FAQs

The date for the 136th Commencement Exercises is Friday, May 22, 2026. Two ceremonies for the undergraduate Class of 2026 will take place in Schar Center (542 N. Williamson Ave., Elon, N.C.).

• 9 a.m. — Diploma ceremony for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Communications
• 2:30 p.m. — Diploma ceremony for Elon College, the College of Arts and Science; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; and the School of Health Sciences

Each ceremony will last approximately 2.5 hours and will include the keynote address followed by reading of names and awarding of diplomas as candidates cross the stage.

Graduates and families may verify primary major by referring to the Graduation Candidates List. Graduates with multiple majors are assigned to the ceremony corresponding to their primary major on their degree audit (available in OnTrack). Graduates must attend the ceremony to which they are assigned to receive their diploma.

Candidates receiving diplomas at the 9 a.m. ceremony should report to the Koury Practice Gym in Schar Center beginning at 7:45 a.m. Instructions for the ceremony will be shared at 8:20 a.m.

Candidates receiving diplomas at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony should report to the Koury Practice Gym in Schar Center beginning at 1:15 p.m. Instructions for the ceremony will be shared at 1:50 p.m.

Candidates should use the candidate check-in entrance.

During the 9 a.m. ceremony, B.A. candidates will receive their diplomas first, followed by B.F.A., B.S. and B.S.B.A. All candidates will cross the stage from audience left to audience right.

During the 2:30 p.m. ceremony, B.A. candidates will receive their diplomas first, followed by B.F.A. and B.S.

All candidates confirmed to participate in May 22 Commencement must reserve guest tickets for their guests attending their diploma ceremony. With the anticipated number of participants in each diploma ceremony, the maximum number of guest tickets is five (5) to maintain State of North Carolina emergency and fire code compliance.

Fall 2025 and winter 2026 graduates as well as Spring 2026 candidates who currently do not live at Elon (i.e., study abroad, remote internship, dual degree program), must also request guest tickets if they plan to participate in May 22 ceremonies.

Candidates will receive email instructions to request guest tickets in mid-April. There is no charge for guest tickets.

Candidates will pick up guest tickets at the Schar Center Ticket Office from May 4-8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, May 9, the ticket office will be open 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for candidates who are unavailable during weekday hours, e.g. due to internships, student teaching or employment.

Those who are not at Elon in spring semester (fall 2025/winter 2026 term grads, study abroad, remote internships) should email commencement@elon.edu to arrange to pick up tickets when they return to campus during Commencement week.

Candidates are responsible for requesting, claiming and distributing tickets to the guests who will use them on May 22. Tickets must be picked up in person by the candidate with Phoenix card or Photo ID. Please note that tickets cannot be picked up by friends or family on behalf of a candidate.

Guests without tickets to Schar Center ceremonies may watch in Toshio Sato Commons. Tickets are not required for viewing in Sato Commons. Doors will open one hour before each ceremony.

LIVESTREAM: The ceremonies will also be available to livestream on personal devices at elon.edu/live.

CEREMONY ARCHIVE: May 2026 Commencement ceremonies will be available for on demand viewing in the days following the ceremonies on the Ceremony Archive page.

Parking lots will open at 7:15 a.m. for Commencement guest parking. Guests are asked to park at Schar Center only for the ceremony they are attending. Please visit the Parking and Accessibility Information pages for more information.

Doors will open approximately one hour and 15 minutes before each ceremony

• 7:45 a.m. for the 9 a.m. diploma ceremony
• 1:15 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. diploma ceremony

Please note: Doors to Schar Center will be locked before 7:45 a.m. and between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. for final preparations and to set the ceremony stage for each ceremony in Schar Center.

Restrooms are available at the shuttle bus stop in Latham Baseball Park and Hunt Softball Park before the entrances open for guests. Please plan accordingly.

Security personnel may inspect camera bags, purses and similar items at the entrance. To ensure a guest-friendly atmosphere, the following items are prohibited in Schar Center and Alumni Gym:

• Weapons
• Explosives
• Artificial noisemakers
• Laser pointers and glow sticks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Outside food and beverage
• Coolers
• Large purses, bags, backpacks and duffels
• Smoking/tobacco products
• E-cigarettes
• No flags, banners or signs
• Balloons and beach balls
• Wrapped gifts
• Bicycles, skateboards, hover boards, rollerblades and roller shoes
• Pets (except recognized service animals under ADA titles II and III)
• Camera bipods, tripods and selfie sticks
• Folding chairs

The following items are permitted inside Schar Center:

• Wallets and small purses
• Diaper bags (subject to search)
• Clear empty drinking bottle (must be empty at entrance)
• Professional cameras (defined as cameras with detachable lenses)
• Unwrapped gifts and flowers (glass vases not permitted)
• Gift bags (subject to search)

Elon Wi-Fi has been optimized to provide assistive technologies for the hearing impaired and for Spanish translation. To ensure that all guests have the best experience possible, we strongly encourage the use of personal cellular data for all other mobile devices during the event. Assistive technology support and other requests for Wi-Fi access can be accommodated by visiting the Accessibility Station at the Hunt A entrance to Schar Center and in the Sato Commons area behind audience seating.

Saplings will be distributed at the conclusion of Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection on Tuesday, May 19.

Graduate Program candidates will receive their saplings after the ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 in the Koury Athletic Center concourse.

The Graduate-Level Commencement will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gymnasium at Koury Athletic Center.

In this joint ceremony, the following degrees will be awarded:

• Master of Arts in Higher Education
• Master of Education in Innovation
• Master of Science in Accounting
• Master of Science in Business Analytics
• Master of Business Administration

See the Graduate Program Commencement Exercises page for more information.