Graduate Ceremony Details

Ceremony

Graduate Commencement
Master and Doctoral degrees (including Doctoral hooding)
Friday, May 17, 2024
3:00 p.m. Ceremony begins
1:30 p.m. Doors open for guest seating and graduate/faculty arrival
Pinnacle Bank Arena
400 Pinnacle Arena Drive, Lincoln, NE 68508

The ceremony is expected to last 2 hours

Permitted Items

Seating map will be published prior to ceremony.

Graduate Arrival on Friday, May 17, 2024

Prior to Friday, May 17 please confirm you have all your regalia items: your cap with tassel, gown and hood. If you are missing any items, visit the University Bookstore in the Nebraska Union on city campus no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16. For questions, contact the bookstore at (402) 472-7300.

Arrival instructions on Friday, May 17:

  • 1:30 p.m. Graduates begin check-in at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
  • Graduates must be checked-in no later than 2:20 p.m. for the 3:00 p.m. ceremony.
  • Please bring your NCard for check-in. If you do not have an NCard, please bring a photo form of ID and your NU ID number.
  • You will be given a name/number card at check-in to find your place in the processional line up. Please bring this card to the stage with you to receive your diploma.
  • Please arrive wearing your regalia. Master students should wear their hoods. Doctoral students will carry hoods to be donned on stage. Graduate students who have been awarded fellowship medallions are encouraged to wear them at commencement.
  • We recommend leaving any personal items, such as coats and bags, with family and friends. They can not go in with you to the ceremony. We are not responsible for lost items. Children may sit with your family but may not be with you in the graduate seating area on the arena floor.
  • Permitted item policies must be followed for all graduates and guests in attendance.
  • You will be issued a name/number card at check-in to find your place in the processional lineup. Keep this card and bring it with you to present to the staff assisting the reader so your name may be announced as you receive your diploma.
  • Accommodations: The university is committed to full access and reasonable accommodation for all who participate in commencement events.
    • If you are a graduate with a permanent or temporary disability and need assistance during the ceremony, please contact the Office of the University Registrar by Friday, April 19. You can reach us by email at gradservices.registrar@unl.edu.
    • American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation: Graduates requesting ASL interpreters for commencement should email us at gradservices.registrar@unl.edu by Friday, April 19. Open captioning will be provided on the arena screens.

Register To Attend

Do current May 2024 graduating students need to sign up to attend the May 17 commencement ceremony?
  • Yes.
  • On Friday, April 5, students will receive a notification at their @huskers.unl.edu email account from the Office of the University Registrar requesting them to complete the Commencement and Diploma Form in MyRED. Students need to log into MyRED and complete the MyRED To-Dos, including the Commencement and Diploma Form.
  • The Commencement Attendance form registration will open open April 5 and close April 19.
  • Juris Doctorate students should contact Katie Pfannenstiel in the College of Law to register to register to attend College of Law commencement on May 3, 2024. Contact Katie at kabp@unl.edu or 402-472-8382.
  • Doctoral degree participants must invite one faculty advisor/mentor to be seated on the arena floor and escort them to the stage for hooding. Doctoral participants should have already completed the Hooding Participation Form. If that has not been completed, please do so now. Doctoral students will still need to complete the Commencement Diploma form in MyRED.
  • Doctoral degree candidates should direct degree completion questions to Eva Bachman at ebachman1@unl.edu in Graduate Studies.
  • Master degree candidates should direct any questions to Terri Eastin, teastin1@unl.edu in Graduate Studies.

Cap and Gown 

To participate in commencement ceremonies, every graduate is required to wear UNL academic regalia. 

  • Master degree students will purchase and keep their cap, tassel, gown and hood.
  • Juris Doctorate students should contact Katie Pfannenstiel in the College of Law to order their regalia. Contact Katie at kabp@unl.edu or 402-472-8382.
  • Doctoral students will rent UNL branded gowns and hoods; they will purchase and keep their cap or tam and tassel. For doctoral graduates ordering regalia from the Herff Jones website, the vendor will supply you with a return box, prepaid mailing label and return information for the gown and hood. Doctoral students are strongly encouraged to order online through Herff Jones.
  • For doctoral graduates ordering regalia from the Herff Jones vendor website, the vendor will supply doctoral students with a return box, prepaid mailing label and return information for the gown and hood. Doctoral graduates who pick up their regalia at Gradfest or the bookstore will receive return instructions from the bookstore.
  • If you are a doctoral graduate who would like to purchase and own custom academic regalia, please click on the "purchase fine quality doctor regalia" on the Herff Jones. online ordering site.

Distinction Medals

  • Graduate students who have been awarded fellowship medallions are encouraged to wear them at commencement.

Additional Information

How do I order my regalia for the Graduate Commencement?

There are several options for ordering academic regalia for May 2024 commencement. Whichever option you choose, all academic attire must be in hand by 5:00 pm Thursday, May 16 unless other arrangements have been made with the bookstore.

Option #1 (Recommended)

Order and purchase online through UNL vendor, Herff Jones.

  • To order and pay online for your regalia go to: the Herff Jones website.
  • Herff Jones will ship directly to the student-provided address, with delivery prior to commencement. International orders will be accepted, but shipping costs and deliveries may vary.
  • Herff Jones will accept regular, online shipment orders until Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Orders placed after this date may incur additional fees. The late order site with expedited shipping will be open until May 3, 2024.
  • April 17 is the final deadline for domestic (U.S.) home shipment and the final closing date for online ordering. Please contact Herff Jones about international deliveries.

Option #2 (Recommended)

Attend Gradfest in person at the Wick Alumni Center (1520 R St, Lincoln, NE 68508) on Tuesday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Wednesday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • No pre-ordering required.
  • Pay for and receive academic regalia that day.
  • Graduate receives regalia at Gradfest.

Option #3

  • After Gradfest, and once the Herff Jones website ordering is closed, caps and gowns can be purchased at the University Bookstore in the lower level of the Nebraska Union, City Campus.
What is Gradfest?

Gradfest is a celebration event sponsored by the Nebraska Alumni Association. For May 2024 commencement, Gradfest will take place:

Tuesday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Wednesday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wick Alumni Center (1520 R St, Lincoln, NE 68508)

Details will also be sent via email to all graduates and posted on the Nebraska Alumni Association website.

At Gradfest students can:

  • Pick up and pay for commencement regalia in person.
  • Purchase a diploma frame, class ring and other memorabilia.
  • Learn about the Nebraska Alumni Association membership.
  • Register to win prizes such as a diploma frame.
  • Celebrate achievement.

Details will also be sent via email to all graduates and posted on the Nebraska Alumni Association website.

Diplomas
  • All participating May 2024 graduates will receive their individual diplomas when crossing the stage. To facilitate this process, it is imperative that you arrive on time (no later than 2:20 p.m.) and stay in your assigned place in line.
What to expect during the ceremony
  • Once checked in, you will be directed to line up in number order based on the card you received. University Marshals will ensure all graduates are in the correct order.
  • The ceremony will begin with graduates, faculty and staff processing into the arena to their seats.
  • When diploma distribution begins, all students will process to the stage as directed by the University Marshals. Please take your name/number card with you.
  • Marshals will direct you to proceed across the stage to receive your diploma and congratulations from the Chancellor or Graduate Dean, and then exit via the ramp and return to your seat.
  • Professional photographers will be taking pictures as you cross the stage. They will ask you to pause at the bottom of the ramp for a photo of you holding your diploma.
  • Do not turn your tassel while crossing the stage. All graduates will be directed to turn their tassels as a group near the end of the ceremony.
  • For the courtesy of all participants, we ask that you stay for the entire ceremony.

Guests and Entering the Arena

  • Tickets are not required for guests and there is no limit to the number of guests for each graduate.
  • Doors open to public at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17 for the Graduate Ceremony,
  • Accommodations: The university is committed to full access and reasonable accommodation for all who participate in commencement events.
    • Seating Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible seating with one companion seat for commencement guests is available in sections 106, 107, 110, 112, 114, 117 and 118 on the main concourse level of the Pinnacle Bank Arena. Pre-registration is not required.
  • Permitted item policies must be followed.
    • Cameras are permitted, but camera cases are not allowed under the clear bag policy.
    • Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
  • Guests are not allowed on the arena floor.
  • Representatives from the American Red Cross are present at UNL commencement and are located on Level 3 at Gate 112. If you need additional assistance or have questions about seating, please see an arena usher.
  • Concessions will be open during the ceremony serving: coffee, water and soft drinks.

Will Commencement Be Streamed Live?

  • Yes. For guests not able to join in person, commencement will be streamed live on the Commencement website.
  • The streaming will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.

Parking

  • Paid parking is available at city Park&Go parking garages and metered street parking around Pinnacle Bank Arena (PBA).
  • R Street in front of the Pinnacle Bank Arena will be open for drop off for accessible needs guests.
  • Accessible parking is available in the paid city parking garages and the paid premium garage attached to Pinnacle Bank Arena.
  • Download a Parking Map

Photography

  • After check-in and before the ceremony starts, students have the opportunity for a portrait photo taken by GradImages Photography.
  • Every student crossing the stage during the ceremony will be photographed by GradImages Photography. Photographs will be available to view and order within one week after the ceremony. To order, go to the Grad Images website.
  • For additional help, call GradImages customer service department at 800-261-2576 or email giservice@gradimages.net.
  • Pre-register before commencement to save on your commencement photos.

Pre-Order Flowers for Your Graduate

  • Pre-order flowers online for your graduate by 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.
  • All online orders will be available for pickup on-site the day of graduation. To retrieve your order for the ceremony, please stop by the commencement flower booth located conveniently in the south lobby of Pinnacle Bank Arena.
  • If you are unable to pre-order, flowers will also be available to purchase on-site the day of the ceremony at the commencement flower booth.