Countdown to Commencement
You’ve put in the work, now it’s time to celebrate!
You have worked hard to get here and we want to celebrate YOU! Here’s a look at key events to help you prepare for commencement and celebrate your achievements. Use the Countdown to Commencement events hub as a resource to stay up-to-date on all graduation and end-of-semester celebrations so you don’t miss out on any events!
See the schedule of events below. Please note that some events require registration or a prerequisite.
| Event Name | Date | Time | Location | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commencement Kick Off | October 30 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Barnes & Noble Bookstore | |
| Alumni Takeover Month | November 1 – 30 | Various Locations | Learn More | |
| First Gen Celebration Week | November 4 – 10 | Various Locations | Learn More | |
| First Gen Graduation Ceremony | November 8 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | McKnight Hall / Lucas Room | Learn More |
| Niner Nation Week | November 10 – 17 | Various Locations | Learn More | |
| Senior Celebration Week | December 2 – 5 | Virtual | Learn More | |
| Late Night Breakfast | December 4 | 9:00 – 11:00 PM | SoVi Dining Hall | |
| Senior Send-Off | December 5 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | Armored Cow Brewing Co. | Learn More |
| Official 49er Ring Ceremony | December 12 | 2:30 – 4:00 PM | CHHS / CoEd Quad | Learn More |
| Donning of the Kente Ceremony | December 12 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | McKnight Hall / Lucas Room | Learn More |
| Legacy Draping Ceremony | December 12 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Popp Martin Student Union 340 | Learn More |
| Your First Pick | December 13 – 15 | All Ceremonies | Halton Arena | Learn More |
| Undergraduate Class Gift | Now – May 2025 | Virtual | Ways To Give | |
| Graduate Class Gift | Now – May 2025 | Virtual | Ways To Give | |
Alumni association commencement celebrations
Legacy Draping Ceremony
Are you a graduating Legacy student? A Legacy is any student who has at least one parent, step-parent, grandparent, or sibling who is an alumni of UNC Charlotte (undergraduate or graduate program) is considered to be a Legacy.
Be on the lookout for information about the Legacy Draping Ceremony, held each semester before Commencement! At this special event, each graduating Legacy student will receive a commemorative Legacy stole to wear when they walk across the stage.
Donning of the Kente Ceremony
Sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Black Alumni Chapter, the ceremony utilizes the West African kente cloth as a symbol of African American heritage, bestowed upon the graduate to commemorate the significance of graduation.
Beginning in 2016, the ceremony has become an annual tradition, offering a more personal alternative to the University’s large, formal commencement ceremony. The ceremony is held in both December for fall graduates and May for spring graduates and the event reaches hundreds of student participants, their families and their friends.
The curated event is designed to be intimate, aiming to truly acknowledge and celebrate each individual. It features personal touches like a pre-ceremony slideshow featuring every participant’s name and major, the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a Black alumni speaker, all culminating with the kente stole being draped around each graduate.
Lavender Graduation
Lavender Graduation, hosted at UNC Charlotte by the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network, recognizes the importance of fellow Niner Alumni caring and supporting graduates’ success. Lavender Graduation provides a final positive experience for queer and ally students on campus to share their hopes and dreams with one another and their chosen families. The LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network hopes that this celebration will serve as a connector for graduates to UNC Charlotte and encourage future involvement in the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network!
Latinx Graduation
The Latinx/a/o Alumni Network and the Office of Alumni Engagement are proud to put on a Latinx Graduation Ceremony at UNC Charlotte each Spring semester. This ceremony celebrates the academic achievements and accomplishments of Latinx Niners. It provides an exclusive opportunity for graduates to celebrate cultural pride and the culmination of their educational journeys with one another and with their families and friends.