All degree candidates from all campuses planning to graduate in Fall 2021 will participate in the ceremony at the Convocation Center on the Dahlonega campus.
Commencement Instructions
All candidates must report to the Check-In table located on the arena floor level of the Convocation Center one hour prior to the scheduled time for their commencement ceremony. They should enter at the second level doors across the street from the Alumni House. There will be directional signage posted on the day of the event.
When graduates check-in, they will be given their reader card. Graduates MUST fill this card out and keep it with them throughout the ceremony. It will be used to announce their name as they cross the stage.
A professional photographer will be off the stage to the right of the President. Graduates should plan to pause for a photograph.
Students should check to be sure that cell phones are turned off during the ceremony.
All fees, fines, and other debts to the university must be paid three working days prior to commencement or the diploma will be withheld and transcripts will not be mailed.
Graduates will line up by degree. Students who arrive late will be placed at the end of the graduation line. Students are encouraged to avoid this possible embarrassment by arriving on time. If you arrive at the Convocation Center after roll is taken for your degree, you MUST notify the faculty marshal for your school. Failure to do so will result in your name not being called during the ceremony.
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.
Tickets are required by guests to attend all ceremonies. Any guest over the age of two (2) will be required to have a ticket.
Graduation candidates who met the graduation application deadline and replied “yes” to attending the ceremony will each be allotted five (5) guest tickets.
Graduates will be able to claim their allotment of tickets starting October 25 via their UNG student email account. Tickets will be distributed electronically.
There are no extra tickets. If a graduate claims their entire allotment but does not need their total number of allocated tickets, they may contact University Events at universityevents@ung.edu to donate them back. After the ticket claiming period has passed, any unclaimed or unused tickets will be electronically distributed to graduates who expressed their desire to receive additional tickets in the initial online ticket claiming process on a first come, first served basis.
Tickets can be presented as a printed document or on your mobile device. Once a graduate has claimed their tickets, they will be emailed to the graduate via their UNG student email account. Once graduates have received their tickets, they can print them or share them with a family member who can distribute them to additional guests appropriately.
The deadline for graduates to pre-order their regalia is prior to October 18. If you do not meet this deadline, the UNG Bookstore will be selling these items. Regalia will be available in the store and online for purchase shortly after the published deadline. Please note that if you elect to order regalia items online from the UNG Bookstore that you should submit your order no later than two weeks prior to your scheduled ceremony. Any orders made after this may not ship on time. 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 they should instead drape them neatly over the right arm as they enter the Convocation Center arena. Graduate students will be hooded individually on stage immediately prior to receiving their diploma folder.