Registration is Now Open

General Information

Ceremony Details

Location:
Stegeman Coliseum

Ceremony Date:
May 10, 2024

Ceremony Start Times:
10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Gates Open:
9 a.m. and Noon

Tickets are required for students to participate in Convocation ceremonies. Tickets are not required for attending guests.

The Terry College of Business will host two Undergraduate Convocation ceremonies to accommodate the growing graduating class and attending guests. Tickets are required for all graduates to sit on the coliseum floor. Students may register for either ceremony; availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for this event is March 11–22, and details will be sent to students’ UGA email addresses.

Out of respect for graduating students, guests and Convocation speakers, everyone is expected to remain for the entire ceremony. The ceremony should not exceed 90 minutes. 

In addition to watching the ceremony in person, the spring Undergraduate Convocation will stream live on the Terry website starting five minutes before each ceremony start time.

The clear bag policy is in effect for Undergraduate Convocation. See bag specifications.

Commencement Tickets

Tickets for UGA’s Undergraduate Commencement are required for all graduates. Refer to the UGA commencement page for more information.

Speaker

David Salyers poses for a photo in a blue room.

David Salyers

David Salyers was one of the original two marketing executives at Chick-fil-A. He spent 37 years in the Chick-fil-A marketing department, most recently as a vice president. Having worked at Chick-fil-A for most of his career, he saw the principles of servant leadership and compassion play out in the growth of more than 2,300 Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country. David invested his career working in and helping to build a culture only to be described as remarkable. He is now using his expertise and passion to spark the growth of individuals, teams, and organizations.

David attended Wake Forest University, the Universidad de Madrid (Madrid, Spain), and graduated from the University of Georgia. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (AMP 166). David serves as a board member for numerous organizations and helped launch several startups and nonprofits, including:

  • Co-Founder, Champion Tribes
  • Founding Partner and Board Member, ROAM
  • Partner and Board Member, ADDO Worldwide
  • Partner and Board Member, The HUB
  • Board Member, SouthState Bank (NSDO: SSB)
  • Board of Directors, fab’rik
  • Board of Directors, REEL Experiences
  • Board of Directors, reThink
  • Original Director and Former Chairman of the Board, Eagle Ranch Inc.

David enthusiastically supports the University of Georgia Institute for Leadership Advancement, housed in the Terry College of Business. He spearheaded a $1.2 million campaign to raise endowment funds for ILA in honor of one of his principal mentors, Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy. He is also a member of the Terry Dean’s Advisory Council. David was awarded the Terry College of Business Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.

Throughout his career, David has had a passion for serving leaders equally committed to building remarkable brands and cultures. He intuitively sees the potential in others and organizations and what could be rather than simply what they are. After participating in the extraordinary success of Chick-fil-A, David realized the business principles used to catapult that organization can work anytime and anywhere … no matter the size of the team or company.

So, in 2018, David founded Spark a Revolution, where he and his team help companies create a competitive advantage by building remarkable cultures and brands. His book, Remarkable!, which he co-wrote with Dr. Randy Ross, imparts leadership lessons that can transform workplace culture. David is on a mission to spark a revolution of brands more defined by meaning than money, brands that achieve success in a manner that redefines it.

Registration and Tickets

Registration is now open, Monday, March 11 through Friday, March 22. To register, submit the registration form below.

Tickets are required for students to participate in Convocation ceremonies. Tickets are not required for attending guests.

Students who register to attend will receive an email to request their non-transferable ticket tentatively on Monday, April 8. Graduates can only register once with their valid UGA ID number (81xxxxxxx). Tickets are digital and must be presented to be scanned for access to Stegeman Coliseum. Only graduates with a ticket will be allowed to participate.

Eligibility

Fall 2023 graduates and undergraduates eligible to complete their degrees in the spring 2024 or summer 2024 semesters are invited to participate in the spring Terry College Undergraduate Convocation.

To be listed in the printed program for the Terry convocation, candidates for degrees must remove their FERPA restrictions by March 22 when applying for graduation. This requirement must be completed by all undergraduate students expecting to graduate in the spring or summer 2024 semesters.

If you are planning to participate in the spring Undergraduate Convocation and have a disability or need special assistance, please contact the Undergraduate Student Services Office at terrycb@uga.edu.

Note: Refer to the Office of the Registrar for UGA commencement eligibility requirements.

Assembly Instructions

Doors for the ceremonies open at 9 a.m. and noon, and graduates should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m., dressed in cap and gown.

In advance of the ceremony, graduates should pick a place to meet family and friends once the ceremony is completed. Graduates should leave all belongings with family members. You will not be allowed to carry them onto the coliseum floor.

Students with last names beginning with letters A–L will check in on the Carlton Street side of Stegeman Coliseum. Students with last names beginning with letters M–Z will check in on the Smith Street side.

Upon arrival, your digital ticket will be scanned for entry. Pick up your reader card and proceed to the coliseum floor for seating. You will take this card with you to the ceremony. There will be no processional for the spring Undergraduate Convocation. Students arriving after 9:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. are not guaranteed to be seated on the floor. Marshals will assist students.

Once graduates find seats on the Stegeman Coliseum floor, please remain there and do not stand in the aisles.

Academic Regalia (Cap & Gown)

Graduates must wear appropriate academic regalia to participate in the spring Undergraduate Convocation. Caps, gowns and hoods may be purchased at the University of Georgia Bookstore. Contact the bookstore at 706-542-3171 or via email for purchasing information. Announcements can be ordered online from Jostens. Please note: If you order your academic regalia from someone other than the UGA Bookstore, the UGA Bookstore cannot assist you with missing or replacement items.

Undergraduate degree candidates at Terry wear the “drab” color tassel and an honors tassel if earned. AB Economics degree candidates wear a white tassel. Candidates should wear tassels on the right side before their degree is conferred and on the left side afterward. The mortarboard on the cap should be parallel to the ground.

Graduate Recognition

The university awards degrees with honors to candidates who meet specified standards of academic excellence. Graduating undergraduate seniors will be recommended for graduation with honors based on their overall grade point average for all college-level work attempted. The overall GPA or all-college average includes work attempted at the University of Georgia and college-level transfer work attempted before or after matriculation. Undergraduate students meeting the respective standards below may wear an honors tassel:

Latin Honors DistinctionGPA RequirementTassel Color
Cum Laude3.60–3.74Red and Black
Magna Cum Laude3.75–3.89Red and Silver
Summa Cum Laude3.90–4.00Red, Silver and Black

Permitted vs. Prohibited Items

Security has the right to inspect any item at any time for safety purposes. Prohibited items must be returned to cars or disposed of before entering Stegeman Coliseum and will not be accepted by employees or stored at the gates.

The Clear Bag Policy is in effect for the spring Undergraduate Convocation and applies to graduates and guests. Please follow the guidelines:

Permitted Items

  • Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
  • One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
  • Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″
  • Bags that contain necessary medical items, which must be inspected and approved at a designated gate
  • Food items must fit inside the permitted-sized bag
  • Beverages, including water, in sealed plastic bottles; must fit inside the permitted-sized bag
  • Umbrellas
  • Cameras and video recorders (the clear bag policy applies to camera bags)
  • Strollers

Prohibited Items

  • Backpacks
  • Wrapped gifts or packages wherein the contents are not visible
  • Alcohol beverages are not permitted at any Terry Convocation
  • Glass and aluminum containers
  • Tobacco: UGA is a tobacco-free campus
  • Large items, such as balloons, banners and posters, or amplification equipment, such as bullhorns or megaphones

Parking

Parking for the Undergraduate Convocation is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Suggested parking areas include South Campus Deck (S11), Carlton Street Deck (S15) and Foley Field Lot (S14). McPhaul Lot (S10) and Coverdell Lot (S16) are reserved for designated participants by permit only. Please do not park on sidewalks, landscaped areas or on streets blocking traffic lanes. Improperly parked vehicles may be towed.

Parking for guests with disabilities is available in the Hoke Smith Annex Lot (S12) adjacent to Stegeman Coliseum. The main entrances to Stegeman Coliseum along Sanford Drive and Carlton Street are wheelchair accessible.

For additional parking questions, please contact Parking Services at 706‑542‑7275.

Disability Access

Visitors with disability concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early at Stegeman Coliseum. Main entrances to Stegeman Coliseum along Sanford Drive and Carlton Street are wheelchair accessible.

On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their wheelchair. Wheelchairs are commonly available for short-term rental from medical supply stores and some pharmacies.

Seating for guests in wheelchairs is limited in Stegeman Coliseum. Disability and companion seating is along the top row of the lower level. Disability seating allows access for one person in a wheelchair and one companion. Additional family members will need to sit separately in general seating. Please plan accordingly.

Photos, Videos, Programs + More

Professional photographs will be taken of each Terry College candidate. After the Convocation, graduates may access Convocation proofs and order prints from GradImages®. Video capture of the event will be available through the college’s graduation website six to eight weeks after the event.

Convocation programs will be placed in the seats for each of the candidates. Each candidate will be recognized by name in the program using the official information on file with the University of Georgia Office of the Registrar.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed six to eight weeks after the official graduation date. Please see the Registrar’s Office website for complete information regarding applying to graduate and diplomas.

Welcome to the Terry Alumni Family!

Congratulations on your accomplishments! We wish you the best of success as you begin a new, exciting chapter of your life! Please keep in touch with us at the Terry Alumni website.

Lost & Found

For items believed lost in Stegeman Coliseum, please contact the University of Georgia Police Department at detectives@police.uga.edu.

First Aid

First Aid and ambulance services will be on-site to assist with emergency needs. First Aid is behind Section L in the Stegeman Coliseum concourse.