2026 Graduation

Danville Community College’s Commencement 2026 Ceremony will be at Averett University’s North Campus – E. Stuart James Grant Center located at 707 Mount Cross Rd, Danville, VA on Saturday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m.  Please see instructions below and note that ALL guests must have tickets to attend.  

Commencement Ceremony RSVP is REQUIRED:
Complete this survey to indicate if you will or will not be attending DCC Commencement by Friday, April 10, 2026.

There will be a mandatory Commencement Practice on Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m. at Averett University’s North Campus – E. Stuart James Grant Center.

IMPORTANT FACTS TO NOTE:

• All graduation candidates must wear a black cap and gown.  A cap and gown is available for you to purchase in the DCC Castle Bookstore located on campus across from the Student Center in the EIT Building during the following times: Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through May 15.  The cost of a cap and gown is $29.45 (tax included).  Caps and gowns can also be ordered online at bookstore.danville.edu. 
   
• Honor cords will be available to students earning degrees, diplomas, and certificates having a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.  These cords will be available for purchase starting Thursday, May 15, at the DCC Castle Bookstore.  The cords cost $8 (tax included).  Please note that honors and honor cord eligibility are based on your cumulative GPA, not your program GPA.  Recipients of Career Studies Certificates are not eligible for honor cords.
   
• The DCC Castle Bookstore has graduation announcements available for $1.50 plus tax each or 5 for $7.50 plus tax.  Please visit the DCC Bookstore for more information.  
   
• On graduation day, students should arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. at Averett University’s North Campus – Frank H. Fulton Sr. Indoor Batting Facility.  Please be aware that traffic in this area gets congested, so early arrival may be beneficial.

• You will pick up your name card and line up in the seating area of the Frank H. Fulton Sr. Indoor Batting Facility by 9:00 a.m.  Line up will be in alphabetical order by last name (A-Z) according to your highest program of study.  DCC ushers will be available to assist with the lineup. After lining up, you will be directed to proceed to the E. Stuart James Grant Center seating area where ushers will direct you to your seat.  Ushers will also assist as you walk across the stage, row by row, to receive your diploma cover. 
                   
• When you arrive for graduation, you should go to the commencement check-in table to pick up your name card.  YOU WILL BE HANDING THIS NAME CARD TO THE ANNOUNCER AS YOU APPROACH THE STAGE FOR YOUR NAME TO BE CALLED AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA COVER.

• Since you will be walking from the Frank H. Fulton Sr. Indoor Batting Facility to the Grant Center and then across the stage during the ceremony, you should wear attire that is appropriate for the occasion.  
   
• The College will have an official photographer from GRADIMAGES taking close-up photos as you cross the stage.  The photos will be sent to your DCC student email address, along with purchase information, following the ceremony.  Visit www.gradimages.com for more information.  Guests may take photos from their seats.  No photography is allowed directly around the stage or the exiting ramp area.
   
• All guests will be required to have a ticket to attend the commencement ceremony.  
   
• ALL graduates participating in commencement will get 5 guest tickets.  You must RSVP to attend the ceremony to claim your tickets.  Tickets can be picked up from the Student Services Office located on DCC’s main campus in the Wyatt Building, Room 108 on Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Only the student can pick up their tickets and should be prepared to show a valid ID.  Tickets cannot be mailed.  If there are extra tickets available, it will be announced via your DCC student email by Friday, May 2.  Children needing a seat will require a ticket, children that can be held will not need a ticket. Strollers cannot be left in the aisles. 
   
• Guests seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis.  The doors to the seating area will open at 8:30 a.m.  Guests will not be allowed to stand to view the ceremony.  Balloons or objects that obstruct view will not be allowed in the facility.  
   
• If you or a guest requires special ADA accommodations, please provide this information on the 2026 DCC Commencement Ceremony Student RSVP form by Friday, April 10, 2026.
   
• The correct placement for tassels on caps should be on the right side and moved to the left after conferring graduation.
   
• CELL PHONES should be silenced during the ceremony.  
   
• You are expected to stay for the duration of the ceremony and exit with the graduation processional.
   
• Fall 2025 graduates - You should have received your digital degree, diploma, and/or certificate via email and printed degree, diploma, and/or certificate via postal mail at the end of last semester.  
   
• Spring 2026 graduates - You should receive a digital copy of your credential by May 22 via your DCC student email. Please open this communication immediately to verify your mailing address. Your degree, diploma, certificate, and/or career studies certificate will be mailed to you at the address you indicated on your graduation application. Please allow 10-15 business days for arrival.
   
• Summer 2026 graduates - You should receive a digital copy of your credential by August 7, 2026, via your DCC student email. Please open this communication immediately to verify your mailing address.  Your degree, diploma, certificate or career studies certificate will be mailed to you at the address you indicated on your graduation application at the completion of the summer semester.  

Please check out the latest graduation information at www.danville.edu/graduation. 

Congratulations on being a candidate for graduation at DCC.  We wish you the best in your future endeavors. 

For DCC 2026 Commencement, all graduation candidates must wear a black cap and gown. A cap and gown is available for you to purchase in the DCC Castle Bookstore located on campus across from the Student Center in the EIT Building during the following times: Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through May 15. The cost of a cap and gown is $29.45, additional tassels are $6.35. Caps and gowns can also be ordered online at bookstore.danville.edu.

Honor cords will be available to students having a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. These cords will be available for purchase starting Thursday, May 14, at the DCC Castle Bookstore and cost $8.00. Please note honors and honor cord eligibility is based on your cumulative GPA, not your program GPA. Recipients of Career Studies Certificates are not eligible for honor cords.

The DCC Castle Bookstore has graduation announcements available. Please visit the DCC Bookstore for more information. 

• On commencement day, students should arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. and enter the back entrance of the Grant Center.

• You will then line up by 9:15 a.m. in alphabetical order by last name (A-Z) according to your highest program of study. DCC ushers will be available to assist with the lineup. After lining up, you will proceed to the seating area where ushers will direct you to your seat. Ushers will also assist as you walk across the stage, row by row, to receive your diploma cover.

• When you arrive for graduation, you should go to the commencement check-in table to pick up your name card. YOU WILL BE HANDING THIS NAME CARD TO THE ANNOUNCER AS YOU APPROACH THE STAGE SO YOUR NAME CAN BE CALLED AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA COVER.

• Since you will be walking across the stage during the ceremony, you should wear attire which is appropriate for the occasion.
   

The College will have an official photographer from GRADIMAGES  taking close-up photos as you cross the stage. The photos will be sent to your DCC student email address with purchase information following the ceremony. For more information: www.gradimages.com. Guests may take photos from their seats.

• All guests will be required to have a ticket to attend the commencement ceremony.

• The number of tickets available for each student will be determined by the number of graduates participating.  When this is determined it will be included in the commencement information you receive via email in April.

• Tickets may be picked up from the Student Services Office located on DCC’s main campus in the Wyatt Building, Room 108 on Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Only the student can pick up their tickets and should show valid ID.
   

Guests seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis. The gates to the seating area will open at 8:30 a.m. Guests will not be allowed to stand to view the ceremony and balloons or objects that obstruct view will not be allowed in the seating area.

• The correct placement for tassels on caps should be on the right side and moved to the left after conferring graduation.

• CELL PHONES should be turned off during the ceremony.

• You are expected to stay for the duration of the ceremony.

• Students will march with their highest degree. Commencement programs will include a listing of student names with completed credentials for graduation applications received by February 15, 2026. 
   

For questions about DCC Commencement 2026, please email cathy.pulliam@danville.edu.