North Carolina Central University will, for the first time, hold separate spring commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday to award baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Graduate and professional degrees will be awarded on Friday afternoon in McDougald–McLendon Gymnasium. The baccalaureate ceremony will be on Saturday morning in O’Kelly–Riddick Stadium.

Graduate and Professional Commencement

Master’s degrees and law degrees will be awarded to 424 recipients on Friday, May 13, at 3 p.m., in McDougald–McLendon Gymnasium on the NCCU campus (616 E. Lawson St.). The speaker will be Dr. Norman B. Anderson, a 1997 NCCU graduate who is chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Seating is limited in the gymnasium. The ceremony will be telecast to overflow audiences in B.N. Duke Auditorium, the University Theatre in the Farrison–Newton Communications Building and the School of Law.

Baccalaureate Commencement

The university will award 534 bachelor’s degrees on Saturday, May 14, at 8 a.m., in O’Kelly­–Riddick Stadium on the NCCU campus. The speaker will be John Lewis, civil rights leader and member of Congress from Georgia.

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in McDougald–McLendon Gymnasium, and will be telecast for overflow audiences in B.N. Duke Auditorium, the University Theatre in the Farrison–Newton Communications Building and the School of Education.

PARKING:

For the Friday ceremony, ample free parking will be available in the Latham Parking Deck at 705 E. Lawson St. and in the upper and lower parking lots next to the BRITE building on Lawson Street. The easiest access to the parking deck is from Lawson Street via Alston Avenue. The easiest access to the BRITE lots is from Lawson Street via Fayetteville Street.

For the Saturday ceremony, parking is open throughout the campus with the exception of the lots adjacent to the Hoey Administration Building. Visitors are strongly encouraged to arrive early.