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University Registrar

  • graduate shaking hands with president and dean

Entrance Procession

Graduation is a time of pomp and circumstance. Here’s a little background on who and what you can expect to see during the commencement ceremony.

The University president presides at each commencement exercise. Official ceremonies include Carolina’s time-honored tradition of honoring each degree candidate individually. 

Order of Exercises

The ceremony begins with a procession, led by the university mace, that includes representatives of the university faculties, university officials and deans, members of the Board of Trustees, distinguished guests and the president.

  • National anthem
  • Invocation
  • Presidential opening remarks
  • Conferring of honorary degrees
  • Commencement address
  • Presentation of degree candidates
  • Conferring of degrees in course
  • Benediction
  • Alma mater
  • Recessional

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