Fall 2025 Commencement

Live Stream Link for Both Ceremonies: Click here. 

The Graduate School Fall Commencement
5 p.m. 
Friday, December 12, 2025
The Complex
401 Baytree Road 
3 p.m.
Doors open and guests start arriving
3:30 p.m.
Graduates start arriving for check-in
5 p.m.
Ceremony with pyrotechnics following


Undergraduate Fall Commencement
5 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Front Lawn
1500 N. Patterson Street
3 p.m.
Guests can start arriving
3:30 p.m.
Graduates start arriving for check-in
5 p.m.
Ceremony with fireworks following

*There is not a rehearsal for either ceremony. There will be plenty of volunteers on site to direct graduates on where to go. 

**Tickets are not required for either ceremony and graduates can invite as many guests as they like. Seating is first come first serve, but there is plenty of seating available. 

Map of the Graduate School Ceremony at The Complex

GRADUATE SCHOOL MAP INFORMATION

Check-In Location:

Graduate check-in is at the designated degree table on the second floor. Graduates should enter The Complex in the southeast corner entrance by the tennis courts. At check-in, graduates will be given a card with their name on it. They will hand that card to the person reading names as they cross the stage and receive their diploma cover. Diplomas will be mailed out about six-to-eight weeks after the Commencement ceremonies. It takes time for the Registrar's Office to ensure all criteria has been met to award the degree.  

NORTH Side Check-In on SECOND FLOOR:
All Doctoral graduates
All Education Specialist graduates
MLIS graduates
MSW graduates
MAT (Special Ed, Secondary Ed, Health & Physical Ed)
MS Psychology

SOUTH Side Check-In on SECOND FLOOR:
College of the Arts graduates (including Music Education graduates)
College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates
College of Science and Mathematics graduates
College of Humanities and Social Sciences graduates (including Foreign Languages and ESOL)
College of Business Administration graduates
MED graduates (Curriculum & Instruction, Education Leadership, Elementary Education, Health & PE, Instructional Tech, Special Education)
MED (Adult & Career Ed, Communication Disorders)

Graduate Information Table:
It is located on the second floor of The Complex on the east side.

Accessibility Seating:
The accessibility entrance is on the west side of The Complex from the Sustella parking lot. Please see the parking and transportation information below for more on that. Accessibility seating is on the floor of The Complex behind the graduates. If you need assistance, please ask one of the many volunteers on site. Accessibility seating is first come first served and is for the guest needing accommodations and one other person only.

Restrooms:
Restrooms are located in most corners of The Complex on both the first and second floors. Please ask a volunteer if you need assistance finding a restroom.

Map of Undergraduate Ceremony on the Front Lawn

UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY MAP INFORMATION

Graduate Check-In
Check-in location is based on the college from which you are graduating. Please see below. Also, at check-in, graduates will be given a card with their name on it. They will hand that card to the person reading names as they cross the stage and receive their diploma cover. Diplomas will be mailed out six-to-eight weeks after Commencement ceremonies. It takes time for the Registrar's Office to ensure all criteria has been met to award the degree. 

College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Odum Library second floor (main floor)
College of Science and Mathematics: Odum Library second floor (main floor)
College of the Arts: Ashley Hall
Langdale College of Business Administration: Bailey Science Center Room 1011
Dewar College of Education and Human Services: Bailey Science Center Room 1023
College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Bailey Science Center Room 1024/1025

Faculty Congratulations:
Faculty from all six colleges will line up between the arches and the Front Lawn fountain to congratulate all our graduates. As graduates process in, they will be able to high five and receive congratulations from faculty. 

Accessibility Dropoff and Shuttles:
There are two accessibility drop-off locations on main campus for the Undergraduate Ceremony. One is on the south side of the Front Lawn by the main entrance on Patterson Street. The other location is near the Student Union/Hopper Circle entrance. Just take a left onto Oak Street from Baytree Road or stay on Oak Street through the Baytree intersection if you're coming from Downtown Valdosta. It is a one-way road once you turn left from Baytree or come through that light from Downtown. You will want to be in the right lane and take the first right just past the Student Union. You will follow signage and volunteers into Hopper Circle where drop-off for accessibility will take place. A golf cart will shuttle the person needing accessibility assistance and one other person to the Front Lawn. There is no accessibility parking in this area-only drop off. Accessibility parking is available in the VSU admission lot on Patterson Street across from the Front Lawn. A shuttle van will drop accessibility guests and one additional person off at the Patterson Street entrance to campus. Accessibility parking is first come first served.

Information Desk:
There is one information desk on site for graduates and guests to get any questions answered. It is on the Pedestrian Mall between Nevins Hall and West Hall.

Reserved Parking:
The Nevins Lot is reserved for special guests, the Platform Party, and emergency services.

Guest Seating:
Guests can sit behind the barricades in any of the chairs set up on the Front Lawn. All guest seating is first come first served.

Faculty and Graduates Seating:
Graduates and Faculty will sit in front of the barricades and near the stage so they can participate in the ceremony.

Guest Indoor Viewing:
Indoor viewing for guests is available in Converse Hall, which is on the west side of the Pedestrian Mall. The live stream will be set up there and restrooms are also available.

Restrooms:
Restrooms are available on both the north and south sides of the Front Lawn. Both are accessible.
SOUTH side: These restrooms are located in Nevins Hall. Please follow signage.
NORTH side: These restrooms are located in Bailey Science Center. Please follow signage.

Ambulance/First Aid:
There will be an ambulance on site along with many other first aid resources if needed. You can find all of that set up in the Nevins Parking Lot.

Accessibility Guest Seating: 
Seating for guests needing accessibility is first come first served. It is located just to the outside of the graduate and faculty seating. If you know from which college your student is graduating, it is best to sit in the accessibility seating on that side. Please see graduate seating information below. Also, please note, accessibility seating is for the person needing accommodations and one other person only.

Graduate Seating:
Nevins/South side: College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of the Arts
Bailey/North side: College of Business Administration, College of Education and Human Services, and College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Concessions:
Concessions are available in a tent on the south side of the Front Lawn

Parking and Transportation Map (Both Ceremonies)

The Graduate School Parking and Transportation Information

Guest Parking: Parking is available for all guests in the Oak Street Parking Deck and Oak Street Parking Lot, which are just to the south of The Complex, along with the Sustella Parking Deck on Sustella Avenue. Those are in green on the map above. Shuttles will be running to the Oak Street lot and both parking decks and will drop guests off by The Complex.

Accessibility Dropoff and Parking: Accessibility parking is available on a first come first served basis in the Sustella Parking Lot right next to The Complex on the west side. That is also where accessibility drop off is located. Once that parking lot is full, those needing accessibility assistance can still drop off there. This lot is shown in blue on the map above. 

The Undergraduate Ceremony Parking and Transportation Information

Guest Parking: Parking is available for all guests in the Oak Street Parking Deck and Oak Street Parking Lot, which is across Oak Street from main campus, along with the Sustella Parking Deck on Sustella Avenue. Those are in green on the map above. Shuttles will be running to the Oak Street lot and both parking decks and will drop guests off just to the south of the Front Lawn on main campus.

Accessibility Dropoff and Parking: Accessibility parking is available on a first come first served basis in the Admissions lot on Patterson Street just across from the Front Lawn. There are two accessibility drop-off locations on main campus for the Undergraduate Ceremony. One is on the south side of the Front Lawn by the main entrance on Patterson Street. The other location is near the Student Union/Hopper Circle entrance. Just take a left onto Oak Street from Baytree Road or stay on Oak Street through the Baytree intersection if you're coming from Downtown Valdosta. It is a one-way road once you turn left from Baytree or come through that light from Downtown. You will want to be in the right lane and take the first right just past the Student Union. You will follow signage and volunteers into Hopper Circle where drop-off for accessibility will take place. A golf cart will shuttle the person needing accessibility assistance and one other person to the Front Lawn. There is no accessibility parking in this area-only drop off. Accessibility parking is available in the VSU admission lot on Patterson Street across from the Front Lawn. A shuttle van will drop accessibility guests and one additional person off at the Patterson Street entrance to campus. Accessibility parking is first come first served.

Email commencement@valdosta.edu with any questions. 

VSU Bookstore Hours During Commencement

The Complex on Friday, Dec. 12
The VSU Bookstore in the Union will be open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
At The Complex, the tent will be set up at 3 p.m.

The Front Lawn on Saturday, Dec. 13
The VSU Bookstore in the Union will be open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
At the Front Lawn, the tent will be set up at 3 p.m. 

Important Dates and Deadlines

More coming soon! 

Wednesday, August 20, 2025: Part-Time Job Fair from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Converse Square

Wednesday, September 24, 2025: All Majors Career Fair from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballrooms

Tuesday/Wednesday, October 7-8, 2025: Grad Finale on the 1st Floor of the Student Union and online. In person hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Details below. 

Wednesday, October 29, 2025: First FREE GRAD PHOTO DAY, from 10 a.m. - noon on VSU's Front Lawn. Wear your cap and gown or best red and black business attire and get your photo taken for free. **In the event of rain, this shoot will be rescheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the same time on the Front Lawn. 

Friday, October 31, 2025: Deadline to buy your cap and gown ONLINE only to ensure it arrives before Commencement. You can still purchase your cap and gown in the VSU Bookstore in the Student Union on campus. Purchase your cap and gown online here.

Friday, October 31, 2025: Deadline to apply for graduation to ensure you can walk at Commencement in December. Click here to apply. 

Thursday, November 13, 2025: Second FREE GRAD PHOTO DAY, from 10 a.m. - noon on VSU's Front Lawn. You can wear your cap and gown for pictures or your best red and black business attire. **In the event of rain, this shoot will be rescheduled for Friday, November 14, 2025, at the same time on the Front Lawn.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025: Final FREE GRAD PHOTO DAY, from 10 a.m. - noon on VSU's Front Lawn. Wear your cap and gown or best red and black business attire and get your photo taken for free. **In the event of rain, this shoot will be rescheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the same time on the Front Lawn. 

Friday, December 12, 2025: Graduate School Commencement at The Complex 5 p.m.

Saturday, December 13, 2025: Undergraduate Commencement on the Front Lawn 5 p.m.

ABOUT GRAD FINALE 

This is an important event for all students graduating in December. It is a one-stop-shop for everything graduates need to get ready for their big day. Grad Finale can be attended both in person and online and discounts are available. 

Here's more about Grad Finale:

• Buy or order your cap and gown
• Purchase your official class ring 
• Order graduation announcements
• Purchase alumni gifts
• Join the 1906 society
• Get information about VSU's Graduate School programs
• And so much more!
  
  

Date: October 7-8, 2025

In Person Location: 1st Floor of the Student Union and the VSU Bookstore
Time: 10 a.m. -5 p.m. both days

ONLINE Grad Finale

The ONLINE Grad Finale will take place October 7-8, 2025, as well. The online discount codes will be good during those 48 hours (midnight, October 7 - 11:59 p.m. on October 8) only.

Click here to visit the Online Grad Finale page.

If you have questions about anything related to Fall 2025 Commencement, you can reach out to commencement@valdosta.edu for more information.  

Applying for Graduation

Graduates should apply for graduation with the Registrar’s Office the semester before they expect to graduate. Talking with your academic advisor can help with this process. The application must be received and the application fee must be paid before students are cleared to graduate.

Here is the link to apply for graduation and the link to pay the graduation fee: https://www.valdosta.edu/academics/registrar/forms/graduation-forms.php

FALL 2025 - Undergraduate Candidate List

FALL 2025 - Graduate Candidate List