Spring 2024 Commencement Guide

SPRING 2024 COMMENCEMENT GUIDE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT Dear Guests, On behalf of the University of West Alabama family, I wish to thank you for the support you have shown to your graduate throughout their time at UWA. We welcome you to campus for commencement exercises as we celebrate the many achievements of our graduates. You are a special part of this day because of the support and encouragement you have shown throughout your graduate’s journey.

Our student body represents approximately 25 states in the U.S. and 30 countries around the globe. All uniquely talented, each graduate has followed a path unlike any other, including both the hurdles and the victories, and each has a special path moving forward.

This guide provides information you will need as a ticket-holding guest of a graduate, including a map and directions, available services, traditions, and even pertinent information that we have provided to graduates over the last several weeks that you can help remind them of as they prepare for the day. We strive to make this day enjoyable for our graduates and guests as we follow the traditions of commencement with decorum and honor.

This is the day we have all strived for, and we thank you for all that you have done for your graduate to reach this very special milestone.

Sincerely,

Ken Tucker, Ph.d

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ALL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES WILL

GRADUATES SHOULD PLAN TO CHECK-IN AT

TAKE PLACE IN UWA AUDITORIUM IN THE

PRUITT GYMNASIUM ONE HOUR BEFORE THE

MATH & SCIENCE BUILDING.

CEREMONY START TIME.

THURSDAY, MAY 2

1:00 PM MED Master of Education

FRIDAY, MAY 3

10:00 AM

1:00 PM

DON, COLA, COB

ETEC, NSM, COE

NURSING

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

LIBERAL ARTS

NATURAL SCIENCES & MATH

AS, BS - Nursing BS - Liberal Arts MAT - English Language Arts, Social Sci. MA - IMC MS - Family Counseling

BUSINESS

BBA - Business MBA

AS, BS, BBA

BS - NSM MS - Conservation Bio., Sports Mgt. MAT - Physical Education, Science, Math

EDUCATION BS - Education, IDS MS ACE MS - Clinical Mental Health and Guidance Counseling Doctor of Rural Education Education Specialist

GRAD LUNCH Lunch provided by UWA Alumni to all participating graduates and 4 ticketed guests for a celebratory lunch at Young Hall Cafeteria. Join UWA Alumni & Friends to celebrate your accomplishments from 11 - 1 on your ceremony day.

11

a.m.

lunch will be served until 1:00 pm.

COMMENCEMENT OVERVIEW

ASSEMBLY LOCATION FOR

ATTIRE FOR GRADUATES

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CELEBRATE WITH UWA ALUMNI AT THE CAF. THE MEAL IS PROVIDED

BY ALUMNI FOR PARTICIPATING GRADUATES AND THEIR TICKETED GUESTS.

LIVE VIDEO STREAM

UWA BOOKSTORE

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

BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKSTORE LOCATED AT THE STUDENT UNION BUILDING WILL BE OPEN THURSDAY, MAY 2 FROM 8:00AM - 5:00PM AND FRIDAY, MAY 3 FROM 8:00AM - 5:00PM.

VIEWERS CAN SIMPLY CLICK THE LINK TO WATCH THE CEREMONY. THERE ARE NO OVERFLOW LOCATIONS AVAILABLE.

DINING TIPS

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. THESE STUDENTS ARE GRADUATED WITH ‘HONORS,’ ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING SCALE: SUMMA CUM LAUDE – A QUALITY POINT RATIO OF 3.90 OR HIGHER MAGNA CUM LAUDE – A QUALITY POINT RATIO OF 3.75, BUT LESS THAN 3.90 CUM LAUDE – A QUALITY POINT RATIO OF 3.50, BUT LESS THAN 3.75

CEREMONY CHECKLIST ORDER CAP & GOWN DEADLINE: APRIL 2

Cap and gown orders must be completed by April 2 to ensure timely delivery.

Online ordering available 2/26 - 4/1 @ OakHall Grad Fair will be held March 4 at the UWA bookstore. You do not have to attend to purchase regalia.

You do not have to participate in the ceremony to purchase a cap and gown.

NAME CHANGES DEADLINE: APRIL 11

Name changes / corrections due for diploma and program book.

Live diplomas will not be given at the ceremony.

Name changes form

RESERVE GUEST TICKETS DEADLINE: APRIL 19

Tickets will be required for the ceremony, and every person attending must have a ticket, regardless of age. Each participating graduate will be able to request and reserve four (4) tickets. Additional tickets are not available.

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 during the allotted time.

A link to reserve tickets will be sent to the participating graduates' UWA email two weeks prior to the ceremony. You will have one week to reserve your 4 guest tickets. No ticket request will be fulfilled during the week of April 29 - May 3.

PARTICIPATION STATUS CHANGE DEADLINE: APRIL 29

If you previously indicated yes to participating and can no longer participate. Please let us know by filling out the form.

No longer attending form

UWA ALUMNI

THE BEST WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND STAY INVOLVED WITH YOUR ALMA MATER OF UWA IS

BY JOINING THE NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. FOR A MINIMUM ANNUAL DONATION OF $25 TO THE AREA OF YOUR CHOICE, YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE AND ALLOW THE NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT A GROWING LIST OF EXCEPTIONAL UWA PROGRAMS WHILE ALSO BECOMING A MEMBER OF YOUR LOCAL ALUMNI CHAPTER, INVITATIONS TO ALL ALUMNI EVENTS, AND SEVERAL EXCLUSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS. WE HAVE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH A PLATFORM TO GET ALUMNI MEMBERS DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL PROMOTIONS. ENTERTAINMENT BENEFITS GROUP IS THE INDUSTRY LEADER THAT OFFERS FREE PERKS WITH THE BRANDS YOU KNOW AND LOVE. THIS INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SOME OF THESE DEALS INCLUDE VACATIONS, CONCERTS, AND THEME PARKS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT THE ALUMNI WEB SITE AT UWA.EDU/ALUMNI FOR INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND OFFERS, AS WELL AS LINKS TO THE LATEST ALUMNI PUBLICATIONS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NAA OR YOUR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT 205-652-3867 OR VIA EMAIL AT ALUMNI@UWA.EDU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF YOUR UNIVERSITY, AND WE HOPE YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE UWA NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. GO TIGERS! 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.

NORTH ON AL-43, TURN LEFT ONTO AL-28 IN LINDEN. TURN LEFT ONTO US-80. TURN RIGHT ONTO AL-28. TURN RIGHT ONTO U.S. HIGHWAY 11.

MAP LEGEND GRADUATE & GUEST PARKING

ROAD CLOSURE NO TRAFFIC

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSABLE PARKING

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY LOCATION

GRADUATE CHECK IN

CONGRATULATIONS

GRADUATES! CELEBRATE WITH THE BEST SELECTION OF GRAD GIFTS! HOURS FOR COMMENCEMENT

THURSDAY, MAY 2 8:00AM - 5:00PM FRIDAY, MAY 3 8:00AM - 5:00PM

UWA.EDU/COMMENCEMENT