Commencement

Commencement exercises for the Class of 2025 will be held Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. on Tate Lawn. 

Commencement is an important milestone in the lives of our graduating students who have put in countless hours of hard work to earn their bachelor's or master's degree. The ceremony for both main campus and online/distance learning students will take place on Tate Lawn. A live feed of the ceremony will also be streamed. 

Baccalaureate Service and Reception
Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m.
Hayes Auditorium
Reception to follow

The Baccalaureate Service is a long-standing tradition at Lees-McRae, and an important step in preparing students for Commencement. At this event, faculty and staff speakers have the opportunity to offer congratulations to the graduates as they complete the symbolic hooding ceremony. 

NOTE: Mountain Electric Cooperative has announced a scheduled power outage to complete work on the transmission line. The outage will not affect power in Banner Elk; however, it will affect neighboring communities near Sugar Mountain and Linville. Work will begin at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and will last until the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10.

Friday, May 9

Senior Celebration Brunch
11 a.m., The Summit

Kick off the graduation festivities with a celebration brunch hosted by the Alumni Association. The brunch is for all main campus and online/distance learning graduates. 

The brunch is only for graduates and the dress is business casual. 



Commencement Rehearsal
1:30 p.m., Tate Lawn

Attendance for students is mandatory if participating in the Commencement ceremony. 

December graduates and online/distance learning students can pick up their caps and gowns at Commencement rehearsal. See below for more information.



Alpha Chi Inductions
4 p.m., Shelton Learning Commons

Membership invitations are extended to students who are in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes. 



Campus Tour for Online and Distance Learning Graduates
4 p.m., Front Steps of North Carolina Building

Graduates of the online and distance learning programs can tour campus riding the MontiBUS. 



Reception for Online and Distance Learning Graduates
5 p.m., North Carolina Building, Tufts Room

This gathering for graduates of the online and distance learning programs and their families is hosted by the Lees-McRae Alumni Board. 



Senior Class Photo
6:30 p.m., Front Steps of North Carolina Building

Please wear baccalaureate attire (see below). In the event of inclement weather, the class photo will be taken in The Summit at the stated time. 



Baccalaureate Service
7 p.m., Hayes Auditorium

Graduating seniors will line up for processional at 6:45 p.m. outside of Miller Commons. Graduates should wear their gown and bring their hood, but not their cap. Professional or special occasion dress is required.

A reception following the Baccalaureate Service will be held in the Cannon Welcome Center from 8–9 p.m. for graduates and their families, faculty, and staff. 

The service will be live streamed on the Lees-McRae College YouTube channel. Watch Live

Please note that pets, ESA, and therapy animals are not permitted at the Baccalaureate Service. Only approved service dogs are allowed. 

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    Information for Faculty and Staff (Friday, May 9)

    Commencement Rehearsal
    2 p.m., Tate Lawn

    Deans and those part of the platform party are asked to be in attendance at the Commencement Rehearsal on Friday, May 9 and arrive at 2 p.m.



    Baccalaureate Service and Reception
    7 p.m., Hayes Auditorium

    The Baccalaureate Service is a long-standing tradition at Lees-McRae, and an important step in preparing students for Commencement. At this event, faculty and staff speakers have the opportunity to offer congratulations to the graduates as they complete the symbolic hooding ceremony.

    Faculty and staff should arrive by 6:45 p.m. in Miller Commons for lineup of the processional. Please wear gown and hood, but no caps.

    Following the Baccalaureate Service, faculty and staff are asked to join the graduates and their families in Cannon Welcome Center for a reception. 

Saturday, May 10

Commencement
10 a.m., Tate Lawn

Graduates must arrive by 9 a.m. in Hayes Auditorium for line up. Diplomas will be distributed during the 30 minutes following the ceremony in Hayes Auditorium.

Graduates will not be limited in their number of guests.

The ceremony will be live streamed on the Lees-McRae YouTube channel. Watch Live

Professional or special occasion dress beneath robes is required. 

Please note that pets, ESA, and therapy animals are not permitted at Commencement. Only graduates with approved service dogs are allowed. 


 
Parking and Shuttles

On Saturday, May 10, student and guest parking will be available at the following locations (see campus map for directions): 

  • Avery Hall Lot
  • Cannon Welcome Center Lot (formerly Cannon Student Center)
  • Williams Gymnasium Lot 
  • Historic Banner Elk Elementary School

Parking for guests with mobility impairments is reserved in the Hayes Lot. Due to limited spaces, a valid handicap parking placard is required to park in this lot.

There will be NO overnight parking in the reserved lots. Lots will close at 10 p.m. on Friday, May 9, and will reopen for Commencement at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10.

For the safety of all in attendance, no parking is allowed on city streets or in undesignated spots.

Shuttles

Prior to Commencement, shuttles will run from the Avery Hall Lot, Williams Gymnasium Lot, and the Historic Banner Elementary School lots approximately every 15 minutes from 7:30–9:45 a.m. Signs for the shuttle service will be posted at each location. A shuttle will also run from Best Western at 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 9 a.m.

Following Commencement, shuttles will run approximately every 15 minutes to return guests and students to the Avery Hall Lot, Williams Gymnasium Lot, Historic Banner Elk Elementary School lots, and Best Western. Return shuttle services will operate for 45 minutes following the ceremony.

  •  

    Information for Faculty and Staff (Saturday, May 10)

    Commencement Lineup
    9 a.m., Miller Commons

    Faculty and platform party members should arrive by 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. Robing and lineup for faculty will be in The Summit. The platform party will robe and lineup in Miller Commons.

    • Platform party photos will begin promptly at 9:15 a.m. in Miller Commons.
    • Final lineup for the Commencement processional will be at 9:45 a.m. in Miller Commons.

    Commencement Parking
    Parking for faculty and staff has been designated to the following areas:

    • Chaffee Loop
    • Theatre Arts Building Lot
    • McRae House Lot
    • Williams Gymnasium Lot

    Volunteers from the Order of the Tower and event staff may park in the May School Lot. The Maple House Lot is reserved for emergency personnel, and handicap parking for all guests will be available in the Hayes Lot. Due to limited spot availability, a valid handicap parking placard is required to park in the Hayes Lot.

    A shuttle will run from the Williams Gymnasium lot approximately every 15 minutes from 7:30–9:45 a.m. and will operate for 45 minutes following the ceremony.

    NOTE: There will be no overnight parking in the reserved lots. Lots will close at 10 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and reopen for Commencement at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. For the safety of all in attendance there is no parking allowed on city streets or in undesignated spots.

Caps and Gowns

The cost of a cap and gown is included in the graduation fee, which has been applied to each student account. Seniors who did not place their cap and gown order by the March 1 deadline should contact Assistant Registrar Leanne Cole.

Cap and Gown orders will be available for pickup at the Office of the Registrar in the Chaffee Center beginning Monday, April 14 during normal hours from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. December graduates and online/distance learning students who did not select the option to mail the order may pick up their cap and gown at Commencement rehearsal on Friday, May 9. 

With questions, contact the Office of the Registrar

Graduation Photos

Graduates will receive an email from Photo Specialties to both their Lees-McRae email and their personal email within 1–3 weeks following Commencement with proofs of their photos. Physical copies of the proofs will be mailed to the graduate’s home address within a week following the email. Photos may be purchased directly from Photo Specialties.

Graduation Survey

Lees-McRae College is seeking your participation in the following survey regarding your current or upcoming employment and education successes. Take this opportunity to communicate your post-graduate achievements!

Alumni feedback aids in the gathering of pertinent information regarding alumni outcomes, further benefiting future Lees-McRae students. This survey can be completed as often as needed to provide updates on your successes. 

Thank you in advance for your time and participation.

For assistance with the survey, contact the Office of Institutional Research at research@lmc.edu.

Alumni Association

The connections you make at Lees-McRae last a lifetime. The Office of Alumni Relations will help you maintain those relationships. Get connected by following the Lees-McRae Alumni Association on Facebook or checking out the alumni webpage where you'll find exciting networking opportunities, learn about upcoming reunions, and stay in the know with college news and events. 

Update your contact information

Requirements for Graduation

The following must be met for graduation eligibility:

  • A minimum of 120 credit hours
  • A minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Completion of the Core Curriculum
  • Completion of 15 hours of Writing Intensive (WI) courses
  • Completion of the degree requirements for the appropriate degree
  • Completion of an approved major program of study
  • A minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in the major program of study (Note: Nursing majors must receive a minimum grade of “B-” in required major courses and a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA. Education majors must receive a minimum grade of “C” in required major courses and a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA)
  • Completion at Lees-McRae College of at least one half of the credit hours required for the major program of study. In extreme cases of student schedule conflict, the Provost (in consultation with the appropriate Dean) may amend this policy on a case-by-case basis.
  • Completion at Lees-McRae College of at least 32 of the last 40 credit hours. In extreme cases of student schedule conflict, the Provost (in consultation with the appropriate Dean) may amend this policy on a case-by-case basis.
  • Completion of at least one-fourth of the credit hours toward the degree must originate from Lees-McRae College.
  • No grades of “F” in any required major courses in the program of study
  • No more than 12 credit hours of coursework in which a grade of “D” or lower has been received may apply toward graduation
  • No more than four credit hours of lifetime health and fitness activity courses may count toward graduation
  • If applicable: completion at Lees-McRae College of at least one half of the credit hours required for the minor program of study.

Students may choose to meet the graduation requirements listed in the College Catalog that was in effect the year he or she entered Lees-McRae College or in any subsequent College Catalog. However, a student may not select graduation requirements from more than one catalog at a time. If the student has been out of residence for more than one academic year, the graduation requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment at Lees-McRae College will apply. Each student’s graduation timeline will vary depending on academic program(s) and academic progress, and may take less or more than four years. Students should work with their academic advisor to create a clear timeline.

Graduation and the receipt of a diploma from Lees-McRae College is an honor bestowed by the Faculty, Administration and Board of Trustees. The awarding of a Baccalaureate degree is duly noted on the student’s official College Transcript.

With questions, please contact Registrar Lynn Hinshaw at hinshaw@lmc.edu or 828.898.3473.