Recognition Ceremony

Congratulations Fall 2025 Graduates!

Be sure to check this page regularly for updates!

University Commencement – December 19 at 10:00 am (Dowdy-Ficklen)

• The University Commencement Ceremony will be held on December 19 at 10:00 a.m. in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
• No tickets are required to attend, but you must RSVP by December 1 using the University Commencement RSVP form to help the university prepare for the ceremony (please use your ECU email on the RSVP).
• Please see the commencement page for more information about the university ceremony.
• For questions, send an email to commencement@ecu.edu.

Departmental Recognition Ceremony – December 19 at 3:00 pm (Hendrix Theater)

• The Departmental Recognition Ceremony will be held on December 19 at 3:00 p.m. in Hendrix Theater.
• Guest tickets are required (see more information below).
• Guests may access the theater starting at 2:30.
• Please monitor your ECU email for more updates as we get closer to the ceremony.
• Students will gather in the Eakin Student Recreation Center for line-up, and should be there by 2:15.

Guest Tickets for Departmental Ceremony

• Every person older than three years of age must have a guest ticket.
  • Exception – any child three years of age and under must sit on the lap of another guest and will not have their own seat.
• Students are initially allocated 6 tickets and may pick them up from the Departmental Offices in Rivers 245/246.
• Tickets will be available from 11/17 through 12/12, in Rivers 245/246 (Monday-Friday 8:00am-12:00 and 2:00 5:00pm).
  • If you are a student at a distance, we will hold your tickets for you so you can get them before the ceremony (please note that we do not mail tickets).
  • “Student at a distance” applies to MSCJ and Flight Path students. If you are a BSCJ graduate and currently interning with an organization that is not local, please complete the survey sent to your ECU email or email crimdept@ecu.edu so we know to hold your tickets.
• If you need more than 6 tickets, do not panic! We often have unclaimed tickets and will provide an opportunity for students to request EXTRA tickets after 12/12 with pickup the week of 12/15.

WILL CALL: Any tickets held and not picked up by 5:00 on 12/18 in Rivers 245/246 will be available at a will call table in the Eakin Student Recreation Center starting at 2:00 pm.

Dowdy Student Store / Caps and Gowns

Undergraduate and Masters students can pick up their cap and gown beginning the first day of the Grad Fair on October 8, 2025. Be sure to contact the Dowdy Student Stores website or call (252) 328-6731 to confirm hours of operation. If you are not in the Greenville area during the semester and you are an undergraduate or masters degree student graduating, please complete the form on the commencement website to place your order for your cap and gown prior to 2 weeks before graduation. Click here for more information about caps and gowns.

Student Accommodations

If you are graduating, and you or your guests need accommodations for the department ceremony, please indicate that in the provided survey, or email crimdept@ecu.edu.

Guest Accommodations

Any guests requiring specific accommodations for the university ceremony should go to the commencement.ecu.edu website and click the purple button labeled “Accommodations.”

Parking Information 

For the University Commencement Ceremony, parking is available in lots located north of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and north and east of Minges Coliseum. Once filled, guests will be directed to park in lots on 14^th Street and College Hill Drive.  Carpooling for guests and graduates is strongly encouraged. Guests with valid state-issued handicapped permits or plates requiring accessible parking should park in the DMV Placard Required area next Minges Coliseum.

ECU Police and event staff will assist with parking guests and graduates. Click here for more information about parking and directions to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium from outside of Greenville.

For the department ceremony, the parking garage will be free and open all weekend beginning Friday morning. Both the Mendenhall lot and the lot behind the ECU parking/transportation office will be reserved for ADA guests for all ceremonies. General parking will be in the garage as well as any parking space not designated as ADA.

FAQ

What is the difference between the main university commencement ceremony and the departmental recognition ceremony?

The main university commencement ceremony is where degrees are conferred by the Chancellor; individual names are not read; the departmental ceremony is coordinated by the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and names will be read at this event.

Does everyone need a ticket for the departmental Ceremony?

Yes, every person older than three years of age must have a guest ticket.  Exception – any child under three years of age must sit on the lap of another guest and will not have their own seat.

What if I forgot to pick up my tickets from the Department Office by the deadline?

Please contact the department at crimdept@ecu.edu to notify us. We can hold them for you to pick up in Rivers 245/246.

Are extra guest tickets available?

Once the initial round of ticketing is over, we will send out a communication with information on extra ticket availability and how to claim them. Be sure and monitor your email for this update. Please do not contact the department regarding extra tickets until after this email has been sent.

What if I am a DE only student?

Your ticket allotment will be held at the department and available for pick up the day of the ceremony.

Are there accommodations for guests with ADA requirements?

Guests with DMV issued placards can park at any spot on campus designated for disability parking. Guests with ADA requirements are encouraged to arrive early, as designated parking near Hendrix may fill up quickly. For more information, please contact DSS at DSSdept@ecu.edu. If your guest needs additional accommodations, please contact the department at crimdept@ecu.edu.

When do I get my diploma?

Diplomas are mailed 10-12 weeks after graduation using the address provided in the graduation application submitted by the student. Click here to learn more.

How do I change the address for where my diploma should be mailed?

Graduation applications cannot be updated by a student once they are submitted. Contact the Registrar’s Office (regis@ecu.edu) for any updates that need to be made to the graduation application, including the address to where a diploma or certificate should be mailed.