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MAE Spring 2026 Departmental Graduation Ceremony

May 7 @ 8:00 am - 10:00 am

We are excited to celebrate our Spring 2026 graduates!  The MAE Spring 2026 Departmental Graduation Ceremony will be held at the William Neal Reynolds Coliseum at 2411 Dunn Ave, Raleigh, NC 27607 on May 7, 2026 at 8 a.m. Important information and instructions for the graduation ceremony will be posted here, check back for updates.

Click here to watch the ceremony live.

Pre-Ceremony Tasks

Undergraduates

  • Complete the MAE Graduation Survey and RSVP
  • Due to time constraints we are not able to have a student speaker this spring
  • Update your name and mailing address with the university
  • Purchase regalia (cap and gown are required to attend any graduation ceremony)
  • Tickets are not required: each graduate is allowed a maximum of 6 guests

Graduating Students

  • Arrive no later than 7:15 am to check-in: the ceremony will begin promptly at 8:00 am.
  • Enter Reynolds Coliseum through the East entrance (the side facing the parking lot and Coliseum parking deck).
  • Check in at the appropriate table (graduate or undergraduate) to pick up your name-call card before lining up.
  • You must wear official NCSU graduate regalia (cap and gown) in order to participate in the ceremony.  These can be purchased from the NC State Bookstore.
  • Keep any personal items with you during the ceremony: you may not end up in the same seat after you walk across the stage.
  • Degrees will be recognized in the order listed: PhD Aerospace, PhD Mechanical, MS Aerospace, MS Mechanical, BS Aerospace, BS Mechanical.
  • Graduates will not walk across the stage in alphabetical order.

Guests

  • Doors will open to guests at 7:30 am: enter through the front (main) doors of Reynolds Coliseum
  • ADA and accessible seating is available. There will be staff near guest entrances and signs posted to direct guests to ADA seating.
  • All seating is general admission
  • There will be security and bag checks (including clear bags and gift bags) – it is recommended not to bring a bag unless absolutely necessary (e.g. diaper bags or medical supply bags)
  • Strollers must be left in a designated area in the lobby
  • Water will be available for sale inside Reynolds

Parking

  • Expect Delays: Heavy traffic is anticipated around Talley Student Union and Reynolds Coliseum. Plan to arrive early, and be prepared to park elsewhere, should there be no available parking in close proximity.
  • No Permits Required: Parking will be free and open to the public for commencement.
  • Parking Locations: Available in the Coliseum Deck and Dan Allen Deck.
  • Note: The Coliseum Deck fills quickly. If it reaches capacity, vehicles will be redirected to the Dan Allen Deck. The Dan Allen Deck is approximately a 10-minute walk away from Talley/Reynolds. Click here to see walking directions from Dan Allen Deck to Talley/Reynolds.
  • ADA Parking: A dedicated area for ADA parking is located adjacent to Reynolds Coliseum and Talley Student Union. A DMV-issued placard must be displayed to access this area. To help with traffic flow, please have your placard ready for the attendant.
  • Drop-off/Pick-up: A designated area is reserved for drop off/pick up. Please follow the signage and direction of the parking staff.

Prohibited Items & Behavior For Reynolds for Graduations

All graduates, staff and guests entering Reynolds Coliseum will have their bags searched and will be going through the walk through Weapons Detection System

The following items and activities are prohibited out of concern for the safety of our guests, employees and participants:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Animals*
  • Artificial noisemakers/Confetti/Streamers
  • Balloons
  • Bicycles/footwear with wheels/hoverboards/skateboards
  • Coolers/ice bags
  • Drones/unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Food or drink of any kind, including containers such as bottles, cans, thermos, etc.*
    • NC State does allow for 1 sealed bottle of water to be brought in or Empty Water Bottles to be filled at the water fountains along the concourse
  • Glass Items (including, flower vases, bottled drinks, etc)
  • Illegal substances
  • Laser pointers
  • Loitering & soliciting
  • Poles/sticks for flags or signs and signs/banners/flags larger than 3’x2’
  • Sitting/standing in the aisles
  • Smoking (except at the designated areas outside the gates)
  • Strollers (large, non-collapsible stroller, collapsible strollers are permitted but cannot be stored in the seating area due to egress)
  • Throwing objects in the stands or onto the graduation floor
  • Unauthorized vending & distribution of goods, services and literature
  • Weapons
  • Wrapped Presents (any items in a gift bag will need to be searched)

*Exceptions will be made for those with medical requirements or special needs; fans should carry any necessary documentation, credentials or identification. Diaper bags are permitted only if accompanied by an infant

Pictures

Professional photographers will be present to take a photo of each student when they are on the stage to receive their scroll.  A portrait photo will also be taken of each student after they step down from the stage. The photography company will reach out to graduates via email and/or mail in the weeks after the ceremony with information about how to purchase pictures.

Diplomas

During the MAE graduation ceremony, students will receive a presentation scroll.  The University will mail the diploma and diploma cover to each student’s home address shortly after graduation. Graduates, please make sure your diploma mailing address is up-to-date in the MyPack Portal. Information about diploma mailing timelines can be found here.

University Commencement

For information about the university graduation ceremony, regalia purchasing, diploma information and more, please visit the University Commencement Website. No tickets are required to attend the university graduation ceremony.

Details

Organizer

Venue