Commencement
Winter 2017 Commencement Ceremony: December 15, 10 a.m. Central Time, Health and Sports Center
Line-up for graduates marching begins at 9:15 a.m. in Cushing Coliseum Field House. The Processional will start at 9:50 a.m. sharp. Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and will last one and a half hours to two hours.
If you are unable to find answers to your questions about Graduation here, call UNK Communications and Marketing at 308-865-8455.
Rehearsal:
Rehearsal for Winter 2017 Commencement is 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 in the Health and Sports Center Arena. Rehearsal will go over seating, processing, walking to the stage and returning to your seat. It is useful and required if you want to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Deadlines and More Information:
Graduation deadlines, fees and application procedures are on the Graduation Information page. Reserved and Special Needs seating information is also available.
New this spring: Military Honor Cords are being offered to veterans and active-duty service men and women in the armed forces, National Guard, and Reserve. To request a cord, contact Veterans Services Officer Lori Skarka, at skarkala@unk.edu, 308-865-8520.
If you are a family member planning to attend the ceremony, visit the Maps and Directions page for directions to our campus and a layout of the buildings when you arrive. There is a campus parking map specifically for Commencement Parking.
Webcast:
For those unable to attend in person, UNK commencement ceremonies are webcast live over the internet. To view the broadcast visit the Webcast Information page before the event to make sure your computer is properly configured. If you have Information Technology questions on how to view UNK Webcasts, please call the helpdesk at 308-865-8363.
To listen to addresses by previous commencement speakers, visit the UNK YouTube channel. After the commencement exercises are complete, a recorded video will be available soon after at the YouTube channel.
Accommodations for Graduation Parking:
Lots 14, 11-12, and Lot 20 are available for commencement parking. Lot 10 east of Health and Sports is prioritized for ADA commencement parking. A valid handicap parking permit is required to park in these spaces. Vehicles without a handicap parking permit transporting someone who has a restriction may drop off guests on the west side of Health and Sports (Lot 14A) or the drop-off lane north of Cushing/Wellness Center to access the north or west entrances to Health and Sports. A commencement parking map is available at unk.edu/commencement_parking.
Seating for mobility-restricted guests:
Seating for individuals who use wheelchairs is available in the northeast and southeast corners on the concourse level. Additional seating is available on the lower level in the southwest corner. One other person will be allowed to sit with each individual who uses a wheelchair. Individuals who don't use wheelchairs but have restrictions that prevent climbing stairs may use the elevator located on the northeast corner of the building to get to the lower floor and may sit on the first row of the bleachers. Another option is to take one step down from the concourse level. Since these seats are not reserved, you should allow plenty of time before the graduation ceremony to obtain these seats. There will be hosts at the entrances of the building to assist individuals as needed.
Other special needs:
A private area for nursing mothers is available Room 120. For assistance locating it, locate a Commencement Host. A "family room" is available near the arena, in Health and Sports 150-151. These classrooms have space to spread out, for fidgety children to move about and for others to stretch their legs. The exercises will be streamed in that area on to a projector screen. Standing at the rails in the arena concourse is not allowed.
View Seating Diagram (Adobe PDF).
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