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inclusion@nau.eduConvocation ceremonies
Recognizing and celebrating graduating students from all walks of life
Northern Arizona University’s convocation ceremonies recognize graduating students for their leadership, successes, and academic accomplishments while honoring the rich cultural heritage, individuality, and inclusion that define our university community. In the fall semester, we gather for the “Lumberjacks of Inclusion” event to honor graduating students from a variety of backgrounds, and we host a special Veterans Convocation to recognize those who have served. Our spring convocations highlight the unique communities within NAU, including the Asian & Pacific Islander, Black Student, Hispanic & Latine, Indigenous, Rainbow (LGBTQIA+), and Veterans populations.
Dates, locations, contact information, and links to digital programs are provided below. Please email inclusion@nau.edu for more information. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Fall ceremonies
Lumberjacks of Inclusion
The Lumberjacks of Inclusion event is a combined ceremony officially recognizing graduating students for their leadership, successes, and academic accomplishments while also honoring their identities and heritage.
Thursday, December 12, from 6:30–8:30 PM at Ardrey Auditorium
Veterans Convocation
The Veterans Convocation officially recognizes our NAU veterans and active-duty students for their accomplishment of successfully completing a degree while also honoring their military service.
Thursday, December 12, at 4 PM in Havasupai, University Union
Spring ceremonies
Asian and Pacific Islander Convocation
Asian and Pacific Islander Convocation honors and celebrates the accomplishments and commitment of NAU’s Asian and Pacific Islander graduates.
Black Student Convocation
The Black Student Convocation honors and celebrates the achievements of graduates who identify as African or African American descent.
Hispanic/Latine Convocation
Hispanic/Latine Convocation is a cultural celebration recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of Hispanic/Latine graduates and their families.
Indigenous Convocation
The Indigenous Convocation is a cultural celebration highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of our Indigenous students who self-identify as Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and all peoples who identify as Indigenous. The Convocation emphasizes the importance of Indigenous cultural traditions and brings together family, friends, staff, faculty, tribal, and community members.
Rainbow Convocation
Rainbow Convocation recognizes and celebrates the achievements of students who identify with the LGBTQIA+ Lumberjack Qmmunity. During the event, students are officially recognized by the university for their leadership, success, and academic achievements.
Veterans Convocation
The Veterans Convocation officially recognizes our NAU veterans and active-duty students for their accomplishment of successfully completing a degree while also honoring their military service.
Frequently asked questions
The Convocation ceremonies are celebratory events where we recognize graduates for earning their degrees while also honoring their identities and culture. Graduates will be presented with stoles they can wear at graduation to acknowledge and highlight their unique identities.
The events are open to students who are graduating or walking in spring commencement or those who graduated in a previous semester but couldn’t participate in commencement or convocations. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please email inclusion@nau.edu.
Please email inclusion@nau.edu to let us know you want to RSVP for additional convocations, and we’ll add you to the list.
If you missed the deadline, please email inclusion@nau.edu with your name (e.g., Susie Williams), phonetic spelling of your name (e.g., soo-zee wil-yuhmz), degree(s) earned, convocation(s) you want to participate in, number of guests (max of 4), and any accommodations needs you have for you or any of your guests. We will respond via email to confirm our ability to add you to the event and meet your accommodation request.
To ensure we have enough space for all graduates and their guests, you may include a maximum of four (4) guests in your RSVP. If you have more than four (4) guests, please contact inclusion@nau.edu to confirm we can accommodate your request to have more than four (4) guests.
We highly encourage guests to wear traditional attire that highlights their identities and culture or wear business casual attire. This is not a cap and gown event, so we do not recommend you wear your cap and gown.
We encourage all graduates and guests to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the event to check in and find a seat.
Fall Ceremonies:
- Lumberjacks of Inclusion: Check-in begins at 5:45 PM in the Ardrey Auditorium/Kitt Recital Hall lobby.
- Veterans Convocation: Please contact vets@nau.edu for information about check-in.
Parking for convocations is open and free. Please view the NAU campus parking map to locate the parking lots available for each convocation.
Fall Ceremonies:
- Lumberjacks of Inclusion and Veterans Convocation: Parking for ceremonies are free in lot Parking Lot – P13. P13 has a handful of accessible parking spaces. More accessible parking spaces are available in the Knoles Garage (P96A) located on the corner of Knoles and Riordan (please note there may be a charge to park in the garage). To locate the lots, please view the NAU campus parking maps. Traffic and parking lots will be busy on Thursday and Friday due to student move-out and commencement, so please plan accordingly.
During the ceremony, graduates will hear from various speakers who will recognize their accomplishment of earning a degree, experience cultural performances, and be presented with stoles they can wear at graduation to acknowledge and highlight their unique identities.
The ceremonies will not be streamed online.
To be respectful and fully honor all our graduates and their identities and culture, we ask all students and their families to stay until the end of the event. After the event, you will have the opportunity to visit with one another and take photos using our various backdrops.
Please email specific areas regarding the availability of stoles.
Fall Ceremonies:
Spring Ceremonies:
Yes, we highly encourage graduates to wear their stole(s) at commencement to highlight their identities and culture.
Please visit NAU Commencement for current information.
Our various ceremony venues have ADA accessible seating with companion seating for individuals using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and/or seated walkers. For guests and/or students who need additional accessibility accommodations, please contact inclusion@nau.edu at least one week prior to the ceremony so we can address your request(s).