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Family, Friends & Guests

Commencement

Important information for family, friends and guests attending UNCW's commencement exercises, including guest tickets, accessibility and accommodations.

Guest Tickets

All attendees aged three (3) and older must have a ticket to enter the ceremony. This includes current UNCW students who plan to attend as guests.

Children under the age of three (3) do not need a ticket if they will sit on a guest’s lap during the ceremony.

Graduates do not require a ticket.

Guest Ticket Allotment

Each graduate will be offered a limited number of guest tickets for their assigned commencement ceremony.

Ticket allotments are determined by several factors, including the number of eligible graduates and venue capacity.

After the RSVP deadline, graduates will be notified of their guaranteed guest ticket allotment. Historically, this allotment has been at least four (4) guest tickets.

Although tickets are guaranteed, they must be manually claimed through the Commencement RSVP site by the published deadline.

After the initial claim deadline, any unclaimed tickets will be released, and graduates may have the opportunity to claim additional tickets.

Graduates who do not complete their RSVP by the deadline will forfeit their guaranteed ticket allotment. After the RSVP deadline, tickets are no longer guaranteed.

There is no waitlist or request list for guest tickets. All ticket management occurs through the Commencement Registration Account used to submit the RSVP.

Fine Print

Each guest must present a ticket with a unique, scannable QR code to enter Trask Coliseum.

Tickets may be printed or displayed on a smart device for scanning at the entrance.

Guests without a ticket will not be admitted to Trask Coliseum.

We recommend sending tickets directly to each guest’s personal email address. If multiple tickets are sent to the same email address, they will be delivered in separate emails.

Doors will open one (1) hour prior to each ceremony’s start time.

 

Accessibility

Graduates can request reasonable accommodations for themselves and their guests when they RSVP for Commencement through their Commencement Registration Account.

Learn more about accessibility and accommodations

 

Visitor Visas

For detailed instructions on obtaining a visitor visa for family members who would like to attend Commencement, please contact the Office of International Students and Scholars. 

Contact the Office of International Students and Scholars

Decorum & Behavior

The commencement ceremony is conducted with appropriate dignity and decorum. Please be considerate of those around you, as commencement is a meaningful occasion for all guests in attendance. All guests are asked to remain seated during the entire ceremony. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and participation in disruptive activities during the ceremony is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Air horns, loud noise makers, beach balls, confetti, etc. are prohibited items as well.

Order Flowers & Class T-Shirts

Flowers and Class T-shirts will be available for purchase outside of Trask Coliseum near Gate B. Families and guests may pre-order flowers for pick-up outside of Trask Coliseum prior to each ceremony.

Pre-Order T-shirts & Flowers