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First-Year Students wearing teal take a photo on Convocation day in front of the UNCW clocktower
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Convocation

Convocation

Congratulations to the Class of 2030! We are so excited that you have joined the Seahawk family this fall! On this page, you'll find exciting Convocation events scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

New Student Convocation

Students wearing teal t shirts with Chancellor Volety Class Photo Wear teal and join your class for this tradition! Learn More
Students walking to Trask Coliseum wearing teal, giving a thumbs up Convocation Join us for the academic kickoff to the year! Learn More
Students under a large tent for a picnic All Campus Picnic All Faculty, Staff, and Students are invited to the annual all-campus picnic, hosted by Business Affairs! Learn More

Convocation Day Schedule

Schedule of Events
9:45 a.m. First-year students meet the Orientation Leaders outside their residence halls.
Off-Campus first-year students meet at the Burney Fountain.
10:15 a.m. Class of 2030 Photo on the Shoreline Sports Complex Fields
10:45 a.m. Trask Coliseum doors open for Convocation
11:00 a.m. Transfer student meet-up in section 223 begins
11:30 a.m. Convocation Ceremony begins
12:15 p.m. All-Campus Picnic begins on Hoggard Lawn

Class Photo

Seahawks! Wear your teal and join us for the Class of 2030 Photo. 

Many students choose to wear their UNCW Orientation t-shirt or another teal UNCW shirt. The class photo and all-campus picnic take place outside in August, so we recommend dressing accordingly for the warm temperatures.

Orientation Leaders will meet students outside of their residence halls at 9:45 a.m. The Class Photo will be taken promptly at 10:15 a.m.

Convocation

Convocation is a formal (but fun!) ceremony that welcomes undergraduate students to UNCW. It marks the beginning of your academic journey and brings together students, faculty, and staff as one community. Think of it as the bookend to graduation—your official welcome to campus.

Convocation is a required event for all first-year students, including students admitted from Early College High School programs and those coming in with dual enrollment credit. You are considered a first-year student if you attended a two-day orientation session.

Transfer Students are welcome, but not required, to attend. There will be a meetup for transfer students at Convocation. Transfer students will receive an email prior to Convocation with details on the meeting time and location. 

All-Campus Picnic

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to the all-campus picnic, hosted by the Division for Business Affairs! 

The campus picnic will serve traditional picnic-style food. There will be options for faculty, staff and students who are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff are invited to attend Convocation as special guests before joining us for the All-Campus Picnic. 

Faculty who plan to process should wear academic regalia and report to Trask Coliseum, room 119 at 11 a.m.

Staff who wish to attend the ceremony are invited to sit on the second level in Section 205. 

Accessibility Accommodations

CART Services will be provided during the Convocation ceremony. Students who wish to utilize closed captioning services should be seated on the 2nd level of the arena in Section 225. If you need access to the closed captions and have concerns taking the stairs to the 2nd level of Trask Coliseum, please contact the Office of Transition Programs at transitions@uncw.edu. 

Lower-level seating will be available for students with mobility concerns who are not comfortable taking the stairs. Please find a staff member when you arrive to be directed to this seating area. 

Other reasonable accommodations should be requested via email by 8 a.m. on Monday, August 17.

Students in crowd wearing teal and twirling towel

Honor Pledge & Academic Expectations

At UNCW, academic integrity is a core value. When students join our community, they pledge to uphold and be subject to the Honor Code. It is designed to help every member of the UNCW community appreciate the high value placed on academic integrity and the means that will be employed to ensure its preservation. In addition, when new students join the academic community at UNCW, they commit to uphold the Honor Pledge. When you visit the Fisher Student Center, find your signature on the Honor Pledge Banner near the stairs. We are glad you are a part of this tradition at UNCW. 

UNCW Honor Pledge:

"As a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code."

Seahawk Respect Compact

As members of the UNCW student body, staff, faculty and administration, we aspire to the following:

In the pursuit of excellence, UNC Wilmington actively fosters, encourages, and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff and the broader community.

  • We affirm the dignity of all persons.
  • We promote the right of every person to participate in the free exchange of thoughts and opinions within a climate of civility and mutual respect.
  • We strive for openness and mutual understanding to learn from differences in people, ideas and opinions.
  • We foster an environment of respect for each individual where differences are celebrated by the elimination of prejudice and discrimination through education and interaction with others.

Therefore, we expect members of the campus community to honor these principles as fundamental to our ongoing efforts to increase access to and inclusion in a community that nurtures learning and growth for all.

About the Class Flag

One important tradition we have at UNCW is the Class Flag.

Each incoming class since 2007 has their own class flag featuring a prominent symbol on UNCW’s campus.

Class of 2030, your class flag highlights the UNCW Seal, featuring the University's motto, Discere Aude.

The class flags are displayed in the Town Square of the Fisher University Union and climb the wall each year as seniority is gained as an expression of each class’s march towards graduation.

FAQS

Convocation is a formal (but fun!) ceremony that welcomes undergraduate students to UNCW. It marks the beginning of your academic journey and brings together students, faculty, and staff as one community. Think of it as the bookend to graduation—your official welcome to campus.

Yes, Convocation is a required event for all first-year students, including students admitted from Early College High School programs and those coming in with dual enrollment credit. 

Transfer Students are welcome, but not required, to attend. 

TEAL, of course!

Many students choose to wear their UNCW Orientation t-shirt or another teal UNCW shirt. The class photo and all-campus picnic take place outside in August, so we recommend dressing accordingly for the warm temperatures.

Keep an eye on your inbox! 

In the event of inclement weather, the class photo and picnic will move indoors. Check your email for updates on locations and meeting times.

The campus picnic will serve traditional picnic-style food. There will be options for faculty, staff and students who are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.