Graduation
Commencement is a long-standing tradition that celebrates the achievements of our graduates. It is the culmination of our students’ hard work over the course of the last four years (and sometimes even longer), and in the case of our graduate students, intensive study over a shorter period of time. Congratulations to all of our graduates on your accomplishments.
Commencement 2025!
Commencement 2025 Ceremony will be on Saturday, May 3 (at 10 a.m.) at the Crown Coliseum (1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306).
Rehearsal for the commencement ceremony will be held at The Crown on Friday, May 2 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants should plan to arrive at 1:30 to ensure graduate and sponsor information is accurate and assigned seating is secured. Sponsors should attend the rehearsal with graduates. Rehearsal will begin promptly at 2:30 pm.
Livestream
Commencement Communication
If you indicate that you plan to participate in the ceremony, you will receive frequent email communication to both your student email and personal email addresses on file. Please check your email often.
All communication regarding Commencement 2025 and events leading up to the ceremony will come from [email protected]. Questions regarding the ceremony should be directed to this email address only.
Tickets & Livestream
Tickets are not required for guests and there is no limit on the number of guests who can attend. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the homepage of the Methodist University web site under “What’s Happening at Methodist.” The broadcast will begin approximately 10 minutes prior to the event’s start.
Event Parking
Visit the Commencement 2025 Parking Map for details about where to park at the Crown Coliseum.
Venue Policies
Methodist University is partnering with Crown Coliseum for commencement. This event venue has its own rules that guests are required to abide by. Please take a look at the Crown Coliseum Policies before arriving; in particular, pay attention to the Clear Bag Policy.
Caps & Gowns
Graduates must wear a cap and gown to cross the stage. Graduates and sponsors may not wear jeans, tennis shoes, or hats (other than graduation cap). Recommended dress is business casual or professional dress.
Graduation Hooding by Sponsors
The hooding ceremony takes place as you cross the stage to receive your diploma. Your sponsor, who holds the hood during the ceremony, will place the hood over your head just before you receive your diploma cover.
Many of our graduates choose a sponsor who has made a positive impact on their time at the University. This includes a parent, child, and even a staff or faculty member. Your sponsor and their relationship to you will be announced as you walk across the stage.
The academic hood is a visual representation of your level of academic achievement and the scholastic degree being conferred. The hood is designed to be worn with the velvet side up and the small, tapered end in the front. The small, tapered end has a cord you may attach to a shirt button to prevent the hood from riding against your neck. The velvet trim represents the learning discipline (major), the chevron represents the college conferring the degree, the lining represents the University, and the black shell is the traditional color determined by the Intercollegiate Bureau.
Hooding Instructional Video
Graduation Cap Decoration
Please take into consideration the following guidelines when decorating your graduation caps (gowns may not be decorated):
- Only the flat, top area of the mortar board may be decorated. There may be nothing hanging down from any of the sides of the cap.
- Decorations must be flat on the surface of the cap. 3-D creations are prohibited.
- No advertisements. No symbols, abbreviations, initials, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that refer to drugs or controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons or be of a sexual nature, denote an affiliation with gangs or which advocate violence or hate.
Methodist University reserves the right to confiscate any cap that is not in compliance with the university handbooks, policies, and procedures.
Failure to follow these rules will result in being asked to wear a plain cap provided by the Office of Academic Affairs. Students will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony without caps and gowns.
Baccalaureate: A Moment of Gratitude & Blessing
The Baccalaureate will be seamlessly integrated into Saturday’s commencement ceremony, creating a moment for spiritual reflection by all. A blessing of the academic hoods will be followed by a poignant moment when you (as a graduate) will present the hood to your sponsor recognizing his or her support and guidance throughout your academic journey. The Baccalaureate moment anticipates Commencement, gives honor to God, and celebrates lives dedicated to learning and wisdom.
Hood Presentation Instructional Video
Grads Give Back
In 2014, a group of seniors wanted to leave a lasting legacy at MU. They collected donations from more than 150 graduates and named the new campaign Grads Give Back. Did you know your tuition only covers 75% of the cost for you to attend MU? Donations from alumni and friends of the University filled the gap to make your education possible.
Now it’s your turn! By supporting the Grads Give Back campaign, your gift is your first chance to pay it forward for students at MU. Make a gift and receive your Class of 2025 t-shirt. December 2024 grads will receive a Class of 2024 t-shirt (please indicate you are a December 2024 graduate in the comment section of the donation page).
You can donate online by visiting donate.methodist.edu/grads or make your donation at one of our Grad Events or at the Alumni Office in the Mallett-Rogers House behind the Duggins Soccer Stadium. If you are not in-person this semester and will not be at graduation rehearsal to pick up your t-shirt, please let us know and we can ship a t-shirt to you once you have made the minimum donation.
Questions
For questions about Commencement 2025, please reach out to this email address only: [email protected].