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College of Natural Resources

Graduation and Commencement Information

Join us at the NC State and College of Natural Resources commencement ceremonies to celebrate and honor you and your achievements.

A graduate in a red cap and gown holds up the wolfie hand signal

Schedule of Events

There are 2 commencement ceremonies – The CNR ceremony and the University ceremony. For more information on the University ceremony, please visit the University Commencement website. See below for the differences between the ceremonies and for further details on the College of Natural Resources ceremony.

College of Natural Resources
Commencement		University
Commencement
Date Friday, May 2, 2025Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time 8:00 am9:00 am
LocationReynolds Coliseum
2411 Dunn Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607		Carter-Finley Stadium
4600 Trinity Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27607
Who’s
Invited		All CNR graduatesAll NC State graduates
How RecognizedIndividually
(each graduate’s name is called)		By college
Printed ProgramAll CNR graduate names printedNo names printed
(all available online)
Academic RegaliaRequiredRequired
Guest
Tickets 		Reservations required through a form emailed to graduates. There’s a limited
number of guests per graduate. There are no physical tickets.		Not required
RSVP RequiredRequired
Stage UseAll graduating students walk
across the stage		Only Doctoral candidates walk across the stage.
Master and Bachelor
candidates stand as groups.

Attend a Graduation Information Session

If you’re graduating in Spring or Summer 2025, please attend a graduation information session in-person or on Zoom. Please register on this form to attend an info session.

Info sessions will be held on 1/29 from 3-4pm, 2/28 from 10-11am, 3/25 from 2-3pm in Biltmore 2024 or on Zoom. An additional session for Summer graduates only will be on 4/17 from 6-7pm on Zoom.

College of Natural Resources Spring Commencement Ceremony

Friday, May 2, 2025

Time: 8:00 am
Reynolds Coliseum
2411 Dunn Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607

Graduating Students must arrive in regalia no later than 7:00 am

The College of Natural Resources Commencement Ceremony on May 2nd at 8:00 am is a ceremony for all undergraduate and graduate students in:

  • Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
  • Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
  • Department of Forest Biomaterials
  • Center for Geospatial Analytics

Spring 2025 Graduation Deadlines

  • Undergraduate graduation application closes February 3, 2025
  • Graduate graduation application closes March 19, 2025
  • Privacy settings, diploma name and diploma address update deadline for both undergraduate and graduates is March 21, 2025

Apply to be a Student Speaker

Applications for student speakers for the CNR Spring 2025 ceremony are now open, apply here by Feb. 16th. We will have one undergraduate student speaker and one graduate student speaker. Applicants must be completing all degree requirements in Spring 2025
and in good academic and disciplinary standing. Selected speakers will receive extra reserved seats for immediate family, recognition in the program, and coaching on speech preparation and delivery.

Tips for picking up your cap and gown:

  • The NC State Bookstore sells all graduate apparel at its physical location in Talley Student Union.
  • No preordering is necessary, but all apparel must be paid for at the time of pick-up.
  • You must present a photo ID.
  • Caps/Gowns/Tassels range from $35-$55
  • Hoods (graduate students only) cost around $37

    Seating Information:

    • Reserved seating at the CNR ceremony at Reynolds is required.
    • Graduating students will reserve seats in advance for their guests to attend the ceremony by completing the CNR Graduation RSVP Google form, which they will receive by email in March. Each graduate can reserve up to 10 seats for guests via the form. Graduating students can request the number of tickets they need on the RSVP form.
    • Physical tickets are not needed.
    • Doors open at about 7:15 am for guests needing accessible seating.
    • Doors open at about 7:30 am for all other guests.
    • Bags will be inspected at the entrance. Flowers are permitted, as are sealed water bottles. The following items are prohibited: helium balloons, wrapped gifts, and food.
    • Reynolds Coliseum has accessible seating for those who use wheelchairs. Additional seating will be available for those that cannot climb stairs. Unfortunately, these seats are limited and are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Guests who need accessible seating can enter Reynolds Coliseum through the front doors, or North Entrance, as soon as they open, around 7:15 am. Once inside, go to the left and take the elevators to the second floor to reach the accessible seating area.
    • Plan ahead by viewing the virtual tour of Reynolds Coliseum.

    Parking Information

    • Parking is available in the Coliseum Deck, 201 Jensen Dr. Raleigh, NC 27606. See the NC State Parking Map.
    • There are a limited number of accessible parking spots available next to Reynolds Coliseum. If you need to drop someone off at the North Entrance, you may use the turn around on Dunn Avenue and then park in the Coliseum Parking Deck, if Jeter Bay ADA parking is full. See the NC State Campus Parking Accessibility Map for details.

    Photography Information

    A professional photographer will be taking a photo as each graduating student crosses the stage and a posed still photo before they return to their seat. Proofs will be emailed after graduation. You can order proofs directly from the photographer. For information, call 800-722-7033 or email info@photospecialties.com

    Livestream Information

    For friends and family who would like to watch the CNR ceremony remotely, they can view the livestream on May 2, 2025 at 8:00 am. The livestream link will be posted here before the graduation date. An email with this link will also be sent to all to graduating students attending.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The NC State University Commencement is for all NC State Graduates. Students will be recognized by college, and only Doctoral candidates walk across the stage. The College Ceremony is only for students graduating from The College of Natural Resources. At the college ceremony, every graduating CNR student in attendance will have their name called and walk across the stage. The College of Natural Resources ceremony is on Friday, May 2nd at 8:00 am at Reynolds Coliseum, and the University ceremony is on Saturday, May 3rd at 9:00 am at Carter-Finley Stadium. You must RSVP for each ceremony separately. (Visit https://commencement.ncsu.edu for information on the University-wide ceremony.)

    Graduating from college and walking across the stage at your commencement ceremony are two different things, but they are intertwined. College graduation marks the completion of your degree requirements. The commencement celebrates those accomplishments and looks towards the future.

    If you plan to finish in the summer, you may be eligible to participate in the CNR May commencement. The policy for allowing summer graduates to “walk” in the CNR spring commencement states that students must have no more than 12 hours remaining to fulfill degree requirements, which they will complete during summer, and a current GPA of 2.0 or higher.

    The undergraduate application is due by February 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Spring 2025

    The graduate application is due by March 19, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Spring 2025

    The undergraduate application is due by May 12, 2025 at 11:59pm for Summer I 2025

    The graduate application is due by June 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Summer II 2025

    The undergraduate application is due by July 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Summer II 2025

    You can apply in MyPack. For detailed instructions visit: https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-degree/graduation/apply-for-graduation/

    Apply within MyPack. For detailed instructions visit: https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-resources/privacy/

    A google form will be sent out in the weeks leading up to graduation requesting information needed from graduating students for ceremony preparation. Be sure to spell out your name and write out the pronunciation phonetically to ensure proper pronunciation as you walk across the stage.

    Academic honors are based on your cumulative GPA. For commencement recognition purposes, your cumulative GPA at the beginning of your last semester will be used in publications and the ceremony. However, your diploma and official transcript will list the academic honor that you earn once your final grades are posted.

    Summa Cum Laude: 3.75 and Higher (GOLD sash)

    Magna Cum Laude:  3.5-3.749 (SILVER sash) 

    Cum Laude:  3.25-3.499 (WHITE sash)

    There are a limited number of accessible parking spots available next to Reynolds Coliseum. If you need to drop someone off at the North Entrance, you may use the turn around on Dunn Avenue and then park in the Coliseum Parking Deck, if Jeter Bay ADA parking is full. See the NC State Campus Parking Accessibility Map for details.

    Reynolds Coliseum has accessible seating for those who use wheelchairs. Additional seating will be available for those that cannot climb stairs. Unfortunately, these seats are limited and are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Guests who need accessible seating can enter Reynolds Coliseum through the front doors, or North Entrance, as soon as they open, around 7:15 am. Once inside, go to the left and take the elevators to the second floor to reach the accessible seating area.

    There will be nowhere to store personal belongings, so bring minimal necessities and if you’d like to, a sealed water bottle.

    Bachelor’s degree candidates drape the tassel on the right side of the cap, and will ‘turn’ it at the conclusion of the University Commencement ceremony. Professional, Master’s, and Doctoral degree candidates drape the tassel on the left side of the cap.

    For the Spring CNR ceremony in Reynolds Coliseum, graduating students will enter the East entrance of Reynolds Coliseum in full regalia by 7:00 am. There will be signs and staff directing graduates to check-in tables on commencement day. The Department of Forestry & Environmental Resources and the Department of Forest Biomaterials will check-in in the East Lobby. The Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management and the Center for Geospatial Analytics will check-in in the hall along the North side of the coliseum.

    Graduating students will line-up by department, major, and then alphabetically, the same way the names will be listed in the program.

    For the Spring CNR ceremony in Reynolds Coliseum, guests will enter through the North Entrance. Doors will open around 7:15 am for guests needing accessible seating, and around 7:30 am for all other guests.

    No

    About 2 hours is the anticipated ceremony time.

    Additional Questions?

    Contact the CNR Academic Affairs Office

    Visit: Biltmore Hall Room 2018
    Phone: 919-515-6191
    Email: cnr-graduation@ncsu.edu

    CNR Fall 2024 Ceremony

    Congratulations Graduates! View the digital version of the Fall 2024 CNR Commencement Ceremony program here to share with friends and family. View the Dec. 13th, 2024 ceremony’s livestream video here.