Commencement Information

Congratulations! The Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024, in the Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center Sports Arena at 10:00 a.m.  The ceremony will recognize our graduating undergraduate-level students for the Spring 2024 semester.

For our Undergraduate Students:

If you have decided not to attend the ceremony at 10:00 a.m., please email robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

Checking In for the Ceremony

Wristbands are required for guest entry.

Each graduating student will receive five (5) wristbands for their guests to use for entry into the arena.

Please remind your guests that they must have their wristbands on when they come on campus on Saturday morning!

Children will not be permitted to sit on laps or stairs.  All children must occupy a seat in the arena. All guests must go through the front entrance of the Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center.

Our ADA-accessible entrance is located to the left of the main entrance for our guests who wish to use it.

ADA Access and Seating

Signage will be posted to lead guests to this entrance. A person who would like accessibility support will have seating available in the upper portion of the arena at the main doors. This section will be marked for easy access.

Please let your guests know that only one other guest can be seated with a guest who is using accessibility support to ensure we have enough seating in this area.

If your guests need help with seating, please advise them to speak with one of our volunteers working at the event.

Graduates must check in at the Gorman Hall hallway (pool hallway/locker hallway) and enter on the riverside/back lawn of campus near the Morrison Fitness Center or through the first-floor entrance under the front Innovation Center stairs if it is raining. Signage will be posted to lead you to the check-in area. All graduates will be assigned a seat upon check-in.

If there is time and you would like an individual portrait taken, the photographer will be set up in the check-in area to take photos before the ceremony. They will also be set up in the Rotunda following the ceremony for individual and family portraits.

Please see the information below about registering for your portrait.

All students must be checked in and seated by 9:30 a.m. for the ceremony.

If you are not seated by this time, you will be removed from the attending list!

NO EXCEPTIONS!

Regalia

Every student must be wearing their regalia (cap and gown) when they check in.

Students may decorate their graduation caps. Please keep decorations tasteful, neat, and family-friendly.

The dress for the event is business casual/professional.

The Day of the Ceremony

Doors will open at 9:00 a.m. for guests. Plenty of on-campus parking will be available for our graduates and their guests.

Personal Belongings

Please be sure to leave your personal belongings in a safe place.  Please leave them with your guest(s), family member, or someone you trust.  We cannot house personal items at the ceremony.

Notecards

A notecard will be placed in your seat with a commencement program at the ceremony.

You must hold on to this note card during the ceremony!

You will give this card to the provost when you step on stage so they can call your name. Some cards will have your name written phonetically for the provost to say it correctly from the pronunciation provided to him. If you want to send in a phonetic spelling of your name for your note card, please send it to robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

Conferring of the Degrees

When the provost announces that they will begin the conferring of degrees, please pay attention, and stand at the appropriate time. An email notification was sent to you last week letting you know what your degree level is. Please pay attention to this portion of the ceremony!

• Students graduating with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree are students who are graduating from a two-year program.

• Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree are students who are graduating from a four-year program.

• If you are unsure about your degree and/or program, please contact robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

Walking Across the Stage

Make sure you bring your notecard with you when the Presentation of the Graduates begins and you start to process to the stage with the Grand Marshal.

You will walk across up the stairs where the stage coordinator is standing, stand on the third step and hand the provost your notecard.

When the provost calls your name, you will then walk across the stage, receive congratulations and your diploma cover from the President.

You will then process down the right side of the stage and arena, go through the aisle between the last row of graduate seating and the front row of the faculty, and then back down the left side of the of the arena to your seat.

Do not walk through the chairs or in any other direction back to your seat.

Exiting the Arena After Graduation

All students must leave the arena when the designated Marshal approaches your row. You will exit from the Innovation Center doors leading to the Clay Tower Building or through the back of the gym. Do this quickly after your Marshal has excused your row.

Do not stop for photos, to find your guests, or for any other reason except for an emergency.  All foot traffic must exit the arena ASAP!

Commencement Reception

A reception for the graduating class will be held in The Rotunda of Riggleman Hall (2^nd floor) immediately after the commencement ceremony.

Photographs

Professional photographers will be at the ceremony to take each student’s photos. When the student’s name is called, they will approach the stage and walk across it to a marked space for a photo with President Roth.

Bruce Heflin Photography will be on campus during the school specific events on Friday, and during the receptions on Saturday.  Please see the information below to sign up for graduation pictures!

Navigating the Main Campus, Parking, and the Charleston Area

Campus, parking maps, directions for moving about campus, and information about the Charleston area are available on our website using this link: https://www.ucwv.edu/campus-visits/.

Our Coffee Tavern will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Livestream

We will provide a livestream of the ceremony as well as a virtual recognition video of all UC graduates. The livestream will be available on the UC Facebook page, UC YouTube page, or by visiting the UC website on the day of the event.  The virtual recognition video will be available indefinitely on the UC YouTube page after the event.

Where can I purchase UC gear?

Our campus bookstore will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We offer an online store! Please use this link http://www.ucwv.edu/uc-life/bookstore/.

Who can I contact for additional information?

For any additional questions or inquiries, please send an email to robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

We are very excited to be celebrating this special day with you and your guests!

Congratulations! The Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024, in the Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center Sports Arena at 1:00 p.m.  The ceremony will recognize our graduating graduate level students for the Spring 2024 semester.

For our Graduate Students:

If you have decided not to attend the ceremony at 1:00 p.m., please email robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

Checking In for the Ceremony

Wristbands will not be required for guest entry to the 1:00 p.m. ceremony.

Children will not be permitted to sit on laps or stairs.  All children must occupy a seat in the arena. All guests must go through the front entrance of the Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center.

For our guests who wish to use our ADA-accessible entrance, it is located to the left of the main entrance.

ADA Access and Seating

Signage will be posted to lead guests to this entrance. A person who would like accessibility support will have seating available in the upper portion of the arena at the main doors. This section will be marked for easy access.

Please let your guests know that only one other guest can be seated with a guest who is using accessibility support to ensure we have enough seating in this area.

If your guests need help with seating, please advise them to speak with one of our volunteers working at the event.

Graduates must check in at the Gorman Hall hallway (pool hallway/locker hallway) and enter on the river side/back lawn of campus near the Morrison Fitness Center or through the first-floor entrance under the front Innovation Center stairs if it is raining. Signage will be posted to lead you to the check-in area. All graduates will be assigned a seat upon check-in.

 All students must be checked in and seated by 12:30 p.m. for the ceremony.

If there is time and you would like an individual portrait taken, the photographer will be set up in the check-in area to take photos before the ceremony. They will also be set up in the Rotunda following the ceremony for individual and family portraits.

Please see the information below about registering for your portrait.

If you are not seated by this time, you will be removed from the attending list!

NO EXCEPTIONS!

Regalia

Every student must be wearing their regalia (cap and gown) when they check in. Also, graduates will need to wear their hood with their cap and gown.

Students may decorate their graduation caps. Please keep decorations tasteful, neat, and family-friendly.

The dress for the event is business casual/professional.

If you did not order your regalia within the timeframe allowed, you have received notification that you have been removed from the attending list for commencement.

The Day of the Ceremony

Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. for guests. Plenty of on-campus parking will be available for our graduates and their guests.

Personal Belongings

Please be sure to leave your personal belongings in a safe place.  Please leave them with your guest(s), family member, or someone you trust.  We cannot house personal items at the ceremony.

Notecards

A notecard will be placed in your seat with a commencement program at the ceremony.

You must hold on to this note card during the ceremony!

You will give this card to the provost when you step on stage so they can call your name. Some cards will have your name written phonetically for the provost to say it correctly from the pronunciation provided to him by either you, your advisor, program director, and/or dean. If you want to send in a phonetic spelling of your name for your note card, please send it to robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

Conferring of the Degrees

When the provost announces that they will begin the conferring of degrees, please pay attention, and stand at the appropriate time.

Walking Across the Stage

Make sure you bring your notecard with you when the Presentation of the Graduates begins, and you start to process to the stage with the Grand Marshal.

You will walk across up the stairs where the stage coordinator is standing, stand on the third step and hand the provost your notecard.

When the provost calls your name, you will then walk across the stage, receive congratulations and your diploma cover from the President.

You will then process down the right side of the arena, go through the aisle between the last row of graduate seating and the front row of the faculty, and then back down the left side of the of the arena to your seat.

Do not walk through the chairs or in any other direction back to your seat.

Exiting the Arena After Graduation

All students must leave the arena when the designated Marshal approaches your row. You will exit from the Innovation Center doors leading to the Clay Tower Building or through the back of the gym. Do this quickly after your Marshal has excused your row.

Do not stop for photos, to find your guests, or for any other reason except for an emergency.  All foot traffic must exit the arena ASAP!

Commencement Reception

A reception for the graduating class will be held in The Rotunda of Riggleman Hall (2^nd floor) immediately after the commencement ceremony.

Photographs

Professional photographers will be at the ceremony to take each student’s photos. When the student’s name is called, they will approach the stage and walk across it to a marked space for a photo with President Roth.

Bruce Heflin Photography will be on campus during the school-specific events on Friday and the commencement on Saturday. Please see the information below for more information about graduation pictures.

Navigating the Main Campus, Parking, and the Charleston Area

Campus, parking maps, directions for moving about campus, and information about the Charleston area are available on our website using this link: https://www.ucwv.edu/campus-visits/.

Our Coffee Tavern will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Livestream

We will provide a livestream of the ceremony as well as a virtual recognition video of all UC graduates. The livestream will be available on the UC Facebook page, UC YouTube page, or by visiting the UC website on the day of the event.  The virtual recognition video will be available indefinitely on the UC YouTube page after the event.

Where can I purchase UC gear?

Our campus bookstore will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We offer an online store! Please use this link http://www.ucwv.edu/uc-life/bookstore/.

Who can I contact for additional information?

For any additional questions or inquiries, please send an email to robertelmore@ucwv.edu.

We are very excited to be celebrating this special day with you and your guests!

Dear Graduate and family:

Bruce Heflin Photography will be taking pictures at your commencement and other graduation events. At the Commencement, each graduate is photographed receiving his or her diploma. A picture will also be taken of them individually holding their diploma.

Before and after the ceremony, photographers will be roaming around taking candid pictures of the graduates with their families and friends.

Here is how our new service works. Click on the link below to register for pictures. This works with any cell phone. It will give you instructions once you are on the app. Graduates can register anytime between now and graduation day.

When asked to upload a picture, it is easiest to just take a selfie. (Selfie of the graduate) We recommend not using emails with EDU. They sometimes will not handle the large image files and usually send messages to Spam.

We will also make the QR code available when they check in for the ceremony graduation day. You can list up to 14 cell phone numbers or emails.  The images will be sent to all of them at the same time. This will happen in one of two ways. The images are sent as soon as they are taken. (Provided there are no problems with connections to the internet). The second way is they are sent out immediately after the ceremony.

We hope this new program will enhance our service to you and your families. No one is under any obligation to purchase anything.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office. 614-478-5345 or brucelheflin@gmail.com

Register for Graduation Photographs