Carolina Law’s Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2026 will be held on Friday, May 8 in Carmichael Arena at 12:30 p.m.

Commencement will also be available for livestream and the link will be available here closer to May 8.

No. You may bring as many family members and friends as you like. Commencement is open to the public.

We advise all guests not leave bags at home, as there is We advise all guests not leave bags at home, as there is no safe place to store them. For information on the “Clear Bag” Policy for Commencement and what items are permissible, please go to UNC Commencement | Frequently Asked Questions

Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Please be sure to arrive early and be patient, as Friday, May 9 is a workday for UNC employees as well as numerous other commencement ceremonies and athletic events happening on campus. Guest parking is available at the Fri

Please be sure to arrive early and be patient, as Friday, May 8 is a workday for UNC employees as well as numerous other commencement ceremonies and athletic events happening on campus. Guest parking is available at the Friday Center South Park & Ride Lot. Shuttles should run continuously from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the Friday Center to Carmichael Arena. Shuttles will accommodate strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs. Please be sure to be on the shuttle for Carmichael, as there are shuttles to other ceremony locations on May 8.

Graduates with parking permits may park in their assigned weekday parking lots. Graduates without parking permits should park in the Friday Center South Park & Ride Lot and take the shuttles. Carpooling or ridesharing is also encouraged.

Depending upon availability, graduates may request an accommodated parking pass for guests who are unable to use the accessible shuttles and need to park at the School of Government or the School of Law. The guest’s graduate must request a pass, receive confirmation from the Student Development Office, and that pass must be displayed in order to enter the lot. Anyone without a pass will be required to park at the Friday Center as described above. Following the ceremony, shuttles will pick up at Carmichael or at the bus stop on South Road in front of the School of Government and return guests and graduates to the Friday Center lot.

Yes. Unless there is a conflict with an athletic event, ADA accessible parking will be available in the School of Government parking deck for those with passes approved by the School of Law. Golf cart service is available to / from Carmichael Arena and the School of Government lot. Most guests will need to park at the Friday Center South Park and Ride Lot and take an accessible shuttle to Carmichael Arena.

We will provide staff and wheelchairs to assist individuals from the golf carts and the shuttle drop off to either the guest entrance or all the way to the seating area. Reserved seating is available for individuals who cannot use stairs and graduates will be provided with information in early spring to request accommodated seating. Only one companion is permitted to sit with each wheelchair user. Guests with accessibility issues but not requiring wheelchair access or seating will be able to use the first row in front of the wheelchair rows. Please note this row does have a few steps for access.

As the ceremony is indoors, it will be held as planned.

No. It is imperative that graduates follow all directions given by the School of Law staff and the student marshals.

Graduates who purchase their regalia may keep it. Those

Graduates who purchase their regalia may keep it. Those who rent regalia will need to return the gown but may keep the tam (cap) and tassel. If you borrow any items from the Student Development Office, you must return it following the ceremony.

After Commencement, graduates are welcome to donate their regalia to the School of Law to be used by future graduates who need it!

Your diploma will be mailed to you in early fall and is sent by an outside vendor. Graduates will need to indicate the appropriate address on their application for graduation. The U.S Postal Service will not forward diplomas.

Yes. A representative from Photo Specialties will take two individual photographs of each graduate during the ceremony. The School of Law Registrar will provide graduates’ law school email addresses to Photo Specialties. Photo proofs will be emailed during the summer. You will have an opportunity to order photographs directly from the company at that time.

As soon as possible! All UNC undergraduate and As soon as possible! All UNC undergraduate and professional/graduate schools have commencement ceremonies on the same weekend, as does Duke University, NC State, and other local colleges and universities. There are also athletic events happening on-campus that weekend. Hotel accommodations fill up fast. Sooner rather than later.

Each year, the graduating class selects a professor to receive the Fredrick B. McCall Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is given to a professor in recognition of excellence in teaching, contributions to the UNC academic climate and commitment to the student body of Carolina Law. The winner of the McCall Award will be announced at the Graduate Reception on Thursday, May 8 and recognized at the Commencement Ceremony.

If you are not participating in commencement, please notify the Office of Student Development.