Graduate Ceremony FAQs

• Jenkins MBA graduating students should go to the Jenkins MBA Student Hub (a Moodle project site in Wolfware). There you will find detailed event information and a printable Graduation Checklist. The Poole Graduation team will also send emails with know-before-you-go details to graduating students. Therefore, students should continue to check their NC State email regularly to make sure they receive this important information.

An invitation letter isn’t a required document for a visa appointment, but most families like to have something with them when they go to their appointments so we encourage students to write the letter themselves and then have it notarized before sending it to their families. OIS has notaries that are free, but the student needs to call their office to schedule an appointment with them. They also have an example of an invitation letter on their website that students can use as a guide. The invitation letter can be found under Miscellaneous Forms.

Graduates are able to go to the bookstore through the day before graduation.  If graduates want to customize their items, they will need to talk directly to a bookstore staff member.

• Graduates should wear the full graduation regalia to the University ceremony, but for the Poole Hooding ceremony, graduates should wear the gown and hood but NOT the cap as that will be in the way for the actual hooding.  
• Gowns, hoods and other graduation apparel can be ordered through the shop.ncsu.edu/graduation or at Wolfpack Outfitters in the Talley Student Center.
  • For Masters students, select the Management (Drab) hood option. 
• When you line up to process into the ceremony, have your hood draped over your left arm, and your namecard in your right hand (that you receive upon checking in at the ceremony)

No, students can choose which ceremonies they want to attend. Please see the Schedule of Events table that indicates the key differences of each ceremony. Students attending the Jenkins Graduate Ceremony will have their name announced while being hooded on stage – this does not take place at the larger NC State ceremony.

• The NC State University Commencement Ceremony will last approximately three hours depending on the number of students in attendance. 
• We estimate that the Fall Poole Commencement Ceremony will last approximately 1.5 hours.

Final grades are not always posted at the time of graduation, therefore participation in graduation ceremonies does not ensure your degree is complete. Once all grades are posted, Registration and Records will confer your degree and it will be posted on your transcript. This usually happens a few weeks after the end of the semester. To check on your degree, you can view your unofficial transcript in MyPack Portal. For questions about your degree posting please contact the Student Services Center at 919.515.6278.

Once all grades are posted, Registration and Records will confer your degree and it will be posted on your transcript. This usually happens a few weeks after the end of the semester. Students can order a transcript but choose to have it held until your degree is conferred. Choose this option when ordering a transcript if you need your degree to show on that transcript to ensure it is not sent before it is posted.

• Final clearance for candidates other than Doctoral is mid-June. Students who have been cleared for graduation prior to the graduation date will receive their diplomas by the last week in June. Students who are cleared late will receive their diplomas by the second week in July. All diplomas will be mailed to the address the student listed as their “Diploma or Home/Mailing address” in their MyPack Portal.
• For questions about your diploma please contact the Office of Registration and Records (919-515-2572).

Diplomas will have the student’s primary name. In order to change your name, you must have official documentation. Documentation must be submitted to Student Services.

Graduates can change the address in MyPack Portal or by contacting Student Services.

No, commencement ceremonies take place in December or May. Summer Jenkins graduates are eligible to walk in either of the May or December ceremonies.