University to award about 3,700 degrees May 16-17

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will confer about 3,700 degrees during commencement exercises May 16 and 17 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive, will host a ceremony for students earning graduate and professional degrees, 3 p.m. May 16, and two ceremonies for those earning bachelor’s degrees, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 17. Doors open to the public at 1:30 p.m. May 16 and 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. May 17. 

Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett will preside over the ceremonies. The morning undergraduate ceremony will feature graduates in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Architecture, Business, Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Public Affairs and Community Service. The afternoon undergraduate ceremony will feature graduates in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Sciences, and Engineering. A College of Law ceremony took place May 3 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. For the full list of law graduates, click here.

To maintain a secure environment, the arena enforces a clear-bag policy that limits the size and type of bag that may be brought into the venue. Details are available here. To avoid inconveniences, guests and graduates are encouraged to arrive early and travel light.

No tickets are required for the ceremonies, and there is no limit to the number of guests per graduate. The public may sit in any non-reserved seats other than on the main floor, which is set for graduates, faculty and dignitaries. Accessible seating is available on the concourse level in Sections 106, 107, 110, 112, 114, 117 and 118. Beverage stands will be open. Open captioning for people with hearing impairment will be provided through the ribbon screens at the corners of the arena concourse level. Guest services and first aid will be on Level 3 at Gate 112.

Paid parking, including accessible spaces, is available in Haymarket area garages and on the street. For more information, click here.

A drop-off area for mobility-restricted guests will be available on the south side of the U.S. Post Office building, 700 R St., directly east of Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Graduating students are to check in no later than 2:20 p.m. for the graduate and professional degree ceremony, 8:20 a.m. for the morning undergraduate ceremony and 2:20 p.m. for the afternoon undergraduate ceremony. Graduates should enter the south lobby, off R Street. A graduate-only entrance sign will be posted. Participants should bring their NCard, or a photo ID and NU ID number, for check-in. Graduates will be given a name/number card to find their place in the processional lineup. They should bring this card to the stage to receive their diploma. Limited coat room space will be available, so graduates are encouraged to leave personal items with family or friends.

 Each ceremony is expected to last about two-and-a-half hours. Graduates and their guests are asked to stay for the entire ceremony.

The ceremonies will be streamed here and broadcast live on Spectrum channel 1303, Allo channel 23 and Kinetic channel 1080.

For more information on May commencement, click here or email commencement@unl.edu.