General Information

All faculty, staff, and graduating seniors who have personal accommodation needs or needs for guests, must contact Accessibility Resource Center at least one week prior to graduation.  The University will continue to make a good-faith effort to arrange accommodations for any requests made up until the day of the event.

Reserved Parking

A limited number of designated wheelchair accessible parking spaces will be available during graduation. This area will be blocked off and reserved for cars displaying their handicap placard.  Transportation from the parking lots to the graduation site, for those who are ambulatory, but can not walk long distances, will be provided.  Courtesy golf carts will be circling campus parking lots.  There may be a short wait, depending upon the number of people requesting this service.

Reserved Seating 

1. Seating for guests who use wheelchairs will be located in designated areas in compliance with fire and safety codes.   One person may accompany the person in the wheelchair. 

2. Seating for those who are ambulatory will be located in the closest available area to seating.  It is important to arrive early to guarantee access to these seats.

3. Seating for persons who are hearing impaired will be located within the first  row of the event  and at the closest point to the interpreter.

Graduating seniors who would like to guarantee reserved seating for a disabled guest must make a reservation through the Accessibility Resource Center at least one week in advance of graduation.  A reservation will guarantee up to two seats in a reserved seating area, one for the disabled guest and one for a companion.  Because the reserved area is designated for disabled persons and those assisting them, we regret that it is not possible to seat whole families together in that area.

Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate a last minute, unanticipated need for reserved seating, as space is available. In such cases though, it may be possible to accommodate only the person with the disability.  People with a reservation will be served on a first come first serve basis.  Seating cannot be guaranteed unless it is reserved in advance.

Interpreter Services and Assistive Listening Devices

A Sign Language Interpreter, using American Sign Language, will be available for graduation.  Deaf guests who need priority seating must make prior arrangements with the Accessibility Resource Center for reserved seating.

For those who are hearing impaired, an Assistive Listening Device has been installed.  Those who will need a receiver should contact the Accessibility Resource Center to reserve one.

Alternative Formats

Large print and Braille copies of commencement programs can be made as long as requests are received no later than one week before graduation in order to assure the best possible arrangements.  The University will continue to make a good-faith effort to arrange accommodations for any requests made up until the day of the event.

Chemical Sensitivity

Although the University cannot guarantee a chemical-free environment, some guests may be subject to chemical sensitivity.  In consideration of others, please consider not wearing strongly scented products.

For More Information or Requests for Accommodations Contact:

Accessibility Resource Center at
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
PO Box 1510
Pembroke, NC 28372-1510
Phone: 910.521.6695

FAX: 910.521.6891
NC Relay: 711
Email:arc@uncp.edu

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