Graduation Convocation

Announcement

Clear Bag Policy

Clear bag policy is in effect for Convocation. Please follow the guidelines in the Permitted/Prohibited Items section.

Introduction

Twice a year, we honor our graduating students at the College of Education Graduation Convocation. This is an opportunity for soon-to-be alumni to celebrate the conclusion of their collegiate journey with classmates and close friends.

At convocation, each student is recognized by name, shakes hands with the dean, and receives a special College of Education gift as family and friends celebrate from the audience. All graduating students in the College are invited to attend. All graduating students are to wear their cap and gown to the convocation.

In addition to registering for the College of Education’s Convocation through the Office of Student Engagement, all graduating students who wish to have their name appear in the Convocation program are required to apply to graduate in Athena on the Office of the Registrar’s website .

Note: Summer Undergraduate students may participate in the Spring Convocation ceremony only but must apply to graduate by the Spring Deadline in Athena. Summer Graduate students may participate in the Fall Convocation ceremony only.

Ceremony Information

Location: Classic Center Theater
Date: Thursday, December 10th
Ceremony start time: 2:00pm – Graduates should arrive between 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.

Upcoming Events

Tickets

Tickets are not required for guests to attend. All graduates should RSVP through the Tassel portal using the custom link sent to your UGA email.

Student Speaker Information

Graduation is just around the corner, and you are about to embark on an incredible new chapter in your life. This is a time for celebration, reflection, and looking ahead to the future, and what better way to mark this moment than by hearing from one of you as the Convocation student speaker!

Have you ever thought about standing at the podium, representing our entire class, and sharing your thoughts, hopes, and memories with everyone in the crowd? This is your chance to inspire your classmates, reflect on our journey, and leave a lasting impression on our big day. Being the student speaker is an opportunity you won’t want to miss. If you’re passionate about what your class has accomplished, excited about what lies ahead, and ready to take on the world, I highly encourage you to apply! It’s a chance to make a lasting impact and celebrate the journey we’ve shared together.

So, why wait? Go ahead, step up, and apply to be our Convocation student speaker. You never know—your words could be the ones that we carry with us as we move on to the next chapter!

Assembly Instructions

Graduate check-in will be from 12:45–1:45 p.m. . Please look for directional signage and the MFECOE Student Ambassadors for guidance. Only graduates and MFECOE Convocation volunteers are allowed in the assembly area.

The processional will begin promptly at 1:55 p.m. We strongly encourage you to leave cell phones, purses, coats, and other belongings with your family or friends. We cannot provide security for items left in the assembly area. Any items left behind will be turned over to the Classic Center security and placed in lost and found.

Viewing Options

In addition to watching the ceremony in person, the Fall 2026 Convocation ceremony will be broadcast live on this page, the website homepage , and streamed on YouTube, with closed captions available for accessibility.

Eligibility

Students who have applied for graduation in Athena and meet one of the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Fall 2026 Convocation ceremony:

Graduate students who completed their degree requirements in Summer 2026.
Undergraduate and graduate students who are expected to complete their degree requirements in Fall 2026.

For general information regarding graduation requirements, consult the UGA Bulletin . To ensure that you have met all the requirements for graduation, check with a degree program specialist in the dean’s office of your school or college. You should also be checking your progress via DegreeWorks . All undergraduates must apply to graduate for the semester in which they will take their last course(s) toward their graduation requirements using the graduation application in Athena .

Degree candidates earning Latin honors will be recognized during the ceremony. Degree candidates who meet the following GPA criteria and who do not have a FERPA restriction will be noted in the commencement program. Latin honors distinctions effective for Summer and Fall 2026 undergraduates are found below:

Latin Honors Distinction	GPA Requirement
Cum Laude	3.60-3.74
Magna Cum Laude	3.75-3.89
Summa Cum Laude	3.90-4.00

First Honor Graduates have maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average on all work attempted at the University of Georgia as well as all college-level transfer work attempted prior to or following enrollment at the University. These students are celebrated for their high standards of academic excellence and their outstanding achievements. Their regalia includes a fourragère, a braided cord, worn on the shoulder.

For the purposes of the Convocation program, Latin honors recognition is based on the student’s overall undergraduate GPA going into the student’s last semester. Final Latin honors will be determined following the conclusion of the student’s last semester.

Academic Regalia (Cap & Gown)

Appropriate academic regalia must be worn by candidates in order to participate in the Undergraduate Convocation ceremony. Regalia can be ordered from the Jostens website. For questions about ordering regalia, please call 706-542-3171 or visit our representatives at the UGA Bookstore.

Order deadline for pickup during grad fair: TBD
Order deadline for ship to home: TBD
UGA Grad Fair Date: TBD

Candidates should wear their tassels on the right side prior to their degree being conferred and on the left side afterward. The mortarboard on the cap should be parallel to the ground. Program-Specific Color. With the exception of the honors tassels, the color of tassels are indicative of the academic subject area. For the Mary Frances Early College of Education, tassels should be light blue.

Review complete information regarding respective standards for honors graduation.

Undergraduate students who anticipate graduating with honors may wear an honors tassel:

Honors Distinction	Tassel Color
Summa Cum Laude	Red, Silver and Black
Magna Cum Laude	Red and Silver
Cum Laude	Red and Black

Permitted/ Prohibited Items

The CLEAR BAG POLICY is in effect for the Fall Mary Frances Early Convocation ceremony.

The following items are prohibited:

Outside food and beverages
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco products and Vape Pens
Illegal drugs
Backpacks, computer bags, and camera bags
Electronic devices larger than a cell phone
Professional cameras or cameras with detachable lenses
GoPros, selfie sticks, and laser pointers
Glitter, confetti, inflatable toys, or other projectiles
Toy replicas of weapons
Firearms and weapons of any kind, including mace and pepper spray
Drones

For more information on policies specific to the Classic Center Theater, please visit the Classic Center website .

Parking

Directions to the Classic Center Theater can be found on their website. Parking is available in the Classic Center and downtown parking decks for a fee. If needed, guests may be dropped off in the round about in front of the Classic Center. Parking in the UGA North Deck will be free on the day of the ceremony, and we will be providing a free shuttle to and from the Classic Center. Pickup at the North Deck entrance on Jackson Street near the UGA bus stop and drop off outside of the Classic Center main entrance. Please be aware that there are other ceremonies taking place at the Classic Center on the same day, so allow extra time for traffic and parking.

Disability Access

ADA seating is located on all levels of the theater and can be accessed by the elevator. Please be advised that the Classic Center does not provide wheelchairs and guests with mobility issues will need to bring their own. Individuals who need to request an ASL interpreter may do by contacting coeconvocation@uga.edu . Requests should be made two weeks prior to the event to ensure service is available.

Lost & Found

For items believed to be lost at the theater, please email the Classic Center security office at Security@ClassicCenter.com or call (706)208-0900.

Helpful Tips

Please follow the Clear Bag Policy.
All guests will pass through weapons detection devices. Here is a list of Weapons Detection Nuisances that are recommended to be left in your car!
On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair.
Wear comfortable shoes. Graduates and guests will be walking and using stairs.
Graduates are encouraged to leave purses, coats, and other belongings with your family members.
Graduates are expected to remain standing in front of their seats during the entire processional.
In advance of the ceremony, graduates should pick a place to meet family and friends once the ceremony is completed.
Please be respectful of those around you and the fact that this is a formal academic ceremony. Fat heads, air horns, and other similar distractions may be confiscated.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any Convocation ceremony.
For information on the UGA Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement ceremonies, please visit commencement.uga.edu .

Previous Graduation Convocation Events

Contact Us

For more information, please contact us at 706-542-1717 or via email .