Graduation

Applying for Graduation

To graduate from Belmont Abbey College, you must meet all Graduation Requirements

To apply for graduation, you must complete the Graduation Application and submit it to the Registrar along with a $150 graduation fee. The application requires a signature from your academic advisor. 

For questions regarding graduation, contact the Registrar at registrar@bac.edu or stop by their offices in The Hub.

Please note that your application for graduation is not complete until you have submitted both the application and the graduation fee.

Commencement Information

Professional photographer, Mike Gibson, captured our graduates in May 2023. To view the gallery, visit his website at mikegibsonphotography.com. This gallery is password protected with the code 2023.  Any questions regarding these photos should be sent to Mike Gibson Photography directly.

Commencement rehearsal is required in order to participate in graduation. Graduates must attend without exception. If you miss rehearsal, you will not be able to participate in the commencement exercises. Please plan now to take any time off work necessary and/or arrange for child and elder care during that time. Children and other guests may not attend rehearsal.

Graduation rehearsal will begin on Friday, May 10th at 9:00 a.m. Students must arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. so rehearsal can begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.

*All students are required to attend Rehearsal*

Friday, May 10th, 9:00 a.m.
Commencement Rehearsal

  • Gather on Abbey Lane
  • Line up on Abbey Lane and process to graduate seating
  • Ceremony Walk-through
  • Recessional

Note:  Rehearsal will last approximately two hours.  Students must arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. so rehearsal can begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Students must stay until the end of rehearsal to receive important information for the next day’s events.

Friday, May 10th, 5:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception for Graduates & Guests

  • Will take place outside on Abbey Lane or inside Haid Ballroom

Saturday, May 11th, 9:00 a.m. (line up 8:30 a.m.)
Baccalaureate Mass

  • Line up on Abbey Lane in the same lines as rehearsal
  • Caps and Gowns are required for the Baccalaureate Mass
  • Do not wear hoods
  • In the case of inclement weather line up in Wheeler Center

Saturday, May 11th, 11 a.m. (line up at 10:30 a.m.)
Commencement Exercises

  • Line up on Abbey Lane in the same lines as the rehearsal to receive your name card.  IMPORTANT:  You must take your name card with you to the stage.
  • In the case of inclement weather line up in Wheeler Center

Saturday, May 11th, immediately following ceremony
Pick up diploma

    • Students who have met all degree requirements may pick up their actual diploma in Stowe, room 102 The office will remain open until 2:00 p.m. for diploma pick up.

Friday, May 10th – Day Before Graduation:

The night before graduation, there will be cocktail party on May 10th, for the graduate and their families.

Saturday, May 11th – Day of Graduation:

  • Only VIP, Handicapped with placards , Faculty and Volunteers may enter through the main entrance of the college.
  • There will be handicapped seating available. One member of the family may accompany the handicapped individual.
  • There will be golf carts and shuttles available to assist with transporting guests who need assistance from the parking lots.
  • The mass will begin at 9:00. (All are invited to attend) The commencement will begin at 11:00 am.
  • Each graduate will be permitted to invite 7 guests. (In the case of inclement weather only 2 guests will be permitted to the indoor facility.)
  • The commencement will take place on the front lawn in front of the Basilica. Please wear appropriate shoes, and suntan lotion.
  • Diplomas may be picked up after the commencement by graduate only.

Belmont Abbey College Map

Caps and gowns must be ordered through this link: www.OrderHJ.com/BelmontAbbeyCollege ONLY!!!! An email will be sent to the graduate from the registrar’s office notifying them that the portal for ordering cap and gown and other graduation related items has opened.

ALL graduates planning to participate in the commencement ceremony MUST place orders by MARCH 23rd because the site will automatically shut down at 12:00 midnight. The bookstore does not sell the cap and gowns directly.

The color of your hood is based on your degree. Honor cords will be distributed the day of rehearsal by the registrar’s office if a student has no grades of “I”, and has completed all 120 credits of the degree. The cost of the cap and gown is $120.98 plus tax. Personalized announcements, rings, and other graduation products may also be purchased at this website. Cost for announcements, diploma frames, and other grad accessories are on the site. Package deals are available.

Please call or visit, or email the bookstore for more information:

Phone: 704-461-6819
Email: bacbookstore@bac.edu

The Office of Career Services asks all graduating seniors to complete a Senior Survey. Various offices within the University use the information from the surveys to improve student life, career center services, and the overall college experience.

Further information coming soon.

  • Dress for the ceremony:  All graduates must wear a cap and gown to participate in the ceremony.  Tassels should be attached to the center of the mortar board (academic hat) and worn hanging on the right side until you are instructed to move the tassel to the left, signifying conferral of the degree.  Graduation is a formal academic occasion and should be viewed as such in dress and demeanor.  Thus, the academic apparel should not be altered in any way or decorated.  Candidates will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony if their academic apparel is altered.
  • Appropriate dress is expected for graduation day.  This means that flip-flops, tank tops and jeans are not appropriate.  It is recommended that women wear a dress or skirt and blouse, and that men wear dress slacks and a dress shirt.  Comfortable, dark colored shoes should be worn as there will a lot of walking that may even include walking across wet grass.  In addition, it is requested that students do not chew gum during the ceremony.
    • Graduation Decorum:  Graduation ceremonies are, by their very nature, festive occasions.  However, the ceremonies are also marked by seriousness where the actual conferring of degrees signifies long hard work on the part of everyone involved.  To that end, students are expected to maintain a measure of decorum consonant with the occasion.  In addition, students are expected to return to their seats following the receipt of their tube and to remain seated for the rest of the ceremony.  No balloons, banners, or noisemakers are permitted.

Guests: Information will be available soon.

Commencement will be limited to 7 guests per graduate. Tickets will be handed out at the rehearsal on Friday. Tickets will be collected on the day of graduation at the entrance to the college. If you or your guests require special accommodations please contact the Registrar’s Office at 704-461-7000.

Parking:  There will be limited parking on campus for guests.

Bookstore InformationThe bookstore will be open on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for assistance with regalia and other items.

Class rings may be ordered online by clicking here.

If you want to have your class ring in hand by graduation day, orders MUST be placed by March 15, 2023.

Pricing begins at $380 for women’s rings and $390 for men’s rings. All rings fully customizable.

>> Purchase Class Rings

Graduation announcement cards are available for order from Herff Jones. Place orders online.

Herff Jones

Belmont Abbey College Diploma Frames range from $170-$180. They can be ordered ahead of time and picked up in the Campus Bookstore on the lower level of St Leo Hall on Graduation day. Click the photos below to visit the Campus Bookstore website. They can also be ordered and personalized online via Hreff Jones.

Classic Diploma Frame

Windsor Diploma Frame

css.php