FAQs

The date for the 134th Commencement Exercises is Friday, May 24, 2024. Two ceremonies for the undergraduate Class of 2024 will take place in Schar Center (542 N. Williamson Ave., Elon, N.C.).

• 9 a.m. — Diploma ceremony for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Communications
• 2:30 p.m. — Diploma ceremony for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education

Each ceremony will last approximately 2.5 hours and will include the keynote address from Broadway and television actress Ginna Claire Mason ’13, followed by reading of names and awarding of diplomas as candidates cross the stage.

Graduates and families may verify primary major by referring to the Graduation Candidates List. Graduates with multiple majors are assigned to the ceremony corresponding to their primary major on their degree audit (available in OnTrack). Graduates must attend the ceremony to which they are assigned to receive their diploma.

Candidates receiving diplomas at the 9 a.m. ceremony should report to the Practice Gym in Schar Center beginning at 7:45 a.m. Instructions for the ceremony will be shared at 8:20 a.m.

Candidates receiving diplomas at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony should report to the Practice Gym in Schar Center beginning at 1:15 p.m. Instructions for the ceremony will be shared at 1:50 p.m.

Candidates should use the candidate check-in entrance.

All graduates confirmed to participate in May 24 Commencement must reserve guest tickets for their guests attending their diploma ceremony. With the anticipated number of graduates in each diploma ceremony, the maximum number of guest tickets is five (5).

Candidates will receive further e-mail instructions to reserve guest tickets in mid-April, and will have a window of five days or more to complete their request. There is no charge for guest tickets.

If tickets remain to their diploma ceremony, candidates will be notified how they may request one (1) additional guest ticket.

Candidates will pick up guest tickets at Schar Center Ticket Office from May 6-10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, May 11, the ticket office will be open 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for candidates who are unavailable during weekday hours, e.g. due to internships, student teaching or employment.

Candidates who are not at Elon in spring semester (fall/winter term grads, study abroad, remote internships) should email commencement@elon.edu to arrange to pick up tickets when they return to campus.

Candidates are responsible for requesting, claiming and distributing tickets to the guests who will use them on May 24. Please note that tickets cannot be picked up by friends or family on behalf of a candidate.

Guests without tickets to Schar Center ceremonies may watch in Global Commons. Tickets are not required for viewing in Global Commons. Doors will open one hour before each ceremony.

LIVE STREAM: The ceremonies will also be available to livestream on personal devices at elon.edu/live.

CEREMONY ARCHIVE: May 2024 Commencement ceremonies will be available for on demand viewing in the days following the ceremonies on the Ceremony Archive page.

Parking lots will open at 7:15 a.m. for Commencement guest parking. Guests are asked to park at Schar Center only for the ceremony they are attending. Please visit the Parking and Accessibility Information pages for more information.

Doors will open approximately one hour and 15 minutes before each ceremony

• 7:45 a.m. for the 9 a.m. diploma ceremony
• 1:15 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. diploma ceremony

Please note: Doors to Schar Center will be locked between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to reset the ceremony stage and sweep the Schar Center.

Restrooms are available at the shuttle bus stop in Latham Baseball Park and Hunt Softball Park before the entrances open for guests. Please plan accordingly.

Security personnel may inspect camera bags, purses and similar items at the entrance. To ensure a family-friendly atmosphere, the following items are prohibited in Schar Center and Alumni Gym:

• Weapons
• Explosives
• Artificial noisemakers
• Laser pointers and glow sticks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Outside food and beverage
• Coolers
• Large purses, bags, backpacks and duffels
• Smoking/tobacco products
• E-cigarettes
• No flags, banners or signs
• Balloons and beach balls
• Wrapped gifts
• Bicycles, skateboards, hover boards, rollerblades and roller shoes
• Pets (except recognized service animals under ADA titles II and III)
• Camera bipods, tripods and selfie sticks
• Folding chairs

The following items are permitted inside Schar Center:

• Wallets and small purses
• Diaper bags (subject to search)
• Clear empty drinking bottle (must be empty at entrance)
• Professional cameras (defined as cameras with detachable lenses)
• Unwrapped gifts and flowers (glass vases not permitted)
• Gift bags (subject to search)

Elon Wi-Fi has been optimized to provide assistive technologies for the hearing impaired and for Spanish translation. To ensure that all guests have the best experience possible, we strongly encourage the use of cellular data for all other mobile devices during the event. Assistive technology support and other requests for Wi-Fi access can be accommodated by visiting the Assisted Listening and Translation table. The table will be located at the Hunt A entrance to Schar Center, and in the Global Commons area behind audience seating.

Saplings will be distributed at the conclusion of Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection on Tuesday, May 21.

Graduate-level candidates will receive their saplings after the ceremony on Wednesday, May 22 in the Koury Athletic Center concourse.

The Graduate-Level Commencement will take place on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gymnasium at Koury Athletic Center.

In this joint ceremony, the following degrees will be awarded: Master of Arts in Higher Education, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Interactive Media, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Business Analytics.

See the Graduate-Level Ceremonies page for more information.