Commencement Information
Spring 2024 Commencement
We congratulate our Spring 2024 graduates, and we are excited to celebrate their hard work on Saturday, April 27.
Graduates will represent the university’s Charleston, Beckley, and online programs and its five distinct schools: School of Arts & Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, School of Business, and School of Leadership.
Ceremony Information
Saturday, April 27, 2023, Wehrle Athletic Arena
The undergraduate ceremony is at 10:00 a.m., and the graduate ceremony is at 1:00 p.m.
There will be a reception in the Rotunda in Riggleman Hall following each graduation ceremony. Graduates, families, and friends are welcome to join us in celebrating the big day.
Information about attending the ceremonies
For our Guests
There will be volunteers on hand to help you find parking and get to the ceremony. Campus, parking maps, directions for moving about campus, and information about the Charleston area are available on our website at: https://www.ucwv.edu/campus-visits/
Doors open one hour before the ceremony begins (9:00 a.m. for undergraduates, 12:00 p.m. for graduate students). Guests will need to have wristbands to attend the undergraduate ceremony. Please enter at the front entrance of the Innovation Center.
The UC Bookstore and Coffee Tavern, located on the first floor of the Geary Student Union, will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the day of graduation.
Signs will be posted to help guests find the entrance and seating for those who need accessibility support. The seating will be marked for easy access, and UC volunteers will also be present to help. Our ADA-accessible entrance is located to the left of the main entrance.
Children are not permitted to sit on laps or stairs. All children must occupy a seat in the arena.
Guests are asked to remain seated during the ceremony.
Photographs
Professional photographers will be at the ceremony to take individual photos. There will be a photo taken with President Roth as students accept their diplomas on stage. The photographer will also be set up to take individual portraits before the ceremony in the check-in area and in the Rotunda following each ceremony.
The photographer will contact students with their photo proofs.
After the Ceremony
Guests are asked to stay in their seats until the stage party and students have exited, then exit the arena as quickly as possible. Weather permitting, we encourage you to take photos on the riverbank to remember the day.
For All Graduating Students
If you have decided not to attend graduation, please send an email with your intention not to attend to robertelmore@ucwv.edu.
Checking In for the Ceremony
Wristbands are required for guest entry to the undergraduate ceremony. Each graduating student will receive five (5) wristbands for their guests to use for entry into the arena. Wristbands will be handed out or mailed to students during the Grad Salute.
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.
Once you check in, if there is time, you can have an individual portrait taken by a photographer in the hall by the check in area. The photographer will also be set up to take individual portraits in the Rotunda after the ceremony.
All students must be checked in and seated by 9:30 a.m. for the undergraduate ceremony.
If you are not seated by this time, you will be removed from the attending list!
NO EXCEPTIONS!
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 that 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.
If your guests need help with seating, please advise them to speak with one of our volunteers working at the event.
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 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 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.
- Students graduating with an Associate in 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 exit the stage and return to your seat through the row between the graduate seating and faculty seating.
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 (2nd 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. Prior to the ceremony, students can have individual portraits done in the hallway after they check in. There will also be a photographer in the Rotunda after the ceremony to take individual photos as well.
A photo package will be sent to each student photographed for purchase.
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/.
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?
The Bookstore will be open on graduation day from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. We also 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!
Checking In for the Ceremony
Wristbands will not be required for guest entry to the 1:00 p.m. ceremony.
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.
Once you check in, if there is time, you can have an individual portrait taken by a photographer in the hall by the check in area. The photographer will also be set up to take individual portraits in the Rotunda after the ceremony.
All students must be checked in and seated by 12:30 p.m. for the graduate ceremony.
If you are not seated by this time, you will be removed from the attending list!
NO EXCEPTIONS!
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 that 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. Anyone 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.
If your guests need help with seating, please advise them to speak with one of our volunteers working at the event.
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 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 exit the stage, walk back through the row between the graduate seating and faculty seating and back 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 will be held in The Rotunda of Riggleman Hall (2nd 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.
Prior to the ceremony, students can have individual portraits done in the hallway after they check in. There will also be a photographer in the Rotunda after the ceremony to take individual photos as well.
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/.
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?
The Bookstore will be open on graduation day from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. We also 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!