Commencement Day
Location & Directions
Commencement Exercises will begin as planned at 10 a.m. EDT.
There are no tickets or guest limits for students. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To ensure that our graduates, their families, friends, and guests are able to fully enjoy the wonderful celebration of their accomplishments, please read all of the following information to outline the process and timeline for Sunday:
- The Berglund Center’s doors will open for general admission at 8:30 a.m.
- Shuttles for graduating students, student marshals, and members of the Hollins choir only will depart from Hollins Moody Center to Berglund at 8:30 a.m. [PLEASE NOTE: We strongly encourage all residential students to take the shuttle, and commuter students are welcome to park on campus and take the shuttle should they choose. There will be no late bus. Do not be late or you may miss your ride and be late for the commencement ceremony.]
- Shuttles for non-graduating students and guests attending commencement will depart from Hollins Moody Center to Berglund starting at 9 a.m.
- All graduating students should arrive at the Berglund Center no later than 9 a.m. and gather in Berglund Hall (down the stairs at the flagpoles). We will have staff directing students from the shuttle drop-off point to their meeting location.
- Faculty wishing to process must assemble at 9 a.m. in Berglund Hall (down the stairs at the flagpoles).
- Shuttles returning to campus following the event will be available beginning at noon with the final shuttle run departing Berglund at 1:30 p.m. We understand that many students will plan to leave the venue with family or friends.
Photography Services
Photo Specialties will serve as Hollins University’s official photographer. A photographer will be at the ceremony to take a photograph of each graduate as the president presents them with their diploma. Please note that the diploma used on stage for photo purposes is a prop.
After the ceremony, you will receive an email within 7 days with instructions on how to view your proofs (including a private password). At this point, you may order online at www.seemygraduate.com. If you do not receive this notification, please contact Photo Specialties directly at info@photospecialties.com or call 919-967-9576.
Since photographs will be available, family members and guests are encouraged to remain in their seats, relax, and enjoy the ceremony. There will be spaces within the venue to take photographs after the ceremony.
We will also have a two photo spots available for pictures at the Berglund Center after the activities conclude.
Flowers
The Commencement Group, the largest commencement floral and apparel retailer in North America, will be onsite the morning of the ceremony inside the Berglund Center. Pre-orders for the ceremony are highly encouraged and can be scheduled now by visiting: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/hollins/.
Travel Info and Accommodations for Guests
The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport provides air service to visitors who are traveling to the region by plane. Air service is available through four major airline carriers via eight airports. The Amtrak train platform is located in Downtown Roanoke and it is the southernmost stop along the Northeast Regional route, providing easy access to Roanoke from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Both the airport and train station are a 10 minute drive from the Hollins University campus.
For a complete list of hotel and lodging options, please visit https://www.visitroanokeva.com/hotels-l