Graduation

6:00 pm

Medical Assisting Pinning in the Juniper Building

5:30 pm

Region A Nursing Consortium Pinning in the Charles M. Beall Auditorium 

5:00 pm - College and Career Readiness - Charles M. Beall Auditorium 

· Adult High School

· GED

· Multiple Pathways

 

7:00 pm - Health, Human, and Business Services, Industry, and Nursing  - Charles M. Beall Auditorium 

· Accounting & Finance

· Business Administration

· Business Administration-Tourism

· Cosmetology

· Criminal Justice Technology

· Early Childhood Education

· Information Technology

· Medical Assisting 

· Medical Office Administration

· Nursing - Traditional Track

· Nursing - RN Completer

· Associate in General Education - Nursing

· Automotive Systems Technology

· Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology

· Computer-Integrated Machining Technology

· Electrical Systems Technology 

· Electronics Engineering Technology

· Industrial Systems Technology

· Welding Technology

 

5:00 pm - College Transfer, Natural Resources, Professional Crafts  - Charles M. Beall Auditorium 

· Associate in Arts 

· Associate in Engineering

· Associate in Science

· Associate in Arts Teacher Prep

· Associate in Science Teacher Prep

· Fish and Wildlife Management Technology

· Forestry Management Technology

· Professional Crafts - Clay

· Professional Crafts - Fiber

· Professional Crafts - Jewelry

· Professional Crafts - Wood

 

7:00 pm - Haywood Early College  - Charles M. Beall Auditorium 

Congratulations graduate! The dean of your department has recommended you as a possible candidate for the 2025 commencement exercises. We encourage you to stay in contact with your academic advisor to ensure all necessary coursework is completed to meet graduation requirements.

The graduate's presence at graduation is highly desired but not mandatory. Formal completion of all coursework, as certified by your academic dean, earns you the right to have your name on the graduating list and formal program. The name in the graduation program will be listed as it is on your student record. For graduates with multiple credentials, only the highest credential will be read during the ceremony; however, all credentials earned in Summer 2024 and after will be listed in the graduation program. If you are unable to attend the commencement exercises, your name will still appear in the graduation program. For the 2025 commencement ceremonies, a digital program will be accessible online for all guests, and a printed hard copy will be provided upon entry to the auditorium.

The following information is imperative to a successful commencement. We urge you to read each item carefully and direct family, friends, and additional guests to the Guests tab for pertinent graduation information. Please contact the Office of Enrollment Management should you have any questions and/or concerns, 828-627-4500, HCC-Graduation@haywood.edu.

Graduation Application

All graduates must complete the following form. This information allows us to capture your name for program completion and will also help us better plan for graduation events.

An HCC login will be required to submit this form. If you are experiencing any login issues, contact Information Technology: https://www.haywood.edu/information-technology/index.php.  

Graduation Application

Invitations

The HCC Marketing and Communications Department is currently providing a selection of invitations/announcements that are available for purchase.

Order Invites

Arrival Instructions​

Graduates are asked to park in the Alder Building parking lot at the top of campus and report to Student Services upper-level, Hemlock Building, for further processional instructions.

 
Regalia

It is required that all graduates procure the proper regalia: black gown, cap, cords, and tassel (begin the ceremony with tassels on the right). Please do not make any modifications to your regalia gown. Under your cap and gown, we ask that you wear nice clothes and shoes. We caution against flip flops and high heels, as wearing them increases the chances of falling while walking up and/or across the stage.

Graduates may order cap and gown by contacting the HCC Bookstore for regalia options – 828-565-4129. Priority orders must be placed by May 1, 2025.

Parking

All faculty, staff, and graduates have been asked to park at the Alder Building to leave plenty of room for guests in the Hemlock Building parking lots. Additional handicap spaces will be blocked off on both sides of the Hemlock building.  If someone in your family needs special accommodations, please notify us so we can provide the help they need at HCC-Graduation@haywood.edu. All visitors are asked to utilize the parking lots only and do not park on the grass or shoulders of roads.

Grad Day

Let's celebrate!

Hosted by Student Services, Grad Day is a time of celebration for the graduating class of 2025! Graduates should stop by the Juniper Building lobby on Thursday, April 24 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm for a variety of snacks, drinks, and sweet treats. Graduates will also have the opportunity to order invitations, purchase cap and gown, receive special alumni merchandise, and obtain an alumni coupon from the HCC Bookstore to use on select items.

Graduation Cords

If you are graduating with honors, you will receive your cord when you are lined up for the procession. Students graduating with honors will receive a white cord based on the following:

cum laude (with praise)
magna cum laude (with high praise)
summa cum laude (with highest praise)

Graduates receiving credentials conferred during the spring semester will receive honors based on their previous fall cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Graduates who are members of one of the following societies will need to contact the corresponding advisor to obtain the appropriate cord/stole. 

Haywood Early College  - Purple and gray tassel and medallion

Future Cosmetologist Association - Pink cord

Medical Assisting - Peacock blue and silver cord

National Society of Leadership and Success - Red cord or black/white cord

National Technical Honor Society - Silver/purple cord

Phi Theta Kappa - Gold stole (on loan through PTK advisor)

Student Ambassador - Silver cord (provided during processional)

Student Government Association - Teal cord (provided during processional)

Veterans - Red, white, and blue cord (provided during processional)

Photography

HCC has a professional photographer to take photographs of students as they receive their awards on stage. Information for ordering photographs will be forthcoming.

We request no personal flash photography during the ceremony to reduce distractions.

When Will You Receive Your Degree?

Please note, during the ceremony, each graduate will receive a Haywood Community College diploma cover. Haywood Early College students will receive a Haywood Early College diploma cover. All graduates who have completed the requirements for graduation will need to have their awards conferred (a process of approving that all classes were satisfactorily completed.) It will take approximately three to four weeks after the ceremony before they are printed and made available. At that time, final transcripts with award conferrals will be available for order as well.
 

Lodging Accommodations for Out-of-Town Guests

Parties traveling from out of town are encouraged to visit the following link to view lodging accommodations in and around Clyde, NC - https://visithaywood.com/places-to-stay/.

Arrival & Parking

All guests must report to the Charles M. Beall Auditorium lower-level, Hemlock Building, for entrance. The auditorium will open approximately 45-minutes in advance of the listed ceremony times. All guests will be directed to park in the Hemlock Building parking lots. Additional handicap spaces will be blocked off on both sides of the Hemlock building.  If someone in your family needs special accommodations, please notify us so we can provide the help they need at HCC-Graduation@haywood.edu. All visitors are asked to utilize the parking lots only and do not park on the grass or shoulders of roads.

Haywood Community College is an alcohol and tobacco-free campus.

Photography

HCC has a professional photographer to take photographs of students as they receive their awards on stage. Information for ordering photographs will be forthcoming.

We request no personal flash photography during the ceremony to reduce distractions.

Floral Arrangements

Floral arrangements, graduation gifts, and select HCC merchandise will be available for purchase the day of in the Charles M. Beall Auditorium.

Ceremony Livestream

If you are interested in watching the graduations via livestream, visit HCC's YouTube Channel. Livestreams can be found on the Live tab on the main YouTube page.