UC Goes Off-Campus for Summer Commencement

The University of Cincinnati’s Commencement ceremony is heading off campus this summer. Due to the upgrade work on longtime Commencement venue Fifth Third Arena, the Aug. 4 ceremony will be held at BB&T Arena on the Northern Kentucky University campus (about 9 miles away from UC).

A single event celebrating all graduates — those receiving associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees — will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. 

More than 1,000 students are expected to attend the ceremony, where grads will have their names read and have an opportunity to shake UC President Neville Pinto’s hand. 

Tickets will be required for students’ families and guests. Each student will be able to reserve up to six tickets when registering for Commencement. Additional tickets can be requested online but are not guaranteed. The last day to request extra tickets is Friday, July 21.

Tickets can be picked up after July 10 and until July 26 at the Commencement Office. Located in the Steger Student Life Center, Suite 630, the office is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Any tickets not retrieved by 4 p.m. July 26 will be released to others on the waitlist. Anyone unable to pick up the tickets on campus can request to have them held at will-call at BB&T. 

Last spring’s Commencement ceremonies took place in Nippert Stadium. More than 6,300 degrees were conferred to 6,171 students in two ceremonies Saturday, April 29. Read more and browse photos from the 2017 Spring Commencement. 

Check UC’s Commencement page for more details about the August ceremony as they are announced.