Commencement Participation

• Apply to Graduate:
  • In order to participate in the University Ceremony at Carter-Finley Stadium or the Poole College Ceremony at Reynolds, you must have been approved to graduate.
  • To apply for graduation, please follow the directions listed here.
• Register for the Poole Ceremony:
  • Once you are approved to graduate, you will automatically receive information about the University Ceremony. If you wish to attend the Poole College Ceremony, you must fill out this registration form.
    •  Students will not receive tickets for the Poole Ceremony unless they submit the Poole Ceremony registration form.

Time

• 12:00 PM – Doors open for student check-in 
• 12:15 PM – Doors open for ADA accessibility 
• 12:30 PM – Doors open for general seating
• 2:00 PM – Ceremony begins 
  • If you are a guest who arrives after 1:50 p.m., you will be held in the lobby of Reynolds Coliseum until students have finished processing into the ceremony.

Ticket Information

• To ensure everyone’s safety and comfort, tickets are required for all guests over 2 years old.
• Each student must register to attend the Poole Ceremony.
• Tickets will be uploaded to student accounts April 13-15. Students will receive a confirmation email once tickets are available in their accounts.
  • If a student does not need all of their tickets, they are free to transfer them to another student if they choose, or they can contact the commencement committee (by emailing poole_graduation@ncsu.edu) to reallocate. 
• In the event of unclaimed tickets, a lottery will be announced to students in mid-April via email.
• Tickets are not available for purchase, and no additional tickets will be available outside of the potential unclaimed lottery tickets. 

Directions and Parking

• Directions: Click here for a map of William Neal Reynolds Coliseum, located at 2411 Dunn Ave, Raleigh.
• Expect Delays: Heavy traffic is anticipated around Talley Student Union and Reynolds Coliseum. Please plan to arrive early, and be prepared to park elsewhere, should there be no available parking in close proximity.
• No Permits Required: Parking will be free and open to the public across campus for commencement.
• Parking Locations: Available in the Coliseum Deck and Dan Allen Deck.
  • Note: The Coliseum Deck fills quickly. If it reaches capacity, vehicles will be redirected to the Dan Allen Deck. 
• ADA Parking: A dedicated area for ADA parking is located in the Jeter Bays parking lot. A DMV-issued placard must be displayed to access this area. To help with traffic flow, please have your placard ready for the attendant.
• Drop-off/Pick-up: A designated area is reserved for drop-off/pick-up. Please follow the signage and direction of the parking staff.

Instructions for Graduates

• What to bring:
  • Personal items should be kept to a minimum since you need to carry them with you as you process into the ceremony.
  • Please come wearing your graduation cap and gown. (You can order your cap and gown here.)
• Check-in:
  • Accounting Students:
    • Check-in for students graduating with a degree in Accounting will be located inside Reynolds Coliseum in the West Lobby.
    • Students must enter through Entrance 3 located on this map.
    • Upon arrival, check in at the table in the East Lobby to receive your name card.
      • At this time, please add the phonetic spelling of your name to your card if it is not noted there already.
      • Please keep this card with you as you will need it to cross the stage.
    • Once checked in, graduates will wait in that area until check-in is complete.
    • Restrooms and water fountains will be accessible.
  • Business Administration Students:
    • Check-in for students graduating with a degree in Business Administration will be located inside Reynolds Coliseum AND Talley Student Union in the One Earth Lounge.
    • Each check-in area is assigned by degree and alphabetically by the first letter of your last name.
    • Please look at Entrance 1 and 3 in Reynolds and Entrance 4 and 5 in Talley on this map to find where you should check in.
    • Upon arrival, check in at the alphabetically designated table to receive your name card.
      • At this time, please add the phonetic spelling of your name to your card if it is not noted there already.
      • Please keep this card with you as you will need it to cross the stage.
    • Once checked in, graduates will wait in that area until check-in is complete.
    • Restrooms and water fountains will be accessible.
  • Economics Students:
    • Check-in for students graduating with a degree in Economics will be located inside Talley Student Union in Room 2260, which is next to the One Earth Lounge and can be found on this map.
    • Upon arrival, check in to receive your name card.
      • At this time, please add the phonetic spelling of your name to your card if it is not noted there already.
      • Please keep this card with you as you will need it to cross the stage.
    • Once checked in, graduates will wait in that area until check-in is complete.
    • Restrooms and water fountains will be accessible.
• Ceremony:
  • The ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m.
  • Please have your cap on with the tassel hanging down on the right side.
  • Graduates will process into the arena by degree and will be seated by members of the Poole Commencement Committee. 
  • When it is time for your degree to be recognized, the seaters will release rows one by one to go up to the stage. 
  • Each student will hand their name card to the name reader and walk across the stage as their name is being read.
    • You will pause at the center of the stage to receive your diploma from Dean Buckless at this time.
    • A photo will be taken by a professional photographer as you receive your diploma. 
  • We anticipate that the ceremony will last approximately 2 hours.
  • Out of respect for your fellow graduates and to allow all graduates and their families to enjoy the ceremony uninterrupted, we ask and expect that you remain for the entirety of the ceremony.

Information for Guests

• Guest Seating:
  • All guests must have tickets to enter the coliseum.
    • If you do not have tickets, there will be a livestream room located in Talley Student Union where you can watch the ceremony.
  • Ticket holders must enter Reynolds through the North entrance of the coliseum (off of Dunn Ave).
  • Guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis – no assigned seats.
  • Families and guests will not be allowed onto the main floor for photos during the ceremony.
• ADA Seating:
  • ADA seating in the Coliseum is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
  • To help ensure access, we ask that ADA seats be used by ADA users and one accompanying guest.
  • For help with wheelchair-accessible seating and/or seating with no stairs, please visit the ADA Help Desk located directly inside the front doors of the Coliseum.
  • Reynolds Coliseum does not have wheelchairs on-site for guest use. 
• Bag Policy:
  • All bags are subjected to search upon entry. Bags should be no larger than 12”x6”x12”.
  • An exception will be made for medically necessary items and diaper bags when accompanied by infants.
• Lactation Room:
  • There is a lactation room located in the northwest corner of the facility, near the Navy ROTC offices, room number 191.
• Service Animals:
  • Service animals are allowed inside Reynolds Coliseum, but there are requirements you must fulfill in order to bring them. 
  • Please read the Reynolds Coliseum service animal policy.
• Prohibited Items:  
  •  Please click here for a full list of items not permitted inside Reynolds.
  • The exception to this list is that guests are allowed to bring in outside water in a sealed water bottle.
• Livestream
  • Watch virtually via YouTube

Photography

• As each graduate walks across the stage, images will be taken by a professional photographer.
• Another photo will be taken with a backdrop when graduates exit the stage.
• Each student will receive an email from the photographer with a link to the photographer’s website and instructions to view their graduation photographs.
• If you do not receive an email within ten days of the ceremony, please contact info@photospecialities.com or call 919-967-9576

For additional questions, please contact poole_graduation@ncsu.edu up to 24 hours prior to the ceremony.

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