Commencement is one of the most meaningful milestones in a student’s academic journey — a celebration of years of dedication, perseverance, and achievement. During Commencement ceremonies, this page serves as a fully digital program featuring the ceremony schedule and a complete list of graduating students. The University of North Alabama also honors a number of cherished traditions at each ceremony; a brief history of each is included below.

For more information on graduation preparation and resources, please review the links below:

If you would like to watch our previous livestreams, please review them on our YouTube Channel.

Degrees with honors are conferred in accordance with the following index numbers which represent the scholastic ratio for all work (based on a 4.0 scale) — but not less than 44 semester hours — completed in residence at this institution. Honor stoles are denoted below:

The Turris Fidelis award may be presented to not more than two graduating seniors at each fall and spring commencement. The award is made on the basis of outstanding service to the University and scholastic achievement. This honor is the highest that can be conferred upon a graduating senior, and recipients are selected by a joint committee of faculty and students.

The Keller Key award was established as a memorial to the late President James Albert and Mrs. Mariglen Keller. A Keller Key is presented at each commencement to the honor graduate who, on the basis of having earned all credits for the bachelor's degree at this University, has achieved the highest grade point average. The recipient is identified by the Registrar's Office in accordance with established guidelines. For this purpose, all academic work ever attempted at UNA will be included in the calculation of the GPA (advanced standing credit completed prior to first-time freshman enrollment may be considered for this award). A student may receive the award only once even though more than one degree may be earned. There may be more than one recipient of this award in any given semester.

The ceremonial mace, representing the authority of the president and trustees of the University, is carried at the head of academic processionals. Since the Middle Ages, maces have been regarded as symbols of authority, and their use in academic ceremonies goes back to the founding of universities many centuries ago.

The ceremonial mace of the University of North Alabama was created in 1992 by Mr. Thomas Murray, who turned the shaft on a lathe, and the late Professor Emeritus of Art, Mr. Al C. Hausmann, who carved the head and the seal. The shaft and head of the mace are solid walnut, and the seal of the University is a hand-carved mahogany disk set into the head. The leaves encircling the seal are symbolic of the laurel wreath of learning. The ceremonial mace was gifted to the University in September 1992 from the late Dr. Frank B. Mallonee, Professor of Political Science.

Universities in Europe and America have long used flags and banners in their academic ceremonies. Each banner is made of purple satin fabric and carries the university seal superimposed on it along with the name of each college. The banner is carried at the head of the faculty of each college.

The presidential medallion is an ancient symbol of authority, the chain of office worn by the head of a university which signifies the institution's charter and right to confer honors. The University of North Alabama commissioned the creation of a presidential medallion in 2005 as a symbol of office.

The medallion itself bears the seal of the institution, and the links on the adjoining chain are engraved individually with the names of the nineteen presidents of this institution (dating back to 1830) and the names of the four academic colleges within the University. The medallion is worn on academic and ceremonial occasions by those who serve the University of North Alabama as president, and will be passed on to each new president to symbolize the transfer of office.