Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
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  1. NAU
  2. Student Affairs
  3. Convocation ceremonies

Convocation ceremonies

Recognizing and celebrating graduating students from all walks of life

Date, location, and contact information for the individual Convocation events are provided below. Please email inclusion@nau.edu for more information. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

The RSVP form for the spring 2024 convocation ceremonies has closed.

A P I convocation.

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.

May 10 from 8-10 AM at du Bois Ballroom

For more information, contact sheena.hale@nau.edu.

Students smiling at the black convocation.

Black Student Convocation

The Black Student Convocation honors and celebrates the achievements of graduates who identify as African or African-American descent.

Thursday, May 9 from 7:30-9 PM at du Bois Ballroom

For more information, contact inclusion@nau.edu.

Two people hugging at the convocation.

Hispanic/Latine Convocation

Hispanic/Latine Convocation is a cultural celebration recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of Hispanic/Latine graduates and their families.

Thursday, May 9 from 6-7:30 PM at Ardrey Auditorium

For more information, contact Hispanic.ConvocationCommittee@nau.edu.

A family celebrates together outside on green grass after the Indigenous Convocation event

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.

Thursday, May 9 from 3-4:30 at Ardrey Auditorium

For more information, contact issnatives@nau.edu.

Rainbow convocation with students hugging.

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.

Saturday, May 4 from 2-4:30 PM at Prochnow Auditorium

For more information, contact bryan.bove@nau.edu.

Two veterans are posing for the camera together at the Vet Convocation

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, May 9 from 4-5:30 PM at Ashurst

For more information, contact vets@nau.edu.

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 the latest 30 minutes prior to the start of the event to check-in and find a seat.

  • Rainbow Convocation– Check-in and a light reception will begin at 2:15 PM at Prochnow Auditorium (Bldg. 3A). Event will begin at 3 PM.
  • Indigenous Convocation– Check-in will begin at 2 PM at Ardrey Auditorium (Bldg. 37A). Event begins at 3 PM.
  • Veterans Convocation – Please contact vets@nau.edu for information about check-in.
  • Hispanic & Latine Convocation– Check-in will begin at 5:15 PM at Ardrey Auditorium (Bldg. 37A). Event begins at 6 PM.
  • Black, African, & African American Convocation – Check-in will begin at 7:00 PM at the du Bois Ballroom (Bldg. 64). Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served at 7:30 PM and the event will begin at 8 PM.
  • Asian & Pacific Islander Convocation– Check-in will begin at 7:30 AM at the du Bois Ballroom (Bldg. 64). Event will begin at 8 AM.

Parking for convocations is open and free. Please view the NAU campus parking map to locate the parking lots available for each convocation.

  • Rainbow Convocation– Saturday, May 4 at 3-4:30 PM at Prochnow Auditorium (Bldg. 3A). Parking is available in lots P3, P8, and along Knoles Drive.
  • Indigenous Convocation– Thursday, May 9 at 3-4:30 PM at Ardrey Auditorium (Bldg. 37A). Parking is available in lot P13 with accessible parking available in the Knoles parking garage (P96A) located on the corner of Knoles and Riordan.
  • Veterans Convocation – Thursday, May 9 at 4-5:30 PM at Ashurst Hall (Bldg. 11). Parking is available in lots P3, P8, and along Knoles Drive. Overflow parking is available in P13.
  • Hispanic & Latine Convocation– Thursday, May 9 at 6-7:30 PM at Ardrey Auditorium (Bldg. 37A). Parking is available in lot P13 with accessible parking available in the Knoles parking garage (P96A) located on the corner of Knoles and Riordan.
  • Black, African, & African American Convocation – Thursday, May 9 from 7:30-9 PM at the du Bois Ballroom (Bldg. 64). Parking is available in lots P45 and P46.
  • Asian & Pacific Islander Convocation– Friday, May 10 at 8-9:30 AM at the du Bois Ballroom. Parking is available in lots P45 and P46. Please note parking may be impacted by NAU commencement traffic.

Please note that traffic and parking lots will be busy on May 9 and May 10 due to student move-out and commencement. Please plan accordingly.

During the event, 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 event 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 individual committee chairs listed on the Lumberjacks of Inclusion website (or inclusion@nau.edu) regarding the availability of stoles.

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.