Commencement 2022
Queens’ 2022 Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 7th, at 9 a.m. on Hall Brown Terrace located behind Queens Hall.
Important Weather Announcement
We continue to monitor the weather and adjust plans for safety. At this time the Commencement
ceremony on Saturday, May 7th will proceed with being outdoors on the Hall Brown Terrace.
In the event that severe weather is detected in the area, we will pause the ceremony until it is safe to resume. Announcements
will be made from the podium with instructions on where to take shelter.
2022 Commencement Program
Sign the Shout-Out Wall!
Congratulate your favorite graduate or the entire class of 2022! Head to our new virtual shout-out wall, simply click "add a card" or "add an image" if you would like to include a photo,
write your message, and your post will appear live on the page within 24 hours!
All students who have completed academic requirements for their degree program are
expected to participate in the commencement ceremony. Any graduate who is not able
to attend their Commencement ceremony must notify the Registrar’s office as soon as
possible. Parking will open March 14th.
The seating area for guests opens at 7:30am and is first come, first served, but there
should be ample seating for all who choose to attend the ceremony. There is no smoking
(including e-cigs and vapes, etc...) allowed. No pets are allowed. We will be abiding
by all local health guidelines in effect for COVID-19 and reserve the right to enforce
any additional safety measures the University deems necessary. The ceremony is likely
to last approximately 2 hours.
A drop off point for guests with mobility impairments will be available at Evans Clock
Tower.
We would also like to reach out to all students, faculty, and staff to get your suggestions
on future commencement speakers. If you have an engaging speaker in mind, please
use the link below to tell us who and why. Please keep in mind this may not be for
the current commencement planning year. Thank you!
Commencement Speaker Suggestions
In Case of Rain
The ceremony will be held outdoors, rain or shine, unless there is sever inclement
weather. In case of sudden rain or lightning, students will seek shelter in Trexler
Student Center, all guests will seek shelter in either: Everett Library, Belk Chapel,
and the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation.
If weather conditions do not permit an outdoor ceremony, graduation exercises will
be held in Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation. Two rain tickets will be given
to each graduate from their Dean’s office mid April. Overflow seating with a closed-circuit
video feed of the ceremony will be available for those who do not have rain tickets.
The ceremony will also be broadcast live via YouTube.
Schedule of Events
Commencement Schedule
Friday, May 6th 10 a.m.
Sandra Levine Theatre
|
Presbyterian School of Nursing Blessing & Pinning Ceremony. Watch here.
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Friday, May 6th at 1 p.m.
Sandra Levine Theater
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CAS Awards. Watch here.
|
Friday, May 6th at 3 p.m.
Belk Chapel
|
Baccalaureate Ceremony. Watch here.
|
Friday, May 6th at 4 p.m.
Academic Quad
|
Graduation Reception
|
Saturday, May 7th at 9 a.m. Commencement
Hall Brown Terrace
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Commencement. Watch here.
All graduates should arrive for registration in the Levine Center for Health and Wellness
no later than 8:30 am
|
In lieu of an in-person rehearsal prior to commencement, we ask that all graduating
students watch the following rehearsal video here.
Click here for a campus map of commencement event locations.
Student Information
Name Pronunciation
In lieu of an in-person rehearsal this year we are creating a rehearsal video which
will be emailed out to you soon, as well as be posted on the Commencement page for
all graduates to watch prior to Commencement.
As we prepare and put together a wonderful program, we want to ensure the proper pronunciation
of each student's name. To successfully do this without hosting an in-person rehearsal,
we are asking all graduates to submit your name using the link below. The link below
will allow you to submit the alpha spelling, phonetic spelling, and an audio recording
of your name for the Deans to practice ahead of time. We are encouraging ALL graduates
to please complete this prior to April 15th.
Name Pronunciation Form
Academic Regalia
Caps and gowns should be ordered online at orderHJ.com/Queens before March 1. Please note this date has moved up from the date listed in the Almost Alumni mailer
so be sure to order soon. Email notifications will be sent when items are available for pickup at the bookstore.
If you ordered a gown for Fall Convocation, you do not need to order another gown—they are the same. Graduates will not be permitted to
participate in their commencement ceremony or Baccalaureate without a cap and gown.
Please contact the Queens Bookstore with any questions at 704-337-2413.
Underneath the cap and gown, graduates should wear a dark dress, skirt or trousers.
Dark shoes with flat bottoms are recommended. Corsages should be pinned to the gown.
Queens requires that all graduates be dressed appropriately in order to participate
in commencement exercises.
The hood is part of the master’s regalia package that is ordered at orderHJ.com/queens. Hoods will be worn throughout the ceremony.
Master’s level gowns are different in cut and style than undergraduate gowns, and
we expect all participants’ gowns to be consistent in style. If you will be receiving
a master’s degree and were considering borrowing a gown from someone or wearing your
undergraduate gown, please reconsider. If your gown is not similar to the standard
gown our graduate students wear, you will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.
The Bookstore will have an extremely limited number of extra caps and gowns on hand
for emergency purchases on the day of the ceremony.
Under the gown, a dress, skirt, or dark slacks/dress pants and dark shoes are appropriate
attire. PLEASE do not wear heels, as they will sink into the lawn. Flats or shoes
with a solid bottom, such as wedges will be more comfortable (and less dangerous on
the grass!).
Graduate Students
Please watch the video on how to wear your hood here.
Stoles, Cords and Caps
Undergraduate students who earn Latin honors (based on their GPA), will be given a
cord to wear. Questions about qualifications for Latin honors should be directed to
the Registrar’s Office.
Queens values both the academic and extracurricular accomplishments of our students
and will allow regalia that is representative of both academic and nonacademic endeavors
if they are part of a national organization that offers cords and stoles for sale
to students.
For example, athletics is part of the NCAA, which supports the representation of athletics
through specific cords, and the Black Student Association also is part of a national
organization that is represented with a certain stole at many colleges and universities.
Greek Life, as well, offers cords to sororities and fraternities, nationally and internationally.
Homemade, nonrecognized apparel is not permitted. No part of the regalia should be
distracting or disrespectful to the occasion. That includes caps if the decoration
is not distracting or disrespectful, it will be allowed within reason. Decoration
of caps should not be three dimensional. Students will be responsible for the purchase
of their own nonacademic cords and stoles. Contact your organization's advisor for
information on availability of cords for your group.
Commencement Speaker
We are pleased to announce the return of the on-campus commencement! This year's ceremony
will not include an outside keynote speaker in order to offer more time to celebrate
the Class of 2022, who during more than half of their college experience, have persevered
through unprecedented challenges. President Dan Lugo will offer congratulatory remarks
to recognize the extraordinary achievements of the Class of 2022.
Graduation Photos
A professional photographer will take a photo of each graduate. A free color proof
will be mailed to your current mailing address, including a password for online viewing.
You are under no obligation to purchase prints. To receive an email notification the
moment your photos are online, please visit www.photospecialties.com to preregister.
If you do not receive a proof within a week of the ceremony, please contact info@photospecialties.com or call 1-800-722-7033.
Guest & Visitor Information
Student & Guests with Special Needs
Graduates who need accommodations for ceremony participation should contact Jess Capobianco
at sashelp@queens.edu or (704) 337-2508 before April 23rd.
A drop off point for guests with mobility impairments will be available at Evans Clock
Tower. An interpreter will be available at the ceremony, and seats will be reserved
in close proximity for guests who are hearing impaired. Please note that we do not
provide wheelchairs for guests.
Parking Registration
View Parking Map Here
Graduates will have reserved parking in the Byrum Parking Deck and will be provided
with a parking pass via email in late April. All guest vehicles, however, must be
pre-registered for parking in other lots. To supplement our campus parking, several
nearby parking lots will be utilized with shuttles to transport guests to/from the
campus. All on-campus and off-campus lots for guests will require registration.
Each graduate is allowed up to two vehicle registrations.
Parking registration will begin March 14th and run through April 22nd
Parking Registration Link
Note that the Evans Clock Tower Lot is for guests with handicapped parking placards.
This lot may also be used as a drop off point for any guest with mobility impairments.
Shuttles from off-campus lots are not ADA accessible.
Consider Alternative Transportation
We strongly encourage carpooling; also, using Lyft or Uber is another great option.
The drop off point for Uber, Lyft, taxis, etc. is Evans Clock Tower. Lots will open
at 7 a.m. the audience seating area at Hall Brown Terrace opens at 7:30 a.m. and
shuttles to remote lots will run continuously until 2 p.m. Please allow plenty of
time for parking and transportation to campus.
Parking Questions
Please call Campus Police at (704) 337-2306 or email parking@queens.edu if you have any questions.
Tickets
Tickets are not required for commencement unless weather does not permit an outdoor
ceremony. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors at
the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation. Seating is not assigned and is on a
first come, first serve basis for those with tickets. Overflow seating with a closed
circuit monitor will be available on campus for others who do not have a rain ticket.
The ceremony will also be broadcast live via YouTube.
Rain tickets will be available for undergraduate students to pick up from their Dean’s
office in April. Tickets for masters degree graduates will be mailed in April. Two
tickets will be issued per graduate.
Commencement Contacts
McColl School of Business
Pam Reid, Office Manager, MSB
704-337-2377
reidp@queens.edu
Cato School of Education
Somer Saunders, Recruiter/Student Support Specialist
704-337-2580
saunderss@queens.edu
College of Arts and Sciences
Shannon Bray, Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies
704-688-2866
brays@queens.edu