More than 2,600 students are set to graduate from Northern Arizona University (NAU) during the Fall 2025 commencement ceremonies scheduled for December 12, 2025. The ceremonies will take place at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome and will be divided into two sessions to accommodate the large graduating class.
The morning ceremony, starting at 10 a.m., will honor graduates from the College of Arts and Letters, College of Education, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, NAU Yuma, and the W. A. Franke College of Business. The afternoon ceremony will follow at 3 p.m., celebrating graduates from the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, College of Nursing, Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, and Personalized Learning programs.
NAU’s commencement ceremonies will feature Alexander Alvarez, professor and co-chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, as the keynote speaker. Alvarez is also recognized as the 2025 Homecoming dedicatee and will address graduates at both sessions.
For those unable to attend the ceremonies in person, NAU will provide live streaming of both the morning and afternoon events via NAU-TV. This allows family and friends from across the globe to join in celebrating the achievements of the graduates.
Logistics and Attendance Information
Attendees are advised to familiarize themselves with the clear bag policy, which will be enforced at the event. The Skydome will open its doors 90 minutes before each ceremony to accommodate guests.
Traveling to campus during this busy time requires some planning. NAU recommends that visitors check real-time updates on traffic, parking, and weather conditions. They can obtain this information by texting “Hi” to 833-511-0151 to reach the AI chatbot, Cappy.
The busiest traffic times are expected to be approximately one hour before and after each ceremony. For those who do not need to drive on campus, an alternative route is suggested to ease congestion. If driving is necessary, guests should allow extra time to navigate campus, as direct routes may not be available.
Parking will be accessible at various locations across campus. Shuttles will operate from the South Commuter parking lot (P62) and the San Francisco parking garage (P96). Accessible parking is provided in the Skydome parking lot (P66), which can be accessed via Lone Tree Road.
For convenience, participants and guests are encouraged to download the NAU go app from the App Store or Google Play, which will provide essential information about the commencement ceremonies at their fingertips.
The upcoming commencement ceremonies promise to be a momentous occasion, celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of the Class of 2025 at Northern Arizona University.
