Programs | 910.962.3098 | transitions@uncw.edu
NOTICE: EMAILS SENT AND RECEIVED IN THE COURSE OF UNIVERSITY BUSINESS ARE SUBJECT TO THE NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RECORDS
ACT (N.C.G.S. §132-1 ET SEQ.) AND MAY BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC UNLESS AN EXCEPTION APPLIES.