Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony

graduating students

SATURDAY, December 5

9:30 AM  - College of Arts, Culture & Scientific Inquiry, Tanner Health System School of Nursing, and University College

1:00 PM - College of Education and College of Science & Mathematics

4:30 PM - College of Arts & Humanities, Richards College of Business, and College of Social Sciences

Marching Student Ceremony Time Lookup Form

Commencement Livestream

All ceremonies will be live-streamed and will be recorded for viewing after the ceremony. 

2020 Commencement Program (PDF)

Save the date! The University of West Georgia is pleased to announce we will host the Class of 2020 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 5, at University Stadium. Spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates were invited to attend and were required to RSVP by Nov. 9th.

The location is based on guidance from the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encourages outdoor spaces for larger public events like Commencement. A venue of University Stadium’s size will allow for appropriate physical distancing.

Students have been assigned a ceremony based on their college:

9:30 AM - College of Arts, Culture & Scientific Inquiry, Tanner Health System School of Nursing, and University College

1:00 PM - College of Education and College of Science & Mathematics

4:30 PM - College of Arts & Humanities, Richards College of Business, and College of Social Sciences

Students who are unsure of their college and assigned ceremony may use the Marching Student Ceremony Time Lookup Form to lookup their college and ceremony time.

Congrats Class of 2020

Physical Distancing

To accommodate physical distancing and other public health guidelines, modifications to the traditional ceremony are necessary. These include, but are not limited to:

  • No student processional; students will be seated on the field as they arrive
  • Physically distanced seating for students and guests
  • Students will be individually recognized at the ceremony, but will not participate in the traditional handshake with the president. Students will have their picture taken as they cross the stage.
  • Face coverings will be required for students and guests while in the stadium.

Guest Ticket Guidelines

Each student will receive 4 guest tickets to the Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony. Students will receive guest tickets through the method they indicated when completing their RSVP.

  • Tickets are required; no assigned or saved seating.
  • Guests will be clustered in groups of 4 people per graduate and each group will be physically distanced from other groups.
  • All students must RSVP to participate in Commencement and receive guest tickets.
  • No additional tickets will be available the day of the event.
  • Students should not exchange tickets to help maintain physically distanced seating clusters.
  • Children under the age of two who can sit on a parent's lap for the duration of the ceremony do not need a ticket.

Graduation Photos 1

student graduating
students at commencement

Inclement Weather PlansClass of 2020 Commencement Ceremonies

storm cloud

The Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony is a rain or shine event. In the event of severe inclement weather, the ceremonies will be moved to Sunday, Dec. 6, or moved indoors to the UWG Coliseum. We will make every effort to host the ceremonies as planned. Due to capacity restrictions, indoor ceremonies will be open to graduates only. Guests may watch via Livestream. Any decision to change the location or date of the ceremony due to severe inclement weather will be announced on the Commencement website. Students will receive a notification to the email address they provided when completing their RSVP to the ceremony.

Join the Celebration on Social Media

Send your congratulations or share your photos, memories, and more on social media. Use #UWG20 and #UWGStrong on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share your celebration posts!

Commencement Map

Commencement Map (PDF)