Questions?

Please contact:

• Undergraduate questions: Prof. Matthew Cooper (Director of Undergraduate Programs) or Emily Resk (Academic Advisor)
• Graduate questions: Prof. Adriana San Miguel (Director of Graduate Programs) or Sandra Bailey (Student Services Specialist)

Graduation will NOT require tickets for guests.

The CBE Department Graduation Ceremony does not require tickets for entry of family and friends to attend the ceremony.

Students will receive an email asking them to RSVP (linked below) to let coordinators know how many guests they plan to bring, and there should be enough seats for everyone. However, we recommend arriving to the Talley Student Union Ballroom early to secure your seat as it is a first-come-first-serve basis. There will be overflow seating across from the ballroom in room 3222 with live video.

The University Commencement does not require tickets for guests. Seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

*Student RSVP form
You must be signed in with your @ncsu.edu email to access the form

TWO Graduation Ceremonies

The University Commencement and CBE Department Graduation.

University Commencement: Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 9 am inside Carter-Finley Stadium.
(The Commencement ceremony should last no longer than 2.5 hours)

• Visit the official commencement website to view the schedule of events, student checklist, dates and deadlines, and FAQs.
• The possession of or use of alcoholic beverages in the stadium is prohibited.
• Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the stadium.
• Commencement will live-stream at http://go.ncsu.edu/WatchCommencement

CBE Department Graduation: Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6 pm inside the Talley Student Union Ballroom. (Duration of ceremony will be approximately 90 minutes)

• Department graduation ceremony will live-stream at https://go.ncsu.edu/cbecommencement
• Alumni speaker: Ned McCoy (BS ’79, MS ’81), President and CEO of Civica Rx
• Student speaker: Jaden Leatherman

Instructions for CBE Graduation Ceremony

Doors open at 5:00 pm for guests.

Students should arrive early to participate in the group photo at 5:20 pm around the seal on the 2nd floor of Talley Student Union. A professional photographer will take the group photo, which will be made available to students after the weekend.

After the group photo, students should check in at in Room 4280 by 5:30 pm. Students will line up alphabetically by last name (BS, then MS, then PhD) along the 4th floor of Talley.

The ceremony will begin promptly at 6:00 pm. The order of the processional will be: (alphabetically by last name according to the program provided at the ceremony)

1. Undergraduates
2. M.S.
3. Ph.D.**

**Ph.D.’s will receive their hood during the ceremony from their advisor or a member of their Ph.D. committee. However, they must purchase the hood ahead of time.

Feel free to take pictures, but please be aware that a professional photographer will take an individual photo of each graduate shaking Prof. Sindee Simon’s hand during the ceremony. These photos will be made available to students after the weekend.

Parking & Directions

• Click here for more information about parking at Carter-Finley Stadium for University Commencement
• For CBE Graduation Ceremony: Talley Student Union
  • Expect Delays: Heavy traffic is anticipated around Talley Student Union and Reynolds Coliseum. Please plan to arrive early, and be prepared to park elsewhere, should there be no available parking in close proximity.
  • No Permits Required: Parking will be free and open to the public for commencement.
  • Parking Locations: Available in the Coliseum Deck and Dan Allen Deck.
    • Note: The Coliseum Deck fills quickly. If it reaches capacity, vehicles will be redirected to the Dan Allen Deck. The Dan Allen Deck is approximately a 10-minute walk away from Talley. Click here to see walking directions from Dan Allen Deck to Talley. 
  • ADA Parking: A dedicated area for ADA parking is located adjacent to Reynolds Coliseum and Talley Student Union. A DMV-issued placard must be displayed to access this area. To help with traffic flow, please have your placard ready for the attendant.
  • Drop-off/Pick-up: A designated area is reserved for drop off/pick up. Please follow the signage and direction of the parking staff.  

Student Regalia

• Regalia should be worn by all graduates.
• Graduates must wear regalia to participate in the CBE Department Graduation Ceremony
• Academic honors for BS graduates (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) are designated based on a student’s cumulative GPA when entering their final semester. This is what the printed program will reflect. If final grades are submitted in time and your honors designation changes, you can swap out your stole at the NCSU Bookstore. When checking in for the ceremony, you can update your honors status for the person reading out the names so the correct designation is used.
• Click here for information: Student Regalia
  • The link above describes the different regalia and who wears what.
  • Pricing and links to purchase are listed on the webpage.

Diploma Distribution

Students should confirm the address to which their diploma should be sent. If no ‘Diploma Address’ is identified, all diplomas will be mailed to the ‘Home Address’ listed in MyPack Portal. Learn how to update your address.

Students who do not supply a diploma name will have their legal name printed on both their diploma and in the commencement program. Learn how to update your name.

Defer graduation walk: Students can defer to the Fall ceremony by NOT going to the Spring ceremony and notifying the undergraduate or graduate director of your intention to participate in the Fall ceremony.

Pictures