Convocation, the traditional kick-off to each new academic year, will have a new look, feel and location this year. All UNC students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the time-honored tradition with free 2017 UNC Bears T-shirts to be distributed to the first 2,000 attendees.

One of the two bookends to the academic experience (the other being commencement), convocation at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 18 will retain much of the pomp and tradition of past ceremonies, with welcomes from President Kay Norton, Provost Robbyn Wacker and Graduate Dean Linda Black.

Located at Nottingham Field, this year’s ceremony will also include music, remarks and well wishes from special guests and alumni, and much more.

 Additional details: 

• Students will begin heading to Nottingham Field at 3:30 p.m.
• Stage party and faculty will line up at 4 p.m. at the main east gate for the procession, and the ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. 
• Free UNC Bears T-shirts will be distributed to the first 2,000 attendees. 
• Taste of UNC will follow immediately after the ceremony (Taste of UNC is expected to end at 7 p.m.). 
• Parking is free in non-restricted spaces on campus Aug. 11-20, including lots L, M and Y near Nottingham Field for the convocation event (note: restricted spaces including ADA, Service, Fire Lane, and Time Restricted Zones will still be enforced.) Attendees are asked to park on UNC property versus the surrounding neighborhoods. 
• Provost Wacker will host a reception for new faculty and their colleagues at 5:15 p.m in the High Plains Room overlooking Nottingham Field.
• UNC offices are encouraged to suggest and to allow staff to attend the ceremony. 
• Offices can purchase meal tickets for staff for the Taste of UNC in advance by contacting Joann Doherty in Dining Services via email or by calling 970-351-2652. 
• In the case of inclement weather, any changes to the ceremony schedule will be communicated to offices and posted on UNC social media accounts 90 minutes in advance.

The 2017 convocation ceremony is expected to be the last outdoor ceremony. Organizers are planning to move the ceremony to Butler-Hancock beginning Fall 2018.

See the Convocation website for More information about the ceremony.