Carolina Nursing 2025 Spring Commencement

Celebrating graduates from August 2024, December 2024, May 2025 and August 2025! 

Reception at 5:00 p.m.
Lawn outside of the Smith Center

Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. (Graduates must arrive by 6:15 p.m.)
Dean E. Smith Center

Reception

The SON commencement reception will be an informal time to gather with classmates, family, friends, faculty, and staff. There will be no formal program or remarks. Light refreshments and beverages will be served.

This will be an open house style reception with grab-and-go refreshments available from 5 to 6 p.m. Please note that the refreshments offered are not intended to replace a full meal.

The reception will take place outside of the Smith Center on the grassy lawn in front of the athletics ticket office. Due to space, there won’t be any seating at the reception. If you or any of your guests can’t stand for long periods of time, we recommend you come towards the end of the reception, grab refreshments, and make your way directly into the Smith Center to take your seats. Please note that there is another ceremony at the Smith Center from 4 to 6 p.m., but the doors will remain open.

Click here for a map.

Tickets

Tickets are not required and there is no guest attendance limit.

Invitations

• Carolina Nursing digital invitations will be sent in the spring semester
• Formal UNC invitations can be purchased through the UNC Student Store  

Student Registration

Students must register here by Monday, April 21, 2025.

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Regalia

Full academic regalia is required for all participants and will be available through UNC Student Stores starting March 2025

• BSN: Blue mortar board with tassel hanging to the right, blue gown, UNC Stoll (optional). Additional approved academic cords, sashes or scarves may also be worn.
• MSN & PGC: Black mortarboard with a tassel hanging to the right, black gown with bat-wing sleeves, Master’s hood: black with 3-inch apricot velvet band; PGC please use your gown/mortar board from master’s program with UNC SON master’s hood. 
• DNP: Black mortarboard or black velvet tam, with tassel hanging to the right; black gown with open long sleeves and three black velvet chevrons on each sleeve. DNP hood: black with 5-inch apricot velvet band 
• PhD: Black mortarboard or black velvet tam, with tassel hanging to the right; black gown with open long sleeves and three black velvet chevrons on each sleeve. PhD hood

Ceremony Navigation and Parking

Due to the number of concurrent events, please allocate additional time for parking. Public Parking: Manning Lot and Craige Deck. View the map here.

Disability Parking

Disability parking will be available in the Williamson Lot (immediately across from Smith Center), with golf cart transportation to Entrance A. This lot requires a handicap tag or license plate for entry. Additionally, UNC bus transportation has handicap accomodations. View the map here.

Smith Center Entrances

• Students and guests enter via Entrance A 
• PhD, DNP, BSN graduates meet at Entrance C 
• MSN, PGC, ABSN graduates meet at Entrance B 

Clear Bag Policy

The clear bag policy will be enforced for all Commencement ceremonies in all venues. For more information on the clear bag policy and prohibited items, please check the Commencement website.