Frequently Asked Questions for Families and Guests
What is the date of Spring 2024 Commencement?
May 3, 2024 at 10am in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
What happens in the case of rain for the University Ceremony?
The Spring 2024 University Commencement Ceremony is held outdoors at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The event will be held as planned rain or shine unless there is severe weather such as lightning. Visit the Commencement home page or ECU website for updates.
How long will the ceremony last?
The University Commencement Ceremony lasts about 75 minutes. The college recognition ceremonies will last about 75-90 minutes.
Will there be a Live Stream for the Ceremonies?
There will be a live stream link for the University Commencement Ceremony which will be posted on the commencement website on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 10am.
There will not be a live stream or recording for the individual college recognition ceremonies unless otherwise communicated by the individual college/department.
Concession Stands at the University Ceremony
Concession stands will be open throughout Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for those interested in purchasing water or sodas. There will be no food or alcoholic beverages served.
Will there be any other in-person ceremonies for Spring 2024 for college or departments (e.g. College of Business / Psychology Dept.)?
ECU will host college recognition ceremonies in the afternoon and evening of May 3 and during the day on May 4 in various locations. Guest tickets are required and are limited per graduate based on venue size and graduate numbers.
A member of our group is a person with a disability. Do we need to make advanced arrangements?
The venue for the main university ceremony is fully accessible. Volunteers will be available to direct individuals with disabilities to accessible parking and seating options. The main university ceremony is ASL interpreted.
If you have questions specific to accommodations for the Commencement ceremony, please contact DSS at DSSdept@ecu.edu.
Who Attends the College Ceremonies?
College ceremonies include undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral students. If the college doesn’t have multiple ceremonies listed above that means all departments in that college will attend that ceremony.
Why are guest tickets required for the college ceremonies?
The college ceremonies are being held at indoor locations that have a limited number of seats available. Each graduate in the ceremony will received the same amount of guest tickets and that ensures each person with a guest ticket has a seat. Guests three (3) years of age and under will not need a ticket but MUST sit in the lap of another guest and will not their own seat.
Are names read during the University Ceremony?
ECU does not read the names of graduates during the university ceremonies. This is not a pandemic related situation. We simply don’t have the ability to read thousands of individual names in the university ceremonies. Only doctoral and professional student names will be read as this is a standard practice during university ceremonies. Individual names are typically read during the college ceremonies.
Where does graduate name reading occur?
The names of undergraduate and master’s degree graduate names are typically read during the college and department ceremonies. This is separate from the university ceremony. See the list above to view the college recognition ceremony schedule.
What is the difference between the main university commencement ceremony and my unit recognition ceremony?
The main university commencement ceremony is where degrees are conferred by the Chancellor; individual names are not read; Your college ceremony is coordinated and held by your college, school or department.
Dining Options
Most ECU campus dining locations will close on May 2nd at 7pm and will remain closed throughout the weekend. The Starbucks and the Pirate Market in the Main Campus Student Center will be the only locations open on May 3 and May 4.