Commencement Communications

Below is an archive of key communications sent to seniors and families about Commencement 2025.

Sent April 16, 2025

TO: Undergraduate Candidates of the Class of 2025

You are receiving this message as a participant in an Undergraduate Commencement Diploma Ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025. 

YOUR TICKET REQUEST FOR DIPLOMA CEREMONIES

All graduates confirmed to participate in Undergraduate Commencement must request guest tickets to their diploma ceremony. Tickets are required for all guests (aged 2 and older) to enter Schar Center on Friday, May 23.

Round 1: Monday, April 21 at 9 a.m. EDT to Friday, April 25 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. 

Follow these steps:

  • Use this link to request tickets during Round 1 beginning Monday, April 21.
  • Sign in with your Elon credentials to request the number needed for your guests attending
    (1 to 5 tickets) your assigned diploma ceremony.
  • There is no charge for guest tickets. Tickets are for general admission seating. Accessible seating does not require a different ticket or other credential.
  • Information about accessible seating accommodations is available on the Commencement website.
  • Importantly, the ceremony time and participating schools are printed on all tickets. Tickets are valid only for the ceremony noted.

FALL 2024/WINTER 2025 AND OTHER CANDIDATES COMPLETING SPRING 2025 SEMESTER AWAY FROM CAMPUS: Recent graduates and others who are completing requirements away from campus this Spring must follow the same instructions listed above to request tickets during Round 1: April 21-25.

REMAINING TICKETS

If tickets remain for either ceremony after April 25:

  • Round 2 will open on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:45 a.m. Please plan accordingly.
  • Request one (1) additional ticket for your diploma ceremony.
  • Once the remaining tickets are claimed, Round 2 will close.

SCHAR CENTER TICKET PICK UP: 

It is the responsibility of each participating candidate to pick up their guest tickets and ensure that tickets are in the possession those who will attend the diploma ceremony in Schar Center on Friday, May 23.

  • SCHAR CENTER is located at 542 N. Williamson Avenue, Elon
    • Monday-Friday, May 5-9
      HOURS: 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
    • Saturday, May 10
      HOURS: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. 
    • Note: Saturday hours are provided as an option for those who may be student teaching or working or for other reason cannot pick up tickets earlier in the week.
  • There is no charge for guest tickets.
  • Present your Phoenix card or other Photo ID (required).
  • Tickets cannot be picked up for friends, or by family or by friends for another graduate.

TICKET PICK UP FOR Fall 2024/Winter 2025 Graduates and other candidates finishing Spring semester away from campus, etc.: 

  • Once your travel plan to Elon Commencement is confirmed, please email commencement@elon.edu to provide your arrival date. Instructions to pick up your guest tickets will be shared.
  • Tickets cannot be mailed.
  • Tickets cannot be picked up by friends, family or others on anyone’s behalf. You must pick up your guest tickets once you are back on campus for Commencement.

Further information is available on the Commencement website.

Sent February 11, 2025

TO: Candidates of the Class of 2025

I am writing regarding Elon University’s Undergraduate Commencement, which is scheduled for Friday, May 23, 2025.

As previously announced, two ceremonies will take place in Schar Center:

  • At 9:00 a.m., Elon College, The College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, and the School of Health Sciences will award diplomas, ending at approximately 11:15 a.m.
  • At 2:30 p.m., The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications
    will award diplomas ending at approximately 4:45 p.m.

We are excited to announce that this year’s Undergraduate Commencement speaker will be the distinguished play-by-play commentator for ESPN and ACC Network – Wes Durham ’88!

Read the full story here

GUEST TICKETS: Any guest attending ceremonies inside Schar Center on May 23 will require an admission ticket. As the graduation candidate, you will be responsible to request the number of tickets (“guest tickets” – up to a maximum of 5) between the dates of April 21-25.

The ticket request period will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 25, and you will not be able to reserve tickets after this time. Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 graduate returning to participate will request tickets in the same way.

If tickets remain, you will be notified how to request one (1) additional guest ticket beginning April 29 at 7:45 a.m. (Eastern Savings Time). It is expected that all tickets will be reserved by May 1.

Claiming guest tickets: Candidates will pick up guest tickets at Schar Center Ticket Office from May 5-9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, May 10, tickets can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday hours are scheduled especially for those who are unavailable during weekday hours, e.g. due to work schedules, internships or student teaching.

Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 graduates can pick up their guest tickets when they return to Elon later in May for their diploma ceremony. Please email commencement@elon.edu to arrange for pick up when your travel schedule is confirmed.

Tickets must be picked up by each candidate; friends or family cannot pick up tickets on their behalf. It is your responsibility to request, claim and distribute tickets to the guests who will use them on May 23.

Guests without tickets to Schar Center ceremonies may watch on the large screens in Great Hall in Global Commons. The ceremony will also be live streamed at www.elon.edu/live for viewing on personal devices.

GRAD FAIR: Candidates, you are encouraged to pick up your maroon bachelor’s robe and shop for commencement merchandise at the Grad Fair on Monday & Tuesday, April 7 & 8 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Barnes & Noble bookstore at 130 N. Williamson Avenue.

YEARBOOK SENIOR PHOTO DAYS are scheduled on the following dates in Spring 2025:

  • Thursday-Friday, March 6 & 7
    10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Virtual Studio in McEwen Building (School of Communications)
  • Tuesday, April 8
    GRAD FAIR: Elon Bookstore
    10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (those in line by 4:30 p.m. will be photographed)
  • Wednesday, April 9
    10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Virtual Studio in McEwen Building (School of Communications)

Plans are also underway for the following Senior celebration events:

  • Lav Grad on Friday, May 9 (register by March 14)
  • An evening candlelight ceremony Under the Oaks on Tuesday, May 20.
  • Elon Nursing pinning ceremony for BSN 2025 on Wednesday, May 21.
  • An evening Senior Celebration in Rhodes Stadium on Wednesday, May 21 (for the Class of ‘25).
  • Stole ceremonies for First Gen graduates, Latinx/Hispanic graduates (¡Celebremos!), International Business Dual
  • Degree on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22nd.
  • Four schools will host receptions on Thursday, May 22 at 2:30 p.m. to provide an opportunity for candidates and their families to spend time with faculty and staff from their major area of study (for the Class of ’25 and their guests).
  • Donning of the Kente stole ceremony, Thursday, May 22 in Alumni Memorial Gym.

Information regarding the celebration schedule and registration details for events is available on the Commencement website at www.elon.edu/commencement. Information will be updated regularly throughout the Spring semester.

We offer our congratulations to you and look forward to celebrating with the Class of 2025 this May.

Jeffrey Clark
Executive Director, Cultural and Special Programs

Sent December 16, 2024

Dear Parents and Families of the Class of 2025,

I am writing with updates on plans for Undergraduate Commencement, which will be held Friday, May 23, 2025.

Ceremonies by School or College

Two separate ceremonies are scheduled in Schar Center, 542 N. Williamson Avenue, Elon, North Carolina.

  • Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences will award diplomas in a 9 a.m. ceremony, ending at approximately 11 a.m.
  • The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications will award diplomas in a 2:30 p.m. ceremony, ending at approximately 5 p.m.

Candidates will report to their respective ceremony to form a line of march one hour prior to the start time. Each ceremony will include a class speaker, the keynote speaker, the reading of names, the awarding of diplomas and charge by the president.

Family/Guest Tickets

We expect to have five tickets available for family/guests. This number will be confirmed once we have a final number of candidates planning to participate in Commencement. We will notify you in an upcoming letter in early February 2025 to confirm the number of tickets per candidate.

Details regarding ticket distribution, services, event schedule and other information will also be available in early 2025 on the Commencement website at www.elon.edu/commencement.

Deadline to Apply to Graduate

All students who expect to participate in ceremonies on May 23 must complete and submit a graduation application. The deadline was Nov. 4, 2024. Any student who has not already applied should do so as soon as possible. More information is available at Elon University / Graduation Information / Applying for Graduation

Graduate Level Commencement will occur on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Memorial Gym in Koury Athletic Center for the following degrees:

  • Master of Arts in Higher Education
  • Master of Education in Innovation
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Business Analytics
  • Master of Business Administration

We look forward to making lifetime memories for you and your graduate.

Sincerely yours,
Jeffrey Clark
Executive Director
Cultural and Special Programs