It’s finally here. May 3 & 4, 2024
Graduation is just around the corner, and there’s a lot to do. We'll do our best to make the process simple and easy, so you can focus on these last precious moments of college! From tickets for loved ones, to your cap and gown, to your diploma, UC is here to help you with it all. It’s time to get ready for the start of the rest of your life! After all, like the word “commencement” means, this isn’t the end – it's a brand-new beginning.
Friday, May 3
Graduate - 2:30 pm
Graduate - 6:00 pm
Saturday, May 4
Undergraduate - 9 am
Undergraduate - 12:30 pm
Undergraduate - 4 pm
Commencement Live Streams
Livestreams will be active closer to the event.
Graduation Day
Videos
Videos
We want you to be able to look back at your achievement, so recordings of the ceremony will be available for download and will be streamed on University of the Cumberlands’ YouTube page. Whether this marks your first degree or your third, graduation day is worth remembering. Preserve this momentous occasion for years to come!
Tickets
Tickets
Graduating students will need to reserve tickets for guests to attend Commencement. We will be announcing more about the ticketing process and ticket limits in the coming months.
Safety Protocols
Safety Protocols
As of March 28, 2022, the university transitioned to a mask-optional policy for students, employees, and visitors. This decision aligns with guidance provided by health officials and is similar to adjustments made at other colleges and universities. Masks will be provided upon entry to guests who request this option.
Information for Students
Participating in Commencement? Head to the volleyball gym/intramural gym no later than 45 minutes before your registered ceremony. You will be lined up prior to the procession into the O. Wayne Rollins Center, where you will be provided with more information.
It is a rite of passage: the parade with your peers, gowns flowing, the pomp, the circumstance, and throwing your cap into the air! Regalia is part of the tradition and is required attire for those in Commencement ceremonies. Look the part and prepare for the next step toward the rest of your life!
To participate in Commencement, you will need university-approved regalia. On Commencement day, you will bring all contents of your cap and gown packet with you to the volleyball/intramural gym. All university regalia is specially ordered, so no "extra" supplies will be available to purchase at the last minute.
All students may order regalia by visiting or contacting the campus bookstore at 606.539.4354 or may email ucbarnesandnoble [at] ucumberlands.edu (ucbarnesandnoble[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu) for more information.
Diplomas
You receive both a physical and digital diploma when you graduate from University of the Cumberlands. Your digital diploma will allow you easier access to needed information for things like social media, résumés, and applying to grad school, while your physical copy can be framed and kept safely at home. You will receive an email letting you know that your degree has been awarded; in that email, we will give you instructions on how to claim your digital diploma.
You can expect to receive your paper diploma in the mail approximately three weeks after your degree conferral date.
If you have any questions about your University of the Cumberlands diploma or transcripts, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Transcripts
Students can request official transcripts online from the Office of the Registrar.
Class Rings, Announcements & Mementos: Barnes & Noble at UC, in partnership with Jostens, can help you commemorate graduation with custom class rings, announcements and mementos. Shop in-person at the UC bookstore on the mid-level of the Boswell Campus Center or order online at JOSTENS. You can order diploma frames to properly display your achievement through UC's Barnes & Noble campus store. The sore also sells a variety of other items ranging from sweatshirts to bottles to décor and more. Get shopping and preserve your UC memories!
Photos: Our Office of Communications & Marketing (UCOMM) will provide photography services at Commencement. Photos are made available within a week following Commencement services each year. Check your email to receive an update when photos are ready!
Video: Recordings of the ceremony will be available for download and will be streamed on University of the Cumberlands’ YouTube page. Details on how to gain access will be provided to each graduate during Commencement.
Order Your Cap & Gown Today!
Travel Information
Directions
- University of the Cumberlands is located off Exit 11 on Interstate 75.
- If you're traveling south, at the end of the exit ramp, turn left. If you are traveling north (through Tennessee) on I-75, at the end of the exit ramp, turn right.
- At the first traffic light, turn left onto 10th Street (KY 2386).
- Travel on 10th Street past the Cumberland Inn. Free shuttle parking is available at the UC Football Stadium, located on your right.
- To get to campus, continue traveling on 10th Street. At the traffic light (directly in front of Williamsburg Independent Schools), turn right onto Main Street (KY 296).
- As you proceed down Main Street, turn right into the main campus entrance.
Parking
- Parking for the event will take place on campus, with parking attendants located at key points to direct you to available spaces. Due to the anticipated number of guests, we do advise you to carpool if possible and to arrive early to allow for adequate time for parking.
- To request handicapped seating or to inquire about parking availability, contact Shirley Stephens in the Office of Academic Affairs at 606.539.4214 or by emailing shirley.stephens [at] ucumberlands.edu (shirley[dot]stephens[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu).
Lodging
- Hampton Inn - 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.9 miles from campus
530 West HWY 92
Williamsburg, KY 40769
606.549.3775
- Holiday Inn Express - 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.2 miles from campus
56 West HWY 92
Williamsburg, KY 40769
606.549.1300
- Super 8 - 3 out of 5 stars
1.3 miles from campus
30 West HWY 92
Williamsburg, KY 40769
606.549.3450
- Best Western - 4 out of 5 stars
15.8 miles from campus
2630 Cumberland Falls HWY
Corbin, KY 40701
606.528.2100
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park - 4.5 out of 5 stars
17.3 miles from campus
7351 HWY 90
Corbin, KY 40701
606.528.4121
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites - 4 out of 5 stars
14.5 miles from campus
1973 Cumberland Falls HWY
Corbin, KY 40701
606.523.4000
- Baymont Inn & Suites - 4 out of 5 stars
18.4 miles from campus
174 Adams Road
Corbin, KY 40701
606.523.9040
- Quality Suites - 4 out of 5 stars
19.6 miles from campus
47 Adams Rd, Corbin, KY 40701
606.526.6646
- Hampton Inn - 4 out of 5 stars
19.9 miles from campus
125 Adams Road
Corbin, KY 40701
606.523.5696
Frequently Asked Questions
You are eligible to walk in the 2024 graduation ceremonies if you successfully completed your degree in one of the following months:
- July, August, October, or December 2023
- March or May 2024
- Go to MyUC student portal
- Click on View Profile
- Go to Academics
- Click on Overview
- Under Educational Objective, if you have an application on file, it should show "pending completion" under status.
- If you have questions, contact the Office of the Registrar.
May 2024
Yes, undergraduate students must take two steps in order to participate in an in-person Commencement ceremony:
- Apply and be approved to graduate
- Register for a Commencement ceremony
Please contact Academic Affairs for any date/time changes. Email academicaffairs [at] ucumberlands.edu (academicaffairs[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu) or call 606-539-4214.
Undergraduate students will need to reserve tickets for guests to attend Commencement. We will be announcing more about the ticketing process and ticket limits in the coming months.
Yes, every person who enters must have a ticket, including children. Infants are the only exception.
There is no formal COVID screening process required to attend this event. Please monitor your health several days before the ceremony and move to attend the event virtually if you don't feel well.
A digital copy of your diploma will be emailed to you during graduation weekend. A hard copy will be mailed to you. It should arrive approximately 2-4 weeks after graduation.
After the first week of May is over, when your degree is awarded, you may order transcripts from the Registrar.
The Office of the Registrar, located in the Gatliff Building, will have the honor stoles, tassels, and medallions ready for pickup on the Friday before undergraduate Commencement, as well as the Saturday of the ceremony. They will provide the items inside the volleyball gym/intramural gym, where you will be lining up prior to Commencement. Please arrive early to ensure time for parking, walking to the gym, and receiving the items associated with your honors.
All departmental award winners will be contacted by their respective academic departments for award distribution. This typically happens in the weeks leading up to Commencement.
Visit our campus bookstore webpage and navigate to the graduation tab.
Under “Caps, Gowns, and Announcements,” click on the Undergraduate, Master’s, or Doctoral Student link to purchase your regalia.
Welcome, newest alumnus!
Once you graduate, you automatically become a member of the UC Alumni Association, a network designed to help you keep in touch with your classmates, professors, and your alma mater as you journey through life! Find out what the Alumni Association ha
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