May 2016
Congratulations!
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. A live feed of each Commencement ceremony will be
available on the Commencement website the day of each ceremony. Each ceremony will last
approximately 1.5-2 hours.
SPRING 2016 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
DATE
COLLEGE/SCHOOL
CEREMONY BEGINS
GRADUATES ARRIVE AT
HANOVER GYM
Friday, May 6
Cameron School of Business
2 p.m.
1 p.m.
Friday, May 6
Watson College of Education and the
College of Health and Human Services
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.
Students who will earn a degree with distinction were previously notified and sent an email with
information on how to purchase the official UNCW honor cord.
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 you, 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 purchase in the UNCW Bookstore until May 5,
2016. Onslow Extension Site students can purchase and pick-up commencement regalia and
return textbook rentals on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Coastal Carolina
Community College in the SGA room of the cafeteria. If you are unable to purchase your regalia
by May 5, then you will be able to pick-up your regalia in Hanover Gym before your ceremony.
Regalia will cost $45.98 for undergraduates, which includes your cap, gown and tassel. Master
student’s regalia will cost $85.98, and includes your cap, gown, hood and tassel.
What to Bring
Bring your cap, gown, Master’s hood 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 up-to-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 and
scroll toward the bottom. 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).
Happy Tweeting...and an even happier Commencement season!
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.