Carolina Nursing 2027 Spring Commencement

May 7, 2027, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Dean E. Smith Center

Celebrating graduates from August 2025, December 2026, May 2027 and August 2027!

Reception at 5:00 p.m.
Kenan Center | 360 Kenan Center Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

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

Reception

Location: Kenan Center – 360 Kenan Center Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

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. There will be limited seating available.

This will be an open-house style reception with grab-and-go refreshments available. Please note that the refreshments offered are not intended to replace a full meal and that graduates and their families are encouraged to eat dinner beforehand.

Directions to the Kenan Center: After parking in the S11 Skipper Bowles Lot, make your way to the elevator at the bottom of the School of Business Parking Deck. Take the elevator to the 6th floor and walk across the walkway to the Kenan Center entrance. There will be signs and balloons to help direct you. Click here for a detailed map.

Tickets + –

Invitations + –

Student Registration + –

Regalia + –

Full academic regalia is required for all participants and will be available through UNC Student Stores starting March 2026

- 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. The S11 Skipper Bowles Lot will be open to the public for commencement activities. Enter 100 Skipper Bowles Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 in your GPS to get directions to the Dean E. Smith Center which is located next to the S11 Skipper Bowles Lot. Additional public parking is available in the 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.

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