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Graduating Students

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Information for Graduating Students

Congratulations Class of 2025 #RadGrads! As you count down the days to commencement, please take a few moments to make sure that you have reviewed all the details so you can relax and enjoy your commencement day.

Tickets
Tickets are required for the Undergraduate Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13.  Each graduate is allotted six (6) tickets for guests and may pick up the tickets at the Registrar’s Office on Main Campus and at RUC beginning Dec. 8. Children ages 5 and under are not required to have a ticket.

Attendees without tickets may enter the auditorium after the guests with tickets have been seated, until capacity is reached.

Tickets are not required for the Graduate Ceremony on Fri., Dec. 12.

Student Commencement Check-In
Graduating students should arrive at the lower-level Preston Hall entrance 1 hour prior to the ceremony time and proceed to your college’s line up in the hallway.

Regalia, Tassels, Cords and Stoles
Graduating students are required to have formal academic regalia consisting of gowns, caps or tams, and hoods as appropriate. Graduates should purchase regalia as soon as possible in person from the Bookstore at Radford University main campus, or online at our graduation website below.

If ordering online, please allow 4 weeks for delivery. The deadline to purchase regalia online is Nov. 11, 2025. After this date graduation regalia can be purchased at the Radford University main campus Bookstore up until the day of Graduation. 

  • Stoles and cords representing student organizations, affiliations or achievements may also be worn. Students should contact the respective organization or office to learn more about obtaining a stole or cord.
  • Students eligible for an Honors tassel will receive an email from the Registrar’s Office.
  • Undergraduate tassels are worn on the right side then are moved to the left when degrees are conferred.

Accessibility
Graduates who need accessibility services should contact the Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) by December 1 at 540-831-6350, 540-922-1176 (VP) or cas@radford.edu.

Service animals are permitted but this does not include service animals in training or ESAs.

Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed after all grades are finalized and certified by the Registrar’s Office.

Livestream and Photography
A link to a livestream of the commencement ceremony will be available from the University homepage, on this website and Facebook for guests that want to view all of the excitement but are unable to attend. Live captioning will be available.

Radford University has contracted with GradImages to provide quality graduation photos of each student. Photos can be found online the GradImage website after the ceremony. #RadGrads and families are also welcome to take photos of their special day after the ceremony on or near the stage area as well as outside around campus.

Inclement Weather
December weather can be difficult to predict. We will monitor the forecast carefully and if severe weather appears likely to impact commencement, we will provide regular updates via email to our graduating students. Any changes to the commencement schedule will also be available on this website, University homepage and shared on University's Facebook.

First Destination Survey
We're excited to see what each of you are doing upon graduation as you make a positive impact in the Commonwealth and beyond. Please take 3 minutes or less to complete the First Destination survey today!

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