Commencement

Throw off your cap; it’s time to celebrate all your hard work!

Graduation is finally here - May 2 & 3, 2025

Graduation is just around the corner, and there’s a lot to do.  We'll do our best to make the process simple and easy, so you can focus on these last precious moments of college! From tickets for loved ones, to your cap and gown, to your diploma, UC is here to help you with it all. It’s time to get ready for the start of the rest of your life! After all, like the word “commencement” means, this isn’t the end – it's a brand-new beginning.

 

Friday, May 2
Graduate10:00 am
Graduate1:00 pm
Graduate4:00 pm

 

Saturday, May 3
Undergraduate10:00 am
Undergraduate1:00 pm
Undergraduate4:00 pm
Graduates celebrate following commencement services

Commencement Live Streams

Livestreams will be active closer to the event.

Graduation Day

Videos

Videos

We want you to be able to look back at your achievement, so recordings of the ceremony will be available for download and will be streamed on University of the Cumberlands’ Facebook page. Whether this marks your first degree or your third, graduation day is worth remembering.

Tickets

Tickets

After registering for a ceremony, undergraduate students will be directed to an online ticketing reservation system and can select up to 7 tickets for their event. Graduate students will not be required to request tickets for their guests. 

Campus Map

Campus Map

Use our Campus Map to find your parking spot as well as to direct your guests across campus. 

Information for Students

Information for Students

Participating in Commencement? Head to the volleyball gym/intramural gym no later than 45 minutes before your registered ceremony. You will be lined up prior to the procession into the O. Wayne Rollins Center, where you will be provided with more information.

Order Your Cap & Gown Today!

Travel Information

Travel Information

Directions

  • University of the Cumberlands is located off Exit 11 on Interstate 75.
  • If you're traveling south, at the end of the exit ramp, turn left. If you are traveling north (through Tennessee) on I-75, at the end of the exit ramp, turn right.
  • At the first traffic light, turn left onto 10th Street (KY 2386). 
  • Travel on 10th Street past the Cumberland Inn.
  • To get to campus, continue traveling on 10th Street. At the traffic light (directly in front of Williamsburg Independent Schools), turn right onto Main Street (KY 296).
  • As you proceed down Main Street, turn right into the main campus entrance. 
  • Staff will help direct guests to available parking areas. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Undergraduate Students:

You are eligible to walk in the 2025 graduation ceremonies if you successfully completed your degree in one of the following months:

  • July, August, October, or December 2024
  • March, May, June, or August 2025
  • or are at Senior standing by December of the fall term prior to commencement

For students enrolled in an education program, you are eligible to walk in the 2025 graduation ceremonies if you are completing your student teaching in the Fall 2025 term.

Graduate Students:

You are eligible to walk in the 2025 graduation ceremonies if you successfully completed your degree in one of the following months:

  • July, August, October, or December 2024
  • March or May 2025

*Candidates will be considered “graduated” when they have officially met all of the following:

  • have applied for graduation online by the posted semester deadline.
  • have completed all degree requirements.
  • have had final semester grades posted to their transcript.
  • have had their application approved by the Registrar.
  • Participating in the ceremony does not mean that a candidate has completed the requirements for graduation. 

 

  • Go to MyUC student portal 
  • Click on View Profile 
  • Go to Academics 
  • Click on Overview 
  • Under Educational Objective, if you have an application on file, it should show "pending completion" under status.
  • If you have questions, contact the Office of the Registrar.

May 2025

Yes, both undergraduate and graduate students must take two steps in order to participate in an in-person Commencement ceremony: 

  • Apply and be approved to graduate 
  • Register for a Commencement ceremony 

Please contact Academic Affairs for any date/time changes. Email academicaffairs [at] ucumberlands.edu (academicaffairs[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu) or call 606-539-4214.

All undergraduate students attending graduation services will need to reserve tickets for guests to attend Commencement. All graduating students will be sent an RSVP email from the registrar's office they will need to complete to select the ceremony they choose to attend. Undergraduate students will then be directed to a ticketing site to select seats for that ceremony. 

Yes, every person who enters must have a ticket, including children. Infants are the only exception. 

A digital copy of your diploma will be emailed to you during graduation weekend. A hard copy will be mailed to you. It should arrive approximately 4 weeks after graduation. 

After the first week of May is over, when your degree is awarded, you may order transcripts from the Registrar. 

The Office of the Registrar, located in the Gatliff Building, will have the honor stoles, tassels, and medallions ready for pickup on the Friday before undergraduate Commencement, as well as the Saturday of the ceremony. They will provide the items inside the volleyball gym/intramural gym, where you will be lining up prior to Commencement. Please arrive early to ensure time for parking, walking to the gym, and receiving the items associated with your honors.

All departmental award winners will be contacted by their respective academic departments for award distribution. This typically happens in the weeks leading up to Commencement.

Visit our campus bookstore webpage and navigate to the graduation tab.

Under “Caps, Gowns, and Announcements,” click on the Undergraduate, Master’s, or Doctoral Student link to purchase your regalia. 

Please use the address 6178 College Station Drive, Williamsburg, KY, in your map app for the most accurate directions. 

Once on campus: 
University employees will be stationed at key locations on campus to assist you with parking. Event signage is also in place around campus to direct you to the appropriate parking location. During graduation all lots are open for parking for guests. Please only park along streets were designated spaces have been provided. 

Handicapped parking for disabled individuals and those with mobility challenges is available near the O. Wayne Rollins Center on Walnut Street. University parking attendants can assist you in finding those spaces. 

If someone in your party needs accessible seating but you did not request it during the ticketing process, please get in touch with us at ucomm [at] ucumberlands.edu (ucomm[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu).

You can download a PDF of our campus map HERE or view a digital version of the map HERE to help direct you while on campus. 

The Boswell Campus Center is open during all graduation events and available for guests to relax, dine, or shop at the university bookstore. Please see below: 

Food Service Options:

  • Chick-fil-A & Tossed (Salads, Wraps, & Pizzas)
  • Cafeteria (located on Main Street)
    • Regular schedule until closing meal for dinner, Sunday, May 4

The Mid (2nd Floor of  Campus Center)

  • Live Stream of Commencement Ceremonies
  • Vending Machines
  • Water Fountain With Filter 
  • Bathrooms on the Top and Middle Floor

Campus Bookstore 

  • Friday, May 2nd, 8:30 am-5 pm
  • Saturday, May 3rd, 8:30 am-4 pm

Cumberland River Coffee

  • Friday, May 2, 9 am-3 pm
  • Saturday, May 3, 9 am-4 pm

To wear academic regalia correctly, start with the gown, ensuring sleeves are fully through and the back rests close to your neck. Then, place the hood over your head, with the velvet side showing, and secure it with the cord, potentially with assistance, and let the lining colors show. Finally, place the cap on with the tassel on the right. You will be instructed to move the tassel to the left side during the ceremony.  And, wear comfortable attire and shoes under yur cap and gown. We want you to look great for the big day, but to also be comfortable. Graduates will be standing in line for up to an hour prior to the start of the event. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

  • The Gown:
    • Slide your arms through the entire length of the sleeves, not the slits. 
    • Adjust the gown so it sits comfortably on your shoulders and rests close to the nape of your neck. 
    • Ensure the gown's length drapes down around mid-calf. 
       
  • The Hood:
    • For Masters and Doctoral Hoods:
      • Hold the hood with the velvet side up and the small tapered end in one hand. 
      • Place the hood over your head with the small tapered end at the front of your throat. 
      • Fasten or pin the hood to your shirt before closing your gown. 
      • Have someone assist you in arranging the hood so that the lining colors and chevron are visible. 
    • General Hood Instructions:
      • The velvet side of the hood should be showing, with the satin lining hidden. 
      • Swing the hood over your shoulders. 
      • The hood should be worn draped around your neck and around your shoulders with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back. 
      • Secure the hood so it doesn't slip off. 
         
  • The Cap:
    • Ensure the tassel is on the right side. 
    • Place the cap on your head with the small point going in front. 
       
  • Additional Tips:
    • Stole/Sash: If wearing a stole or sash, place it under the hood. 
    • Undergarments: Wear dark-colored clothing underneath the gown. 
    • Wrinkles: Hang your gown prior to wearing it to help remove some of the wrinkles. 
    • Assistance: You may need assistance with securing the hood or turning out the lining colors. 
    • Pinning: You may need to pin the hood to the gown to prevent it from falling down during the ceremony. 
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Welcome, newest alumnus!

Once you graduate, you automatically become a member of the UC Alumni Association, a network designed to help you keep in touch with your classmates, professors, and your alma mater as you journey through life! Find out what the Alumni Association ha

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A group of Graduate students entering during the processional at Commencement.