2025 Commencement
About Commencement
Commencement is a formal ceremony, officiated by the President of Salem College. It is the celebration of your academic accomplishments with peers, family, and friends. Salem College holds one ceremony in the spring. Commencement is a ticketed event. Student registration will open on March 20, 2025. Academic regalia is required to participate.
Commencement registration will open on March 20, 2025.
Only students may register for tickets and are eligible for up to eight guest tickets. Instructions will be sent to your student email.
Children 2 and under do not require a ticket if sitting on an adult’s lap. Strollers are prohibited in the May Dell.
Undergraduate and graduate students attending the rehearsal on May 8 will be given their tickets.
For those unable to attend, ticket pickup will be from 8:30 am to 9:30 am the morning of Commencement in front of the Elberson Fine Arts Center located at 430 Leaders Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
Make sure to distribute tickets to your guests before the Commencement lineup.
Students and guests who need ADA accommodations should indicate their needs during ticket registration.
There will be designated seating for guests in wheelchairs and those with difficulty walking. We ask that only one other guest sit within the reserved seating section. Seating is limited.
For guests with difficulty tolerating outdoor temperatures, a live feed of the Commencement ceremony will be available in Bryant Hall, located next to the MayDell. Commencement ceremony tickets are required for admission to Bryant Hall, and space is limited.
Salem College does not provide wheelchairs for guests.
Photo Specialties will be at the ceremony to capture your special moment. Photo packages will be available for purchase after the ceremony. Photo Specialties will send free color proofs and order instructions to each graduate’s email and permanent mailing address.
info@photospecialties.com or 919.967.9576.
Due to security measures, guests are encouraged not to bring bags. All bags are subject to search. Water bottles and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted. Alcohol, of any kind is prohibited. The following items are not permitted in the May Dell during Commencement: coolers, umbrellas, strollers, balloons, pets/animals, or noise makers. If you are obstructing another’s view of the ceremony, you will be asked to move to the back.
Restrooms are available in Bryant Hall and Elberson Fine Arts Center.
Smoking or vaping is prohibited on campus.
In the event of rain, commencement exercises may continue outdoors in the May Dell. Please bring your rain gear. Umbrellas are prohibited.
All guests and graduates may park in the lot of the Elberson Fine Arts Center. The FAC is located at 430 Leaders Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
If we move to a severe weather plan, Commencement will occur in Hanes Auditorium in the Fine Arts Center.
If severe weather is likely, Salem College will announce a decision regarding the severe weather plan on the homepage of the Commencement website, student emails, and local media stations.
If the severe weather plan is implemented, Commencement will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Elberson Fine Arts Center.
Rehearsal is encouraged for our Fleer and Grad students and is required for traditional, undergraduate students. We will be distributing your admission tickets for Commencement and passing out Latin Honor cords, if applicable, at the ceremony.
Undergraduates should wear your tassels on the right and will turn your tassels during the ceremony. Graduate students should wear their tassels on the left and will not turn their tassels during the ceremony.
Yes. You may share the link to the Commencement webpage with your family and friends, and they will be able to watch the event live: salem.edu/commencement
For additional questions, email Salem.Commencement@Salem.edu.
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