Student Newsletter

Information for Graduating Students (Fall 2026)

Please note that you if plan to graduate this fall semester, you must submit an application to graduate.  The online graduation application portal should open on August 31, 2026.  

All graduation applications for Fall 2026 should be submitted through myEOL. 

View instructions on how to submit your online graduation application. 

You will need to submit your graduation application online no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026. Applications received after the deadline may result in your name being omitted from the commencement program and may delay the availability of your diploma on the day of commencement.

After submitting your graduation application, you must notify your academic advisor so they can submit the Academic Approval for Graduation Form to the Office of the Registrar.

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The University has created a resource page for those graduating this fall.  It can be accessed at the link below:

https://www.nccu.edu/registrar/information-graduating-students-fall-2026

The page contains commencement ceremony Information, important dates and deadlines, information about your graduation cap and gown, etc.

Some highlights:

• Order your graduation cap, gown, and accessories through Herff Jones for Fall 2026 beginning August 4, 2026, through November 17, 2026.
• Fall 2026 graduation applications are due by September 18, 2026.
• Any grades of “I” – Incomplete must be resolved by October 13, 2026.
• Graduation Readiness Meeting: October 29, 2026, at 10:40 a.m.  
• Complete the mandatory student loan exit counseling by 12 p.m. on November 27, 2026.
• The Graduation One Stop will take place November 11–12, 2026, in the North Carolina Central University Student Center, outside Rooms 2127 and 2128. This event allows students to complete required academic and non-academic steps necessary to participate in commencement.
• Photo Specialties will be on campus November 11–12, 2026, to take graduation portraits in the North Carolina Central University Student Center, Rooms 2127 and 2128.
• Make sure to clear up your student account balance. Pay your $55 non-refundable graduation fee by December 7, 2026. Check your account balance periodically on myEOL.
• Acknowledge acceptance of the mandatory NCCU Commencement Decorum Video by December 7, 2026.
• The link and instructions will be emailed to you to download your permit-to-march and guest tickets prior to the link going live at midnight on December 10, 2026. 

• Honor Cord pickup:

Department of Counseling and Higher Education
Please see Ms. Juls Joyner (across from Room 2022).
December 10, 2026
9 a.m.–3 p.m.

• Undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral students will have their graduation rehearsals on December 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the McDougald-McLendon Arena.

CPCE Registration Interest - Fall or Spring

Are you taking practicum/internship in the fall of 2026 and have not completed the CPCE (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam)? A passing score on the CPCE (commonly called comps) is required for graduation. The fall CPCE testing window is September 21-25, 2026.

Go to NCCUcounseling.com>students>Comprehensive Exam>CPCE registration interest and all the information you need is provided. Use this Google survey to begin the process. Why complete the survey? This allows Dr. Barrow to endorse you for testing on campus, close to home, or even at home and to send you customized directions for testing after you are endorsed. Please use the link below for more information, including a link to the Google survey. Deadline is August 30, 2026.

http://www.nccucounseling.com/student2/index.php/advising/comprehensive-exam 

Preparing for the CPCE and the NCE, the following titles are now available for review, download, and/or checking out in physical format as noted.

The first three titles are available/downloadable on eBooks by EBSCOhost: https://resources.nclive.org/EBSCOebooks 

1. Encyclopedia of Counseling: https://web-p-ebscohost-com.nccu.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=b64044e5-5c07-417a-a47e-174132395f9f%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=1511108&db=nlebk
2. National Counselor Exam (NCE) and Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE): https://web-p-ebscohost-com.nccu.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=b64044e5-5c07-417a-a47e-174132395f9f%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=3560583&db=nlebk
3. Human Services Dictionary: Master Reference for the NCE, CPCE, and the HS-BCPE Exams, 2nd Ed: https://web-p-ebscohost-com.nccu.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=6&sid=b64044e5-5c07-417a-a47e-174132395f9f%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=2572690&db=nlebk 

These two titles will be in print form and available for check out through NCCU libraries.

1. Mastering the National Counselor Examination and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination, 3rd edition
2. Vital information and review questions for the NCE, CPCE, and state counseling exams

Fall Residencies - 2026

If you are taking either of the courses below this fall semester, please reserve the following days for your residency.

CON 5351: Principles and Procedures of Group Counseling

• Required residency: November 16-17, 2026

CON 5371: Pre-Practicum Counseling Skills

• Required residency (all sections): October 29-30, 2026

Recent Announcements

• Information for Graduating Students (Fall 2026) 2026-08-24
• Nancy Howell Scholarship - Please Apply 2026-08-17

Upcoming Dates to Remember for nccuCounseling:  

• August 28: Late registration (drop/add) ends at 12pm; course schedules dropped for those who have not made satisfactory payment arrangements; Site Supervisor Orientation at 3pm via Zoom
• August 30: Deadline to complete Google interest survey to take the CPCE
• August 31: Online graduation applications open (for December graduation); first day for graduate students to withdraw from a class with a grade of WC or from the university with a W
• September 7: Labor Day observed; no classes
• September 18: Fall graduation applications due
• October 13: All grades of "I" - incomplete (for graduating students) must be resolved
• October 29: Graduation readiness meeting at 10:40am
• November 11-12: Graduation One-stop at the Student Center
• December 10: Honor cord pickup (9am-3pm); commencement rehearsal at 6pm

The Student Newsletter is sent to the student email list every two weeks.