Nia Robinson 

News Writer 

Photo credit: UNCG 

UNC Greensboro is now in the last full month of the spring semester. Students have made it past midterms and spring break and are approaching the end of full-semester courses. We can finally say, “It’s graduation time!” Now is the time of the year when graduating UNCG students can say, “I did it!” Students will walk across the stage after years of hard work. We also see many on campus around this time having photoshoots, doing creative videos, decorating caps, and showing off their true Spartan pride.  

The Class of 2024 also has a special significance that many graduates want to acknowledge. Many graduating students in the Class of ’24 graduated high school and began college in 2020, during the worldwide hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic that began that spring. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on February 19, 2020, COVID-19 had spread to 15 people in the U.S. This number grew drastically over the following weeks, causing COVID-19 to be declared a pandemic. Although the worst has seemingly passed, the virus is still present, and you can find current information about COVID-19 on the CDC website.  

Due to the pandemic, students of 2020 had many important events stripped away, including their last days of school, prom, and graduation. Many schools worldwide tried their best to still cheer on students by allowing drive-through and virtual graduations. Despite those efforts, students did not feel complete without the traditional celebrations of a significant moment in their lives. Graduating from college in 2024 will be a particularly special celebration for them.  

With many of these students going on to college and pursuing their dreams, UNC Greensboro was a critical chance for many of them to continue in-person schooling. The university allowed students to stay on campus in the fall of 2020 to gain a real college experience. While still taking the proper precautions to maintain a safe environment from COVID-19, majors like accounting, biology, business administration, communication studies, computer science, and many more continued to offer in-person classes and allowed students to thrive and become their greatest selves.   

Some important graduation deadlines have already passed. For example, those who wish to have their name included in the commencement program needed to apply for graduation by March 8, and the graduation fee needed to be paid by April 3.   

The last day of class for the spring 2024 semester will be Wednesday, April 25. Students can refer to their instructors and the university exam schedule for information about their courses’ final exams. Deadlines for final submissions of theses or dissertations to the Graduate School are Thursday, April 25. To view the university’s spring 2024 calendar, click here.  

UNCG’s Doctoral Commencement and Masters Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, at the Greensboro Coliseum. Commencement for undergraduate students will be held on Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m., also at the Greensboro Coliseum.  

There are currently no social distancing requirements at the Greensboro Coliseum. Seating in the Coliseum is open, and no tickets are required. Students should review the checklist on Commencement Central to ensure they have the qualifications to graduate and meet major deadlines. Family and friends can find information about parking, shuttle service, and prohibited items. For any further questions or concerns about commencement, students can contact their assigned advisors or email commence@uncg.edu.