FALL 2024 COMMENCEMENT GUIDE

DearGuests,

FROM THE PRESIDENT

OnbehalfoftheUniversityofWestAlabamafamily,Iwishtothankyouforthesupport youhaveshowntoyourgraduatethroughouttheirtimeatUWA.Wewelcomeyouto campusforcommencementexercisesaswecelebratethemanyachievementsofour graduates.Youareaspecialpartofthisdaybecauseofthesupportand encouragementyouhaveshownthroughoutyourgraduate’sjourney.

Ourstudentbodyrepresentsapproximately25statesintheU.S.and30countries aroundtheglobe.Alluniquelytalented,eachgraduatehasfollowedapathunlikeany other,includingboththehurdlesandthevictories,andeachhasaspecialpath movingforward.

Thisguideprovidesinformationyouwillneedasaticket-holdingguestofagraduate, includingamapanddirections,availableservices,traditions,andevenpertinent informationthatwehaveprovidedtograduatesoverthelastseveralweeksthatyou canhelpremindthemofastheypreparefortheday.Westrivetomakethisday enjoyableforourgraduatesandguestsaswefollowthetraditionsofcommencement withdecorumandhonor.

Thisisthedaywehaveallstrivedfor,andwethankyouforallthatyouhavedonefor yourgraduatetoreachthisveryspecialmilestone.

Sincerely,

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

ALL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES WILL TAKE PLACE IN UWA AUDITORIUM IN THE MATH & SCIENCE BUILDING.

GRADUATES SHOULD PLAN TO CHECK-IN AT PRUITT GYMNASIUM ONE HOUR BEFORE THE CEREMONY START TIME.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12

1:00PM

Doctor of Rural Education Education Specialist

Master of Education EDD, EDS, MED

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

10:00AM

DON, ETEC, COLA, NSM

NURSING

BS - Nursing

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

BS - Technology, Eng Tech

BBA - CIS

LIBERAL ARTS

BS - Liberal Arts

MAT - English Language Arts

MA - IMC

MS - Family Counseling

NATURAL SCIENCES & MATH

BS - NSM

MS - Conservation Biology, Sports Mgt.

MAT - Physical Education, Math

1:00PM

COE & COB

EDUCATION

BS - Education, IDS

MS - Adult Continuing Education

MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling

BUSINESS

BBA - Business MBA

ALL CEREMONIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FALL GRADUATION HAS PASSED ON OCTOBER 21

GRAD LUNCH

11

lunchwillbeserved until1:00pm. a.m.

COMMENCEMENT OVERVIEW

ASSEMBLY LOCATION FOR GRADUATES

THERE IS NO REHEARSAL FOR THE CEREMONY ALL PARTICIPATING GRADUATES MUST ARRIVE 1 HOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF THEIR COLLEGE CEREMONY AT PRUITT GYMNASIUM. EARLY ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK IN UNTIL THEIR DESIGNATED TIMES GUESTS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT THE HOLDING LOCATION.

WHAT GRADUATES NEED TO BRING

ALL GRADUATES SHOULD BE DRESSED IN COMPLETE REGALIA ITEMS, INCLUDING ANY HOODS, MORTARBOARDS, GOWNS, STOLES AND CORDS GRADUATES WILL NEED TO LOCK VALUABLES IN THEIR VEHICLE OR ASK A GUEST TO CARRY BULKY ITEMS AS THERE IS NO AVAILABLE STORAGE SPACE. GRADUATES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THE HOLDING ROOMS FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY

ATTIRE FOR GRADUATES

THE DECORATION OF CAPS IS NOT ALLOWED FOR THE CEREMONY. GRADUATES WILL BE ASKED TO REMOVE DECORATED CAPS.

GRADUATES SHOULD WEAR DARK SHOES AND CLOTHES THAT WILL HARMONIZE WITH THE ACADEMIC REGALIA APPROPRIATE ATTIRE INCLUDES DRESSES AND/OR PANTSUITS, DARK SLACKS, DARK TIES, AND DARK SHOES AND SOCKS

JEWELRY THAT “DANGLES” OR “JANGLES” SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

PLEASE WEAR FLAT SHOES OR WEDGES. GRADUATES WILL BE WALKING ACROSS PARTS OF CAMPUS AND UP AND DOWN SETS OF STAIRS.

THE MORTARBOARD (CAP) SHOULD BE WORN PARALLEL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE TASSEL ON THE LEFT SIDE.

COMMENCEMENT OVERVIEW

THE CEREMONY

GUESTS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT GRADUATE CHECK IN OR IN THE HOLDING ROOMS.

WE ASK THAT THE GRADUATING STUDENTS AND THEIR GUESTS ADHERE TO THE PROPER DECORUM FOR THIS HALLOWED EVENT PLEASE STAND FOR THE PROCESSIONAL.

THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY WILL LAST APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR.

OUT OF RESPECT FOR ALL DEGREE CANDIDATES, ONCE SEATED, ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY.

HOLD ALL APPLAUSE UNTIL THE GROUP HAS FINISHED

FOLLOWING THE GRADUATE PRESENTATION, GUESTS WILL BE ASKED TO STAND FOR THE EXITING OF THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY, FACULTY AND GRADUATES.

ONCE THE CEREMONY ENDS, GUESTS WILL EXIT THE MAIN ENTRY OF THE BUILDING TO MEET GRADUATES OUTSIDE OF THE MATH & SCIENCE BUILDING.

PLEASE TAKE YOUR PHOTOS QUICKLY AND THEN DEPART TO HELP TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC/PARKING FOR THE CEREMONY THAT WILL FOLLOW.

COMMENCEMENT OVERVIEW

GUEST TICKETS

GUESTS MUST HAVE A TICKET TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CEREMONY.

TICKETS CAN BE PRINTED OR PRESENTED ON A MOBILE DEVICE

TICKETS HAVE A UNIQUE CODING AND MAY NOT BE DUPLICATED.

THE AUDITORIUM WILL OPEN FOR TICKETED GUESTS 35 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE START OF THE CEREMONY.

GUESTS ACCESSIBILITY

GUESTS NEEDING ACCESSIBLITY ACCOMODATION SHOULD PARK IN THE DESIGNATED SPOTS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE MATH & SCIENCE BUILDING.

A STATE-ISSUED ACCESSIBLITY PLACARD OR PLATE IS REQUIRED.

WE KNOW THAT GUESTS MAY WANT TO COME EARLIER TO BE SURE TO GET A SEAT, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE ISSUED A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS TO PARTICIPATING GRADUATES, THERE IS NO NEED TO COME EARLIER THAN THIS

EACH INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF AGE, MUST HAVE A TICKET.

NO GUESTS WILL BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN AT THE AUDITORIUM FOLLOWING THEIR GRADUATES CEREMONY.

GUESTS OR GRADUATES IN NEED OF WHEELCHAIRS OR OTHER MOBILITY AIDS SHOULD MAKE PROVISIONS TO BRING THOSE WITH THEM. WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER MOBILITY AIDS ARE NOT PROVIDED. LIMITED ACCESSIBLE SEATING IS AVAILABLE IN THE AUDITORIUM.

PHOTOGRAPHY PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION

GUESTS CAN EXPECT TO TAKE PHOTOS WITH THEIR GRADUATES AFTER THE CEREMONY. ZAP PHOTOGRAPHY WILL TAKE PICTURES PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY IN PRUITT GYMANSIUM

DURING THE CEREMONY, OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE ON THE FLOOR TAKING PHOTOS OF EACH GRADUATE

RECEIVING A DIPLOMA AND SHAKING HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT THEY WILL ALSO TAKE CANDID PHOTOGRAPHS. ALL PHOTOS WILL BE SHARED ON UWA SOCIAL PLATFORMS.

LIVE VIDEO STREAM

THE CEREMONY CAN BE VIEWED VIA LIVE STREAM AT UWA EDU/LIVE SO FAMILY AND FRIENDS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND CAN WATCH THE CEREMONY.

VIEWERS CAN SIMPLY CLICK THE LINK TO WATCH THE CEREMONY

THERE ARE NO OVERFLOW LOCATIONS AVAILABLE.

GUESTS SHOULD ENTER ON BIBB GRAVES DRIVE AND PARK AROUND THE QUAD. OVERFLOW PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN WALLACE HALL PARKING LOT

DINING TIPS

WE HOPE YOU WILL CELEBRATE WITH UWA ALUMNI AT THE CAF THE MEAL IS PROVIDED BY ALUMNI FOR PARTICIPATING GRADUATES AND THEIR TICKETED GUESTS.

UWA BOOKSTORE

BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKSTORE LOCATED AT THE STUDENT UNION BUILDING WILL BE OPEN EACH DAY FROM 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

HONORS AT COMMENCEMENT

THE LATIN HONORS SYSTEM APPLIES ONLY TO BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES. THESE GPABASED HONORS (CUM LAUDE, MAGNA CUM LAUDE, AND SUMMA CUM LAUDE) DO NOT APPLY TO STUDENTS BEYOND THE BACCALAUREATE LEVEL.

HONOR STOLES ARE WORN BY BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES HAVING MET THE CRITERIA CORRESPONDING WITH THE LATIN HONORS SYSTEM UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR DEGREE. THESE ARE GOLD IN COLOR, WITH THE HONOR LEVEL EMBROIDERED THIS STOLE SHOULD NOT BE WORN UNDER THE GOWN OR UNDER ANY OTHER STOLE, AS IT REPRESENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, SUPERIOR TO ACHIEVEMENT OR INVOLVEMENT OUTSIDE OF ACADEMICS AS IT RELATES TO THE FORMAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY.

HONOR CORDS ARE WORN IN REPRESENTATION OF HONOR SOCIETIES OF WHICH THE GRADUATING STUDENT IS A MEMBER. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETIES FOR ACADEMICS AND LEADERSHIP HAVE DISTINCT CORDS (GENERALLY A BRAIDED CORD OF 1-2 COLORS, WORN AROUND THE NECK ATOP A STOLE, IF APPLICABLE) THAT ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HONOR SOCIETY OR ORGANIZATION. (SEE HONOR CORDS & STOLES AT CEREMONY INFORMATION)

AT EACH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY, THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE HONORS WILL BE ANNOUNCED. THE UNDERGRADUATE LATIN HONORS DESIGNATION PRINTED IN THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM AND ANNOUNCED AT THE CEREMONY IS CALCULATED BASED ON THE STUDENT’S CUMULATIVE UWA GRADE POINT AVERAGE AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER PRIOR TO THE SEMESTER OF GRADUATION ALL HONORS WILL BE RECALCULATED AFTER THE FINAL GRADING PERIOD FOR THE SEMESTER HAS CLOSED DURING THE WEEKS FOLLOWING COMMENCEMENT

CEREMONY CHECKLIST

ORDERCAP&GOWN

DEADLINE:NOVEMBER7

CapandgownordersmustbecompletedbyOctober30toensure timelydelivery.

GradFairwillbeheldOctober16attheUWAbookstore.Youdonot havetoattendtopurchaseregalia.

Youdonothavetoparticipateintheceremonytopurchaseacap andgown.

Orderathttps://oakhallcg.com/pages/university-of-west-alabama

NAMECHANGES

DEADLINE:OCTOBER23

Namechanges/correctionsduefordiplomaand programbook.

Livediplomaswillnotbegivenattheceremony. Emailcommencement@uwa.edutoupdatehowyour nameislisted.

RESERVEGUESTTICKETS

DEADLINE:NOVEMBER20

Tickets will be required for the ceremony, and every person attendingmusthaveaticket,regardlessofage. Each participating graduate will be able to request and reserve (4)tickets.Additionalticketsarenotavailable. You may have indicated how many tickets you need on your application for a degree. This number helps us plan for the ceremony but it does not secure your tickets. In order to receive guest tickets you must reserve them through the online system duringtheallottedtime.

A link to reserve tickets will be sent to the participating graduates' UWA email November 13. You will have one week to reserveyour4guesttickets.Noticketrequestwillbefulfilledafter November20.

PARTICIPATIONSTATUSCHANGE

DEADLINE:DECEMBER4

IfyoupreviouslyindicatedyestoparticipatingandcanNOT participate.Pleaseletusknowbyemailing commencement@uwa.edu.

UWA ALUMNI

DEAR GRADUATE,

WE HOPE THAT YOUR GRADUATION IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA. STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH ALUMNI NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS, AND MAKE IT A POINT TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH YOUR ALMA MATER. THE BEST WAY TO STAY INVOLVED AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT IS BY JOINING THE NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (NAA). THE NAA IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE UNIVERSITY AND CONTRIBUTES TO KEY INITIATIVES SUCH AS ORGANIZING EVENTS THAT CONNECT GRADUATES AND SUPPORTERS, RAISING SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR CURRENT STUDENTS, AND ASSISTING WITH THE RECRUITMENT OF FUTURE TIGERS.

BY BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE NAA, YOU PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF OUR EVENTS AND IN RAISING SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT UWA STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, YOUR MEMBERSHIP HELPS STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THE GROWING LIST OF EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT MAKE UWA STAND OUT.

THE UWA NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PROUDLY UPHOLDS THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, TRADITIONS, AND BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNIVERSITY, AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THESE EFFORTS.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:

INDIVIDUAL: $40 (ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP)

JOINT (INCLUDES SPOUSE): $75 (ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP)

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT WWW.UWA.EDU/ALUMNI TO JOIN THE NAA AND FOR INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT AS PART OF THE UWA FAMILY.

SINCERELY,

BANKS GORDY DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS

COMMENCEMENT TIPS:

ARRIVE ON TIME

MEN REMOVE CAPS DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM AND STATE SONG WALK CHEERFULLY AND GRACEFULLY ACROSS THE STAGE SILENCE CELL PHONES BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS REMAIN IN YOUR SEAT UNTIL THE CEREMONY HAS ENDED HOLD APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL GRADUATES ARE RECOGNIZED NO PERFORMING ON STAGE

GETTING TO CAMPUS

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS

TRAVELING NORTH/EAST (FROM MISSISSIPPI AREA) ON I-59/I-20, TAKE THE AL-28 EXIT, EXIT #17 (LIVINGSTON/BOYD). TURN RIGHT ONTO AL-28. TURN RIGHT ONTO U.S. HIGHWAY 11 (FIRST TRAFFIC SIGNAL).

TRAVELING SOUTH/WEST (FROM TUSCALOOSA AREA) ON I-59/I-20, TAKE THE AL-28 EXIT, EXIT #17 (LIVINGSTON/BOYD) TURN LEFT ONTO AL-28 TURN RIGHT ONTO U S HIGHWAY 11 (FIRST TRAFFIC SIGNAL).

WEST ON US-80, TURN RIGHT ONTO AL-28 (LIVINGSTON). TURN RIGHT ONTO U.S. HIGHWAY 11.

NORTH ON AL-17, TURN RIGHT ONTO U S HIGHWAY 11

GRADUATE & GUEST PARKING

ROAD CLOSURE NO TRAFFIC COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY LOCATION

GRADUATE CHECK IN WHEELCHAIR ACCESSABLE PARKING

CONGRATULATIONS

CELEBRATE WITH THE BEST SELECTION OF GRAD GIFTS!

HOURS FOR COMMENCEMENT

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM