Attendance
Teaching and research faculty members: you will receive an email asking you to respond if you are planning to participate in the Graduate Hooding Ceremony and/or the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies.
Academic Regalia
Teaching and research faculty members participating in the commencement processional are required to wear academic regalia, either from their alma mater or Radford University.
Faculty can rent regalia through the Highlander Bookstore or purchase custom regalia. The deadline to submit an order for faculty rental regalia is Nov. 18, 2026. This is a hard deadline as faculty regalia requirements are specific to individual faculty disciplines. To submit orders, please complete this online form.
Arriving at the Commencement Site
Graduating students should arrive at the lower-level Preston Hall entrance 1 hour prior to the ceremony time and proceed to your college’s line up in the hallway.
Commencement Security Measures
The safety of our campus community remains our highest priority. All attendees should be prepared to go through a security screening before entering the commencement venue. The OpenGate security system allows for efficient and non-invasive screening, helping to maintain a safe environment while minimizing delays. In addition, we are partnering with an event security contractor to assist in this effort, and they will be dressed in yellow if you require assistance or need help. View the university's clear-bag policy and prohibited items listing.
Severe Weather
Winter weather can be difficult to predict. We will monitor the forecast carefully for severe weather. We will provide regular updates via email to our graduating students. Any changes to the commencement schedule will also be available on this website, on the university homepage and on the university's Facebook page.