Eligibility
Participation in the May 2020 Commencement ceremony is open to students who are completing degree requirements in May 2020 or who completed degree requirements in August 2019 or December 2019. Students who will complete requirements for the degree by August 2020 are eligible to petition to participate in the May 2020 Commencement ceremony. Information about eligibility and the request to petition are available through the Office of the Registrar after April 1.

Graduation Events

Friday, May 8, 2020

Class Day
4 p.m. – Johnson Hall Courtyard

The Class Day Picnic will immediately follow the ceremony in the Belk Courtyard. (Tickets required. Information about attending the picnic will be sent to the families of seniors in early April).

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Graduate Hooding Ceremony
11 a.m. – Jones Auditorium
A joint ceremony will be held for graduates of all of Meredith’s master’s degree programs. Graduate students are still encouraged to attend Commencement.

Baccalaureate Worship Service
3 p.m. – Jones Auditorium
Speaker: Meredith College Chaplain Donna Battle

Baccalaureate is a celebration and spiritual reflection for graduates as they transition from their college years to the next phase of life. Members of the Class of 2020 will participate in their academic regalia and should arrive no later than one hour prior to the event start. A special invitation is extended to families and guests, faculty, and staff to join graduates for this service.

Commencement
8 p.m. – Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State University

Reynolds Coliseum’s Grand Lobby Doors will open for families and guests of graduates at 7 p.m. Graduates should arrive at Reynolds Coliseum no later than 7 p.m. and enter through the first floor East Lobby entrance. 

Ticketing Distribution
Each guest is required to have a ticket in order to attend Meredith’s 2020 commencement ceremony. Each graduate will receive seven tickets for guests. Ticket distribution will be held on campus the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday prior to commencement. The exact time and location of the distribution will be announced via email from the Registrar. Graduates must pick up tickets in person; CamCard identification will be required.

Students who need fewer than seven tickets are encouraged to offer their additional tickets to classmates who would like to have more than their allotment.

Alternate Viewing Options – Live Feeds
In an effort to make this special event accessible to all, two alternate viewing options will be offered for the commencement ceremony. A live feed of the ceremony will be available in Jones Auditorium on the Meredith College campus. Tickets are not needed for the alternate viewing location. Doors will open for the live feed  in Jones Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Live streaming will also be available via the internet. To watch the live stream of the ceremony online, visit youtube.com/MeredithCollegeLive at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2020.

Name Pronunciation Hotline
In an effort to ensure each graduate’s name is pronounced correctly, Meredith offers a name pronunciation hotline. To use the hotline, dial (919) 760-2020 and leave a message stating the correct pronunciation of your first, middle and last names. Please make sure to speak slowly and clearly, and leave a call back number for verification and questions. The name pronunciation hotline will be open until noon on Friday, May 8.

Attire for Commencement
Commencement is a formal occasion. It is recommended that women wear a dress or skirt, shorter than the gown, or wear black dress pants. It is recommended that men wear black dress pants. Comfortable, black dress shoes should be worn by both women and men. Personal possessions (such as purses) should be left with a family member.

Caps, Gowns, and Hoods
Caps, gowns, and graduate degree hoods will be available for purchase in the Campus Store beginning in February until Commencement weekend. Should you have questions about caps and gowns, contact the Campus Store at (919) 760-8545.

In keeping with the formality of the occasion, please be sure to zip your gown before crossing the stage.

Undergraduate students wear a maroon gown and maroon mortarboard.

The tassel worn pertains to the academic degree being received: Bachelor of Arts, black tassel; Bachelor of Music, pink tassel; Bachelor of Science, gold tassel; Bachelor of Social Work, white tassel. Undergraduate students in regalia wear the tassel on the right side of the mortarboard. During the Commencement ceremony the students change the tassel to the left side, signifying they have earned their degrees. Undergraduate students may decorate the top of the mortarboard.

Many participants wear international flag patches, which are worn by students, faculty, and staff who have lived, studied, or done research abroad, including international students and faculty. These patches are the only embellishments permitted on the commencement gowns. Graduates may not embroider or otherwise decorate their gowns.

Graduate students wear a black gown, undecorated black mortarboard, black tassel and a hood. Hoods, which are given during the Graduate Hooding Ceremony, reflect the color of the academic discipline: Business, drab; Education, light blue; Nutrition, gold; Psychology, gold. Graduate students in regalia wear the tassel on the left side of the mortarboard as they have already graduated (earned the undergraduate degree). They do not change the tassel during the Commencement ceremony.

Account Balances
All unpaid balances on accounts for members of the Class of 2020 must be settled with the Accounting Office. Failure to do so by April 15, 2020, will delay graduates in receiving diplomas and the processing of transcripts. Graduates who need to pay after that date will need to pay by cash or cashier’s check to guarantee clearance for graduation.

Announcements and Invitations for Graduation
Announcements can be ordered online at Balfour.com by searching under Meredith College.

Invitations can be purchased from the Campus Store beginning the second week of April.

Photographs
Photo Specialties, located in Chapel Hill, N.C., will be the professional photographers for Commencement. A photo will be taken of each graduate as the president presents diplomas. A proof will be mailed to each participating graduate. However, there is no obligation to purchase photos. After Commencement, questions should be addressed directly to Photo Specialties at (919) 967-9576.

DVDs of Class Day and Commencement
Meredith College Media Services will produce a DVD of the 2020 Class Day and Commencement. If you would like to purchase a DVD of Class Day/Commencement, then please fill out the order form. You must complete this form to reserve a DVD in your name. Each DVD copy is $25.

If you are picking up your DVD(s) in person, please bring your cash or check(s) to Media Services in the Carlyle Campbell Library. If you are unable to pay in person and are requesting for your DVD(s) to be shipped, you must mail in a check or bring one to the library. The Library will ONLY be accepting cash if you bring it to them in person as they will not accept cash by mail. Please mail your check(s) to:

Media Services – Carlyle Campbell Library
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607

Checks should be made out to Meredith College.