Commencement Celebration

To participate in commencement, you must be dressed in the appropriate cap and gown. You can purchase graduation caps, tassels, and gowns from the Carteret CC Bookstore on campus and online. The cost of graduation wear is about $44.00. Only Carteret CC-authorized academic regalia, including honor cords and stoles, may be worn by graduates.

HOW TO ORDER CAP & GOWN

You may purchase your cap and gown in-person at the campus bookstore or online. To purchase online, use the link below. Orders will be shipped to the home address you provide. Last day to order caps and gowns online is April 10th.

• Caps and gowns are available for $44.00 in the campus bookstore.
• Approximate cost for Cap & Gown will be $38.00 plus shipping (~$12.95)  Caps come with a school tassel. Additional tassels will be $6.00 (Fees subject to change).
• The campus bookstore will have Veteran cords and stoles available for purchase.
• Honors tassels are provided to qualified students by the Awards and Graduation Committee.

HOW TO BORROW CAP & GOWN

The Registrar’s office has a limited number of donated caps and gowns that may be borrowed for the ceremony on a first-come basis. Borrowed items are required to be returned prior to diploma being issued. Please contact the office at [email protected] for availability.

CAP DECORATIONS

Students who purchase their own caps may decorate them. Decorations may not depict or contain profanity or illicit content, to include drugs, paraphernalia, or weapons.

• Health Science graduates may wear their stethoscopes
• Culinary graduates may wear their chef caps

PAY IT FORWARD

If you do not wish to keep your regalia you may donate it to the college — it’s the “green” thing to do!  All donated regalia will be made available to future graduates who would be unable to attend graduation without it.

HONOR CORDS & STOLES

• Academic Honors – Students graduating “with Honors” wear gold tassels and have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher in their major.
• Black History Honor – Graduate wears the Kente cloth stole in honor of their African heritage and pride. The colors of the cloth each hold symbolism: gold=status/serenity, yellow=fertility, green=renewal, blue=pure spirit/harmony, red=passion, and black=union with ancestors/spiritual awareness.
• Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) – Graduate wears a Carolina blue cord and stole with Carteret Community College logo. C-STEP graduates have guaranteed admissions to UNC Chapel Hill.
• Military Veteran – Graduate wears a red, white, and blue cord and is a current or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) who served on active duty.
• PathWays – Graduate wears teal and gold cord. PathWays graduates have guaranteed admissions to UNC Wilmington.
• Pirate Promise – Graduate wears a purple and gold tassel. Pirate Promise graduates have guaranteed admissions to East Carolina University.
• Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society – Graduate wears blue and gold cords and/or tassels. Members must have a 3.5 GPA or higher and a commitment to scholarly endeavors for membership.
• Sigma Alpha Pi | National Society of Leadership and Success – Graduate wears black and silver stoles and a double cord in like colors. Members must have a 2.6 GPA or higher and a commitment to leadership and success both scholarly and in the community.
• Sigma Kappa Delta | National English Honor Society, Delta Delta Chapter – Graduate wears green and yellow cords. Members must have 12 or more college semester hours, earned a B or higher in ENG-111, and a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• SkillsUSA Member – Graduate wears red and white cords. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It promotes educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.
• Tau Upsilon Alpha | Human Services Honor Society – Graduate wears gold and royal blue stoles, medallions in like colors, and royal blue cords. Members must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework leading to the A.A.S. degree in Human Services Technology and a 3.25 GPA or higher.

TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR GUESTS.

Each graduate may receive up to FOUR (4) tickets to the graduation ceremony for guests. Children and infants do require a ticket. All persons count towards the Civic Center’s total occupancy per fire code.

Requesting tickets

Students must make the request for tickets by April 15, 2025 and can do so when they apply for graduation through Carteret Compass.

Ticket Pick-Up

Tickets will ONLY be available for pick up from the the Registrar Office in Room 119 of the McGee Building on the following days:

• Monday, May 5
• Tuesday, May 6
• Wednesday, May 7

Tickets will not be available for mailing or pick up after May 7^th. Any tickets not picked up by May 7^th will be distributed to extra ticket lotteries. Tickets will not be held for the day of ceremony pick up.

Extra Tickets

A lottery will be held to distribute extra tickets if any remain.

Ceremony Overflow

Guest who attend in-person without tickets may watch the graduation ceremony from Joslyn Hall in the McGee Building where it will be live streamed.

• Graduates should arrive and check-in to the staging located on the 2nd floor of the Civic Center no later than 2 p.m.
• Graduates will bring their cap and gown.
• Attendants will direct you to the correct table for check-in. No guests or children are allowed in staging area.
• Upon check-in, you will receive “reader” cards with your name. Present these cards to announcers before you cross the stage.
• Plan to leave purses and other valuables with family or friends. The Civic Center does not have secure storage areas for participants.

DIPLOMA COVERS- Graduates attending commencement will receive a diploma cover when they walk across the stage after their name is called. Please note only one (1) diploma cover will be awarded to graduates during commencement or at the time when the graduate picks up their diploma in person.

DIPLOMAS- Diplomas may be picked up fifteen (15) business days after the semester ends from the Registrar’s Office in McGee Room 119. Diplomas that are not picked up within sixty (60) days will be mailed to the graduate’s address on file.

Important: Confirm and update your mailing address through Carteret Compass.

Students may request disability services under the graduation tab through Carteret Compass.

For further questions or assistance please contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 252-222-6237.

A professional photographer will take photographs as you walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover, and after you exit the stage. Graduate images will be made available on the College’s website 2-5 days after the commencement ceremony.

For everyone’s safety and convenience, graduates must remain at their seats before and after being called to the stage for the duration of the program. Graduates may take photographs from their seats. Graduates may not move about the arena floor, the stage, or backstage to take photographs, nor should graduates take photographs during the procession or while walking across the stage. We ask all graduates and guests place their phones on silent during the ceremony.

College personnel will organize the procession; you are asked to carefully follow their instructions at all times. Do not stop before you arrive at your seat.

IMPORTANT: Graduates must remain seated in place until the ceremony concludes with the recessional music. If you arrive after the processional, ushers will seat you if you are wearing your cap and gown.

Graduates may bring a water bottle to their seat during the ceremony. No food permitted.

Tickets are REQUIRED

Tickets are REQUIRED at Carteret CC’s Commencement celebration. Graduates may request request up to FOUR (4) tickets when they apply for graduation. Children and infants do require a ticket. All persons count towards the Civic Center’s total occupancy per fire code.

Ceremony Overflow

Guest who attend in-person without tickets may watch the ceremony from Joslyn Hall in the McGee Building where it will be live streamed.

Parking in front of the Civic Center is limited, but available at no charge. Other parking areas on campus within a short walking distance include the following:

• Bryant Student Center
• Wayne West
• McGee

Please refer to the Campus Map for additional parking areas.

Students may make a disability request for family and friends under the graduation tab through Carteret Compass.

For further questions or assistance please contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 252-222-6237.

Commencement is live streamed and available to the public on the college’s website and YouTube channel.

Guests who attend in-person without tickets to the ceremony may watch the live stream broadcast in Joslyn Hall.

Guests may bring a water bottle inside the Civic Center during the commencement ceremony. Food is not permitted.