Commencement

Register to participate in commencement

Please contact dana.pierce@unh.edu with any questions.

Caps and Gowns (regalia) are required for all faculty and graduates participating in the commencement ceremony. Gown styles differ for Bachelor, Masters and Ph.D. candidates. The cap and gown vendor will know what is required and will provide you with the appropriate regalia.

Orders shipped to your home must be made by April 23.
https://www.unh.edu/university-ceremonies-and-events/commencement/caps-gowns

Please contact the UNH Bookstore at bookstore@unh.edu or 603.862.2140

Information about UNH rings or graduation announcements available for purchase.

More details coming soon!

Ceremony Location:

University of New Hampshire Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, NH

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Processional begins at 12:15PM with the ceremony starting at 12:30PM.

Graduates need to arrive between 5:45PM and 6PM to check in and line up in the Hamel Recreation Center. Signs and volunteers will be available to direct you. Please allow additional time to locate parking and arrive at the arena. Note: there is no dropping off allowed in front of the arena.

All graduates will be seated on the floor of the arena.

Tickets will not be required for guests and there will be no limit to the number of guests each student can invite to the ceremony.

Seating for commencement is general admission. Doors open at 6PM for seating.

Please leave valuables and purses with family and friends in the stands, as there will be no place to store items during the ceremony. Alcohol is not allowed in the arena.

Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 12:30PM
Whittemore Center Arena
UNH Durham Campus, 128 Main St. Durham, NH

Time of ceremony:

Processional begins at 12:15PM with the ceremony starting at 12:30PM.

How long with ceremony last?

We anticipate that the ceremonies will be approximately 1.5 hours. We would encourage guests to plan for time to return to their vehicles and navigate the traffic in determining a time for post-event reservations.

Are tickets for guests required?

Tickets are required for guests. Students will have the opportunity to request up to 4 tickets each during the registration process. Tickets are not transferrable. There will be overflow seating in Lundholm Gymnasium at the Field House for guests without tickets to watch the livestream.

What time do the doors open for seating?

6PM. Doors to the arena will open for guests one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. There is another commencement ceremony prior to the GSC/UNH Manchester ceremony and guests will not be permitted access to the arena earlier than 6:00PM. Guests should allow additional time to locate parking and arrive at the arena. Please note, there is no dropping off allowed in front of the arena.

Where will guests be seated?

Seating will be available 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis to guests with ceremony tickets. Please note, depending on your time of arrival, another college's ceremony may be taking place. We ask that you be respectful of those graduates and their families, and wait to enter the Whittemore Center until 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

Where will graduates be seated?

All graduates will be seated on the floor of the arena.

Parking

Parking is available for all guests in Lot A or West Edge Parking lot. Parking lot assignments can be found here.

Guests with an ADA placard for their vehicle will be welcome to park in the Elliott Alumni Center parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis.

ADA Accessible Parking and Additional Information

ADA Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests with an ADA placard on their vehicle. ADA parking will be located in D lot at the Alumni Center. Please note, all shuttles are ADA accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs.

All guests with accessibility issues are encouraged to arrive 1.5 hours prior to the start of the ceremony and to expect delays in seating due to the crowds. Please visit this page for information on accessible seating, parking and other information for the day.

Will the concessions be open?

Yes! Guests will be able to purchase water, other non-alcoholic beverages, and light fare.

How will the guests exit? What safety measures can I expect?

Upon completion of the ceremony, graduates will exit the building following the recessional. Guests should exit the building from the marked exits along the concourse and meet their graduates outside the building. Guests will not be permitted onto the arena floor at any time, with the exception of an emergency.

What items are prohibited from the arena?

In order to ensure a great experience for all those attending the UNH Commencement ceremonies, we ask that guests refrain from bringing the following items from the Whittemore Center Arena:

· Alcohol

· Animals (excluding service dogs)

· Artificial Noise Makers

· Backpacks, and oversized bags including coolers

· Outside food and drink other than water

· Balloons

· Cigarettes and lighters

· Laser Pointers

· Signs and flags that will obstruct other’s view

· Weapons.

Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 12:30PM
Whittemore Center Arena
UNH Durham Campus, 128 Main St. Durham, NH

Time of ceremony:

Processional begins at 12:15PM with the ceremony starting at 12:30PM.

How long with ceremony last?

We anticipate that the ceremonies will be approximately 1.5 hours. We would encourage guests to plan for time to return to their vehicles and navigate the traffic in determining a time for post-event reservations.

What time should I arrive?

Graduates need to arrive one hour before the ceremony begins to check in and line up in the Hamel Recreation Center. Signs and volunteers will be available to direct you. Please allow additional time to locate parking and arrive at the arena. Note: there is no dropping off allowed in front of the arena.

Where will graduates be seated?

All graduates will be seated on the floor of the arena.

Are tickets for guests required?

Tickets are required for guests. Students will have the opportunity to request up to 4 tickets each during the registration process. Tickets are not transferrable. There will be overflow seating in Lundholm Gymnasium at the Field House for guests without tickets to watch the livestream.

Where will guests be seated?

Seating will be available 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis to guests with ceremony tickets. Please note, depending on your time of arrival, another college's ceremony may be taking place. We ask that you be respectful of those graduates and their families, and wait to enter the Whittemore Center until 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

Directions

University of New Hampshire Whittemore Center Arena is located in Durham, NH. · For directions to the arena, please visit here.

Parking

Parking is available for all guests in Lot A or West Edge Parking lot. Parking lot assignments can be found here.

Guests with an ADA placard for their vehicle will be welcome to park in the Elliott Alumni Center parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis.

ADA Accessible Parking and Additional Information

ADA Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests with an ADA placard on their vehicle. ADA parking will be located in D lot at the Alumni Center. Please note, all shuttles are ADA accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs.

All guests with accessibility issues are encouraged to arrive 1.5 hours prior to the start of the ceremony and to expect delays in seating due to the crowds. Please visit this page for information on accessible seating, parking and other information for the day.

What items are prohibited from the arena?

Please leave valuables and purses with family and friends in the stands, as there will be no place to store items during the ceremony. Alcohol is not allowed in the arena.

In order to ensure a great experience for all those attending the UNH Commencement ceremonies, we ask that guests refrain from bringing the following items from the Whittemore Center Arena:

· Alcohol

· Animals (excluding service dogs)

· Artificial Noise Makers

· Backpacks, and oversized bags including coolers

· Outside food and drink other than water

· Balloons

· Cigarettes and lighters

· Laser Pointers

· Signs and flags that will obstruct other’s view

· Weapons.

International guests may need an invitation letter to apply for a tourist visa to visit the U.S. for Commencement. Students who would like the Commencement Office to send an official invitation letter to their guests should complete the online request form. It is wise to request the invitation letter well in advance of your guest's intended visit as he/she will need to allow time to apply for a visa and make appropriate arrangements to travel.

The invitation letter will be addressed to the embassy/visa office of the guest's country of origin. The letter will be emailed to the graduate for them to mail to the invitee. Please allow up to 2 weeks for your request to be processed and mailed.

The following information will be needed in order to fill out the online request form, and for the request to be processed:

• The embassy/visa office address
• Guest's full name
• Guest's country of origin
• Guest's date of birth
• Guest's relationship to the student
• Student's name
• Student's country of origin
• Student's date of birth

How long is the ceremony?

We anticipate that the ceremony will be approximately 1.5 hours. We would encourage guests to plan for time to return to their vehicles and navigate the traffic in determining a time for post-event reservations.

Will the ceremony be live streamed?

Yes! The link to watch will be available on the commencement homepage at the start of commencement weekend.

When will the ceremony begin?

The processional for the ceremony begins at 6:45PM prior to the scheduled start of the ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7PM.

What is the schedule for the ceremony? When will my name be called?

The ceremony will begin with approximately 30 minutes of remarks from a variety of members of the UNH Manchester and Granite State College communities. The conferral of degrees will take place after the remarks and the awarding of the honorary degree. Graduates from Granite State College will go first, followed by graduates from UNH Manchester.

Will there be a rehearsal?

No. Volunteers will direct you where to go the day of the ceremony.

How will I know when it's time for my row to walk toward the graduation stage and how will I know where to go?

Members of the faculty from Granite State College and UNH Manchester known as Faculty Marshals will direct you at all times throughout the ceremony. They will be wearing yellow stoles over their regalia. Please follow their instructions.

Will I actually get my diploma during the ceremony?

No. You will receive a leather bound diploma holder that contains a congratulatory note. Because we award degrees throughout the year, many graduates have already received their diplomas by mail. If you are completing your program in May, your diploma will be mailed when academic records and certification of graduation are complete: approximately six to eight weeks after the conferral date. Conferral is pending successful completion of all remaining course work in your programs.

How does the ceremony end? How do I meet up with my loved ones?

Upon completion of the ceremony grads will recess out of the building where they can meet up with their loved ones outside.

Will there be a professional photographer at commencement?

Yes, each student will have their photo taken as they cross the stage by an external company called GradImages. They will contact all students directly in the weeks following the ceremony with a coupon for a free photo as well as a link to purchase additional copies.

When will my photos be available?

You will be notified as soon as photos when they are available. More details to come!

Faculty information can be found here

HOTEL AND DINING IN THE DURHAM AREA

UNH Manchester has a corporate relationship with DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. This relationship allows us to offer overnight rooms at the DoubleTree at a discounted for any time throughout the year. Use our corporate ID number 0003205161 when booking online or over the phone.

Manchester-area Hotels:

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester
700 Elm St., Manchester
Book here
Corporate ID account to use when booking: 0003205161

Tru by Hilton Manchester Downtown
135 Spring Street, Manchester
Book here
Corporate ID account to use when booking: 3282855

Manchester-area Airbnb:
The Factory on Willow
252 Willow St, Manchester
Book here

Diplomas are mailed 8-12 weeks after the graduation certification process.

Diploma covers are given at Commencement.

Will appear exactly as indicated on your Intent to Graduate form.

For changes contact the UNH Manchester Registration Office, 603-641-4136 or unh.diploma@unh.edu.

Diplomas are mailed to the address provided on your Intent to Graduate form. Do not provide a campus mailing address. Verify mailing address, in WEBCAT and select Personal Information.

Please NOTE: International addresses may delay receiving diploma.

Contact unh.diploma@unh.edu for more information.

UNH works with an external company called GradImages to take a photo of each student as they cross the stage. Students will be contacted directly by Gradimages a few weeks after the ceremony. Students will be given a coupon code to order one free 5x7" photo. Additionally, UNH Marketing will be capturing candid moments at Commencement from beginning to end. These images will be available online via Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/unh. Images will be continually added over several days following the ceremony. Guests will not have access to the front of the stage to take photos.

University of New Hampshire Whittemore Center Arena is located in Durham, NH.

• For directions to the arena, please visit here.

General parking information will be available soon.

ADA Accessible Parking

ADA Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests with an ADA placard on their vehicle. ADA parking will be located in D lot at the Alumni Center. Please note, all shuttles are ADA accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs.

All guests with accessibility issues are encouraged to arrive 1.5 hours prior to the start of the ceremony and to expect delays in seating due to the crowds.

Please visit this page for information on accessible seating, parking and other information for the day.