Spring 2023 Commencement

Ceremony Information

LIVE STREAM LINK FOR BOTH CEREMONIES: Click here

The Graduate School Spring Commencement
5:00pm
Friday, May 5, 2023
The Complex
401 Baytree Road 

3:00pm
Doors open and guests start arriving

3:30pm
Graduates start arriving for check-in (locations for check-in below)

5:00pm
Ceremony with pyrotechnics following

Undergraduate Spring Commencement
7:00pm
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Front Lawn
1500 N. Patterson Street

5:00pm
Guests can start arriving

5:30pm
Graduates start arriving for check-in (locations for check-in below)

7:00pm
Ceremony with fireworks following

 

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Map of Graduate Ceremony

Graduate School Map Information

Check-In Location:

Graduate check-in is at designated degree table on the second floor. Graduates should enter The Complex in the southeast corner entrance by the tennis courts.

NORTH Side Check-In on SECOND FLOOR:

MLIS graduates
All Education Specialist graduates
All Doctoral graduates

SOUTH Side Check-In on SECOND FLOOR:

Art graduates
Nursing and Health Sciences graduates
Education and Human Services MS in Psychology graduates
Humanities and Social Sciences graduates
Science and Mathematics graduates
Business graduates
MED Communication Disorders, Curriculum & Instruction, Health & PE, Special Education Middle Grades
MED Adult & Career Ed, Education Leadership, Elementary Education, Leadership, Instructional Tech
MAT Special Ed, Foreign Language, ESOL, Health & Physical Ed, Music Education

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

Undergraduate Ceremony Map Information

Graduate Check-In

Check-In location is based on the college from which you are graduating. Please see below.

Humanities and Social Sciences: Odum Library second floor
Arts: Converse Hall Auditorium
Science and Mathematics: Ashley Hall  
Business: Bailey Science Center Room 1011
Education and Human Services: Bailey Science Center Room 1023
Nursing and Health Sciences: Bailey Science Center Room 1024/1025

Guest and Accessibility Dropoff:
There are two 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 on the north side of campus. Just take Georgia Avenue, which is the street directly north of the Front Lawn. Then follow the signs and turn left into the Powell Hall loop. Guests needing accessibility accommodations can be dropped off, then the driver can finish the Powell Hall loop, coming back out onto Georgia Avenue. Accessibility parking is also available in the VSU lots along Georgia Avenue. Accessibility parking is first come first served.

Information Desks:
There is one information desk on site for graduates to get any questions answered. It is by 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 which college your student is graduating from, 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 the Arts, and College of Science and Mathematics

Bailey/North side: College of Business, 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

VSU Bookstore:
The VSU Bookstore will be on site for guests and graduates to purchase any VSU items or VSU alumni items. The VSU Bookstore will be open from 9:00am-5:00pm on Friday, May 5th and from 11:00am-7:00pm on Saturday, May 6th.

**Tickets are not required for either Commencement ceremony, and there is no limit on the number of guests a graduate can bring. Seating is first come first served. The only change with tickets would be if there is inclement weather and the ceremony has to be moved off the Front Lawn. 

Parking and Transportation Map

Info for Graduate School Ceremony at The Complex

Parking:
Guests and graduates can park in the Oak Street Lot, the Oak Street Parking Deck, and the Sustella Parking Deck (all are shown in green on the map above).

Shuttles:
Shuttles will be running from all three main parking locations (Oak Street Lot, Oak Street Deck, and Sustella Parking Deck) and will drop off by The Complex.

Accessibility Parking and Dropoff:
Those needing accessibility assistance can park in the lot on the west side of The Complex (the parking lot is the blue one right next to The Complex). Parking is first come first served. Drop-off for the accessibility entrance into The Complex is also in this lot. Once parking in the lot is full, accessibility drop-off will still be allowed here.

 

Info for Undergraduate Ceremony on The Front Lawn

Parking:
Guests and graduates can park in the Oak Street Lot, the Oak Street Parking Deck, and the Sustella Parking Deck (all are shown in green on the map above).

Shuttles:
Shuttles will be running from all three main parking locations (Oak Street Lot, Oak Street Deck, and Sustella Parking Deck) and will drop off on main campus just south of the Front Lawn.

Accessibility Parking and Dropoff:
Those needing accessibility assistance can park in the VSU lots along Georgia Avenue. Georgia Avenue runs along the north side of main campus (the parking lots are in blue on the map above). Parking is first come first served. Accessibility drop-off is available just south of the Front Lawn at the Patterson Street entrance to main campus along with a drop-off location by Powell Hall on Georgia Avenue. Please follow the signs posted.

**If you have questions regarding Spring 2023 Commencement, you can email commencement@valdosta.edu for answers. 

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Important Dates and Deadlines

February 22, 2023: Ring Day at the VSU Bookstore

February 22, 2023: Volunteer Services Fair 11:000am - 2:00pm in the Student Union Rotunda

March 7-8, 2023: Grad Finale (more information below)

March 7, 2023: Spring Career Carnival 12:00pm - 2:00pm at Palms Quad

March 8, 2023: Spring Career Expo: The Pursuit of a Job 2:00pm - 5:00pm in the Student Union Ballrooms

March 30, 2023: Deadline to purchase your regalia online to ensure it arrives before Commencement. Here's the link to order your cap and gown online. You can still purchase regalia after this date in person at the VSU Bookstore

March 30, 2023: First Free Grad Photo Day 10:00am - 12:00pm on the Front Lawn (wear your cap and gown or best red and black dress attire)

March 31, 2023: Deadline to apply for Spring Graduation or request to walk early. Those forms are here. 

April 3, 2023: Second Free Grad Photo Day 10:00am - 12:00pm on the Front Lawn (wear your cap and gown or your best red and black dress attire)

April 11, 2023: Final Free Grad Photo Day 10:00am - 12:00pm on the Front Lawn (wear your cap and gown or your best red and black dress attire)

April 12, 2023: Spring Education Fair 12:00pm - 4:00pm in the UC Magnolia & Cypress Rooms

May 1, 2023: Ring Ceremony 7:06pm on the Front Lawn

May 5, 2023: Graduate School Commencement at The Complex 5:00pm

May 6, 2023: Undergraduate Commencement on the Front Lawn 7:00pm

 

About Grad Finale

This is an important event for all students graduating in May. It is a one-stop-shop for everything graduates need to get ready for their big day, and a 10% discount is available. There will also be an Online Grad Finale for students not on campus, and the link is below for that. Here's more about Grad Finale:

• Buy or order your cap and gown
• Purchase your official class ring (get $50 off by using the code SHOP50 if you purchase online)
• Get professional or graduation photos taken
• Order graduation announcements
• Purchase alumni gifts
• Join the 1906 society
• Get information about VSU's Graduate School programs and the application fee waiver during March
• And so much more!

Date: March 7-8, 2023
In Person Location: 1st Floor of the Student Union by the VSU Bookstore
Time: 10:00am-6:00pm both days

Online Grad Finale

Please use the link below to shop the various vendors for all your graduation needs. 

Link: https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/student-affairs/event-services/commencement/grad-finale.php

Online Grad Finale Discounts

**All discounts below run from Tuesday, March 7th through midnight on Wednesday, March 8th (48 hours only).

Free Shipping: You can use the code VSUSHIP to receive free shipping on your entire purchase.

Class Ring Discount: You can receive $50 off your class ring purchase by using the promo code SHOP50

Free Shipping on Announcements: You can use the code ANNSHIP to receive free shipping on your graduation announcements