Two days each term, and a warning under each table

UNA’s University Academic Calendar, in the catalog, lists commencement as the close of term on two consecutive days. Spring 2027: “May 7 Friday - Close of term; Commencement Program” and “May 8 Saturday - Close of term; Commencement Program.” Fall 2026: “December 11 Friday - Close of term; Commencement Program” and “December 12 Saturday - Close of term; Commencement Program.” 7 May 2027 is a Friday, 8 May a Saturday; 11 December 2026 a Friday, 12 December a Saturday.

Under each term’s table: “All dates contained in this calendar are tentative and subject to change without prior notice.” Most universities publish future dates without that sentence. UNA publishes it, so this site carries the dates with the flag attached and recommends bookings you can cancel.

Seven passes, issued by email

From the registrar’s graduation FAQ, read on 20 September 2026: “Graduates are allowed a maximum of 7 guests. 7 digital guest passes will be issued to each graduate via their UNA email account from Glitnir Ticketing. All guests must have a digital pass to be seated.” Young children who can sit on an adult’s lap do not count against the seven and do not need a pass.

The venue, and why it is not stated

UNA’s commencement page returned a server error on every check for this site on 20 September 2026. The registrar’s pages that did load are about applying, regalia, honors and diplomas. One of them, the graduate-information page, carries an accessibility note: “Norton Auditorium will not have any assistive equipment for guests with limited mobility such as wheelchairs or walkers.” That is the only venue name on any readable page, and it appears as a caution rather than a statement of where commencement is held, so this page records it as a note and not as the venue. The research behind this cluster named Flowers Hall from the unreachable page; that is not carried either.

Programs in the seats, diplomas in the mail

Two practical lines from the graduate-information page: “Commencement programs will be in your seat at the commencement ceremony.” And: “Diplomas are not given at the commencement ceremonies. Diplomas will be mailed to you 4-6 weeks after the ceremony pending completion of degree requirements.” Guests requiring special assistance are asked to notify the registrar two weeks before.

Two nights, cancellable

The calendar gives two days and no split, so the safe booking is Thursday and Friday, cancellable, with one released when the schedule arrives. Florence has the Stricklin and the Hampton within a mile of campus and the Shoals’ chain cluster 11 minutes across the river. The where to stay page has them and the hour-long ring beyond.