Candidate Information

All candidates should report in academic cap and gown, with tassel hanging from the right front of the cap, to the North entrance facing the lake not later than 12:30 p.m. Please park in the North lot. The area designated for line-up is limited to graduates, so do not bring friends and family into this area. Only candidates will be permitted to enter the area.

(Candidates needing special services or accommodations due to a disability should identify themselves prior to commencement by emailing graduation@uno.edu. If possible, such notice should be received by December 1, 2020.)

The Candidate Procession will be organized by the College with assistance from the Registrar's Office. When you enter the lobby area, designated staff members will direct you to the staging area. You will be given a card with your name and your seating number on it. This card is to be presented to the speaker in order for your name to be announced as you cross the stage. It is very important that you do not lose or destroy this card.

When directed to do so, you will line up in numerical order behind the sign for your college. Graduate students will line up together in the Graduate School section of the Student Procession. The candidates will process in pairs led by marshals into the commencement area. You need only to follow the person in front of you. When you reach your seat please remain standing until instructed to sit. Gentlemen should remove their caps during the National Anthem.

During the ceremony, candidates will rise when requested to do so by their dean and will remain standing for the announcing of degrees. After the announcing of degrees, candidates will be instructed to take their seats.

The names of doctoral candidates will be announced individually from the podium by the Dean of the Graduate School or his designee. Each candidate will advance to the center area of the platform to be hooded by their major professor and to receive his or her diploma cover from the President. When this is completed, the candidate will return to his or her chair.

Marshals will direct the movement of other candidates to the platform to receive their diploma covers. When you get to the top of the stairs leading onto the platform, you must give your name card to the announcer. Then, when your name is announced, you will enter the platform area and receive your diploma cover. A professional photographer will take your picture with the President.

In the Recession, the official Platform Party and the faculty will move first, exiting as directed by the marshals. All graduates will follow the faculty as directed by the marshals.

Class Ring

Class ring representatives will be on campus periodically, and they will be at Grad Fair from 10 am to 5 pm in the Alumni Center Ballroom, Date to be Determined. Inquire at the Bookstore for future dates and times. You may also order your official UNO class ring by visiting http://www.balfour.com/

Diplomas

The Degree conferral date for Fall graduates is Friday, December 19, 2020. Students have not officially graduated until this date. Diplomas may be picked up at the Registrar’s Office in the Privateer Enrollment Center, located in the Earl K. Long Library, beginning on this date. This is subject to change. 

Students who desire to have their diplomas mailed must fill out the Diploma Mailing Form with the mailing address.

Enrollment Requirement

In order to graduate, students must be active in their program. For Undergraduate students, this means that if you have completed all of your coursework prior to the semester in which you plan to graduate, notify your college or graduation@uno.edu so that they can enroll you in a "degree only" course in order to maintain your active status. For Graduate students, please contact the Graduate School for more details.

Fees

All fees and other financial obligations to the University must be paid 48 hours prior to degree conferral in order to receive your diploma on time. If you think you are delinquent in any manner, contact the Bursar for fees and traffic fines (504-280-5500 or 504-280-6504), and/or the Library for library fines (504-280-6355).

Graduation Regalia

UNO now has customized UNO Blue regalia for the commencement ceremony.

Doctoral students only - While Doctoral students must purchase their own tam, the charge of renting the doctoral robe will be covered by the University for doctoral candidates, and their doctoral hood will be given to the candidates by the University during the commencement ceremony. Please contact the UNO Bookstore to order your robe and tam.

Undergraduate and Master’s students – The graduation regalia for Undergraduate and Master’s students on the graduation list is free of charge, and will be available beginning at the Spring Grad Fair held by the UNO Bookstore, in early March (date to be determined). If you are unable to attend Grad Fair, graduation regalia will be available in the bookstore after that date, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Friday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Bookstore personnel will need to know your height and weight along with the type of degree you are receiving such as a bachelor or master, and your major. Graduation regalia will NOT be available at the commencement ceremony!

You may contact the UNO Bookstore by emailing uno@bkstr.com or phone at 504-280-6373.

Candidates may wear honor cords from authorized academic honor societies. Candidates will not be able to participate in the commencement ceremony if academic apparel is deemed inappropriate by graduation staff.

Academic apparel should be worn to the commencement site. Military dress uniform may be worn in lieu of academic regalia.

Please do not bring cell phones, umbrellas, purses or other items of extra apparel with you to the UNO Lakefront Arena as you are not permitted to carry or wear these in the Procession. Academic apparel should be worn to the commencement site. There will be no place to secure items you bring with you.

Guest Information

1. No tickets are required for guests to attend.

2. Parking is available on both the North and South sides of the Lakefront Arena. Those guests with handicap plates or passes may park in the area in the front reserved for disabled parking. If they do not have plates or permits, then they can be dropped off in the area and the able-body driver will need to park in general parking areas. Entrance is through Ground One located under Ramp 1.

3. Guests with mobility issues can ask attendants inside the Arena to direct them to the accessible seating. Due to limited space, a guest needing the seating may have only one additional person accompanying them in the accessible seating.

4. The doors will be open to the public approximately an hour and a half before the exercises are scheduled to begin.

5. Seating is on first come first serve basis.

6. To request other accommodations, please email graduation@uno.edu.

Online Flower Ordering for Graduation

Present your honored graduate with beautiful flowers!

If you would like to commemorate this special occasion with a special floral gift, please take a moment to shop our selection online at the website listed below. All online orders will be available for pickup on site the day of the graduation. Your order will be ready at the floral booth located conveniently at the entrance on the Lakefront Arena concourse before the ceremony begins. You will have an opportunity to present the gift yourself immediately following the ceremony. All of the same products available on the website will also be available on site at the same prices. Ordering ahead of time guarantees your selection of color/size.

UNO Commencement Group

Student Loan Exit Interview

If at any time you have ever received any type of Stafford or Perkins student loan through the University, you must complete an exit interview prior to graduation. To Sign your Exit Counseling for Federal Direct Stafford loans, please visit: www.studentloans.gov . In order to access your account, you must use your FAFSA PIN number. Federal Perkins Loan exit interviews must be completed online at www.uasexit.com . Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (504-280-3270) if you have any questions about this requirement for Stafford loan recipients. Students with a Federal Perkins loans question should call the Perkins Loan Coordinator at 504-280-6506 or e-mail ptakac1@uno.edu. You can also contact UNO's Federal Perkins Loan administrator University Accounting Services at (800) 999-6227 for questions.

Transcripts

Transcripts with degrees posted will be available once all work has been evaluated. Transcript requests should be made through Transcripts on Demand at link. Indicate in the comment column "to hold for degree." Transcript requests with degrees posted will be available on Friday, December 19, 2020, for spring graduates. PLEASE NOTE that walk-up transcript requests and same-day transcript request not available. See the above site for details.