Graduation Exercises

Monday, May 15

Commencement Exercises are held annually for graduates who completed their degree requirements in August, December and May of the academic year. Commencement is a three and a half hour ceremony.

The Commencement Exercises include the University Commencement Ceremony and the Undergraduate Diploma Ceremony.

The University Commencement Ceremony begins at 9 a.m. on Hearn Plaza. It is attended by graduates and guests of all Wake Forest schools and programs and includes remarks from the University President, the keynote speaker address, the awarding of honorary degrees and the conferring of degrees.

The Undergraduate Diploma Ceremony will take place on Hearn Plaza and includes remarks from a representative of the class and the deans, followed by the awarding of bachelor degrees. Graduates who have earned BA and BS degrees from the College and the School of Business will be asked to cross the stage as their names are called.

Commencement tickets are complimentary, but must be reserved online in advance. Commencement is for graduates and their guests and it is not open to the general public. Each graduate who registers receives a set of 8 guest tickets; graduates do not need tickets. Seating is on a first-come basis.

A Commencement Breakfast will be held in the Reynolda Hall Cafeteria from 6:30-8:30 a.m. Tickets for graduates and guests should be purchased online in advance.

Tickets are not mailed. Students and/or parents need to bring their IDs to claim tickets. Graduate and professional school students will receive regalia and ticket distribution schedules from their respective schools.

Two parking passes will be included with each graduate’s ticket order.