Please be aware of the following items as you prepare for your graduation in May 2025.
Commencement
Friday, May 16, 2025, Health & Sports Center
9:15 A.M. Graduates assemble in the Fieldhouse (North End of Cushing)
9:40 A.M. Processional begins
10:00 A.M. Ceremony begins
Cap and Gown Purchase
Cap and gown orders are due Sunday, April 20, 2025. Please use the following website to place your order: http://www.herff.ly/unkearney Purchases will be shipped directly to the student at the address listed when submitting the order. All students participating in the ceremony are required to wear traditional commencement attire. If any commencement official deems your attire inappropriate, you may be removed from the commencement ceremony. All caps and gowns are black for the commencement ceremony. Contact the Loper Spirit Store in the Nebraskan Student Union or by phone at (308) 865-8555 with any questions.
Ceremony Participation Notice
If your plans to participate in the May 16 commencement ceremony have changed from what you indicated on your graduation application, please notify the Registrar's Office at graduationinfo@unk.edu prior to Friday, May 2nd. Students not participating in the ceremony will have diplomas mailed to the address listed on their graduation application. Those who fail to complete all degree requirements will be notified approximately four weeks after the end of the semester.
Academic Program Review
Please remember that participation in commencement and/or receipt of the diploma DO NOT mean that you have been awarded the academic degree. Only after final grades for this semester have been processed and reviewed to determine compliance with all academic requirements, will the actual degree be posted to your transcript. The transcript is the official record of your degree program.
This notification DOES NOT indicate that your degree program has been fully audited and that you are cleared for graduation. Degree reviews continue throughout the semester and you will be notified of potential problems through your Loper email address as soon as possible.
All academic requirements will need to be completed by June 20, 2025. Incomplete grades will need to be converted to a letter grade by this date, even if the course is not required for your degree. If all program requirements are not completed by this deadline, you will be required to reapply for graduation and pay a new application fee in a future term.
Please be sure all financial holds are cleared and that the diploma mailing address listed on your graduation application is correct – this address can be reviewed in your MyBlue account. To update this address, you must contact us at graduationinfo@unk.edu. Diplomas and transcripts will be placed on hold for non-payment of items displayed on their student bill.
On behalf of the UNK faculty and administration, I offer congratulations and best wishes for happiness and success in the future.
Lisa Neal University Registrar
A professional photographer will photograph every student during the Commencement ceremony. Photos can be viewed and purchased here after the ceremony. There is no obligation to purchase photos.
Transcripts reflecting the earned degree will be available approximately five weeks following the graduation date. Please see transcript request instructions on MyBLUE.
Seating in the Health and Sports Center is limited, especially during the Spring Commencement ceremony. To ensure a positive experience, encourage your guests to:
Arrive Early - that's the best way to get a seat. Tickets are not required.
Limit parties to no more than 5 or 6 guests per student
Pack light (no large bags or items that take up a seat)
Consider the overflow or "family room" seating. Both are equipped with big-screen monitors
Watch the ceremony online and meet up later to celebrate. The ceremony will be streamed live and accessed at unk.edu
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 staff at the entrances of the building to assist individuals as needed.
Graduating students needing accommodation under the ADA should contact the event coordinator or ADA Coordinator at UNK (308) 865-8404 at least one week in advance of the graduation ceremony.
A private area for nursing mothers is available in Cushing Room 120.
All diploma name changes will need to be completed by Thursday, April 14, 2025. To request a diploma name change please email us at graduationinfo@unk.edu. Your diploma name will be used for all graduation-related communications and will be listed on your diploma and in the commencement program.
If you would like to update your primary (legal) name in MyBLUE to be reflected in our system and on your official transcripts, please fill out the following form and provide copies of the requested documents : Name Change Form. If you would prefer, you may print and complete the attached form and mail/drop it off at the Registrar’s Office in Warner Hall along with copies of the identification listed on the form.
**If you are employed by the University, including work study, please submit your name change information and Social Security card to Human Resources in Warner Hall.**
Documents may be mailed to:
University of Nebraska at Kearney 2504 9th Avenue Warner Hall – Registrar’s Office Kearney, NE 68849
