2020 Spring and Summer Commencement Experience Information

The "Commencement Experience" is unlike any typical graduation ceremony. This intimate, indoor celebration was purposefully designed to help keep you and your family members safe while celebrating your major accomplishment. When you arrive, you and your four guests will check in on the event floor level of the Convocation Center and will remain together as you walk through this unique celebration event. (Please note: This experience is mostly standing and walking, but our staff will be prepared to assist graduates and guests with special accommodations as needed.) As you move into the main area to have your degree conferred, your guests will have the special opportunity to stand front and center as they watch you walk across the stage! The entirety of the commencement experience should last around 40-45 minutes from start to finish. 

Safety protocols are in place to help ensure social distancing throughout the event. Masks will be required by all graduates, guests, staff and volunteers. 

All degree candidates who notified the Office of University Events to participate in the postponement commencement ceremonies should participate in the ceremonies on the Dahlonega campus.

Ticket and Check-In Information

• You must print and bring the four guest tickets that were emailed to your UNG email address. (No additional tickets will be available.) 
  • Although the tickets you received say "Friday, September 18," these are the same tickets that you will use for the Saturday and Sunday commencement events. 
• Graduates and guests should park in the Convocation Center Lot (L52).
• Graduates and their guests will check in on the event floor level of the Convocation Center.
• Commencement Staff will assist you to the correct place after you have parked your vehicle.

Mobile Experience Instructions

• Graduates and guests will travel through the Graduation Experience together as a family unit. Please note that the experience will be mostly mobile. Our staff will be prepared to assist graduates and guests with special accommodations.
• Masks must be worn by graduates at all times, even for photo opportunities.
  • Additional photo opportunities will be available on the plaza outside of the Convocation Center; graduates may remove their masks to pursue these photo opportunities outdoors with their family members.
• The experience should last somewhere between 40 – 45 minutes.

Regalia and Apparel

• Undergraduate Students: Mortarboards should be worn centered on top of the head with the tassel to the right.
• Graduate Students: Hoods should be draped neatly over the right arm; graduates will be hooded individually on stage.
• Appropriate and encouraged attire under regalia is dark colored business attire with dark shoes or Class A uniforms (commissioning cadets only).
• Only approved academic adornments, outlined in UNG's Regalia Policy, should be worn in addition to the gown.

In addition, all graduates and guests will be required to wear appropriate face coverings at all times while inside the Convocation Center. Masks will be provided to each graduate and guest upon their arrival to check in at the event. Social distancing mechanisms will be put in place for the health and safety of graduates, guests and event staff. Our team has worked extremely hard to ensure that all graduates and guests feel safe before, during and after the event. Be prepared to wear your mask and socially distance yourself to help us execute a successful event.

For those graduates who still need to purchase regalia, the UNG Bookstore will be selling these items online and in-store during the dates of August 31 - September 18. Bookstore staff will also be on site for the Saturday and Sunday commencement experience events for your last-minute regalia needs. If you choose to purchase your regalia items in person, check the bookstore hours for your local campus.

Graduate students should not wear their hoods, but should drape them neatly over the right arm as they enter the commencement area. Graduate students will be hooded individually on stage immediately prior to receiving their certificates.

To follow health and safety guidelines, there will no processional or recessional during the postponed commencement ceremonies. Therefore, there will be no marching faculty for these unique ceremonies. 

• Graduates participating in the ceremony who need special accommodations should notify Student Disability Services at 678-717-3855 no later than September 9.
• Guests of graduates who need special accommodations should notify University Events at 706-864-1950 no later than September 9.