Augusta University celebrates Spring 2024 graduates
More than 1,250 graduates were celebrated during Augusta University's 2024 commencement ceremonies.
Fall 2024 Commencement
Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony
calendar icon Wednesday, December 11, 2024
map-marker icon Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
clock icon 6:00 PM
Celebrating all graduate students at Augusta University
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
icon Thursday, December 12, 2024
map-marker icon Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
icon 10:00 AM
Celebrating all undergraduate students at Augusta University.
Thanks to Savannah Evan Photography for helping us capture our graduates special day. Check out the galleries below!
Graduate Hooding & CommencementUndergraduate Ceremony 1 Undergraduate Ceremony 2
Don't forget your tickets! While tickets are digital, guests are encouraged to bring a hard copy of the ticket to the ceremony as well. ALL guests need a ticket to enter, no exceptions. Graduates, don't forget to bring your Grad Pass when you check in. This is your "ticket" into commencement and can be accessed through your Marching Order account.
More information coming soon for the fall 2024 commencement ceremonies.
On social media, tag Augusta University and your college's social media handles. Don't forget to use the hashtag #AUGGrad!
Marching Order is the system used to manage commencement operations, including graduate RSVP's, guest ticketing, graduate communications, and grad passes. Graduates must create an account in Marching Order to RSVP for the ceremony, access their guest tickets, and ensure their name is pronounced and listed correctly for the commencement ceremony.
Marching Order is now open for Fall 2024 graduates, as of October 8th. Additional ticket requests will not be accepted at this time. Once RSVPs close on November 11th, dependent on the number of students who've RSVP'd, we will determine at that time if extra tickets will be a possibility. Please login to Marching Order ASAP to register for the ceremony and claim your guest tickets!
Having trouble with Marching Order?Email the Commencement Team with any questions.
We shared a newsletter with you all recently that details more information you need to know about the fall commencement ceremony. Fall graduates, this was sent to your AU email. Summer graduates, this was sent to the post-graduation email you provided on your graduation application. Please read this newsletter in totality!
fall 2024 Commencement
"As the inaugural president and as an alumnus of Augusta University, our traditions are near and dear to me. Traditions like the ringing of our arsenal bell, which symbolizes healing and hope. And traditions like commencement, to celebrate the accomplishments and hope for the future of Augusta University graduates. These traditions create meaningful experiences that last a lifetime."
- Brooks A. Keel, PhD, Augusta University's inaugural president
We look forward to this fall's commencement ceremonies as our incoming president Dr. Russell Keen's (pictured above at this spring's commencement) first ceremonies at the helm of Augusta University!
GradPass, RSVPs & Commencement Tickets Close
Graduate Hooding & Commencement Ceremony, 6:00 pm
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, 10:00 am
video icon WATCH
Check out the replays of our spring commencement ceremonies:
Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony, May 9, 2024, 6 pm:
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony I, May 10, 2024, 10 am
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony II, May 10, 2024, 2 pm
A digital copy of the program is also available for your viewing pleasure.
Academic regalia includes the cap and gown, as well as other distinguishing hoods, stoles and cords that denote traditions of academic achievement. Official Augusta University regalia is used by all participants in the graduation ceremony. Orders for regalia are limited to graduates participating in the Fall 2024 ceremonies. All other orders will be cancelled.
For Associates and Bachelors graduates:
Regalia orders may be placed online via the Jostens website or ordered in-person at the RoarStore. Fall 2024 regalia is available to order online beginning September 16 through October 25. Regalia orders placed after October 25 will need to be placed in-person at the RoarStore. The regalia package for associates and bachelors graduates if ordered online is $49 plus $12 shipping. If graduates order regalia in person at the RoarStore, the regalia package is $59. Students need to use their AU email address to complete their order. This regalia package includes the robe, cap, and tassel. Customized stoles are permitted to wear with your cap and gown. Tassel colors are not guaranteed for any orders placed after the order deadline. All Associates and Bachelor graduates will keep their regalia at the conclusion of commencement. Please notify the RoarStore should you be unable to participate in commencement after ordering your regalia.
For Masters and Specialists graduates:
Regalia orders may be placed online via the Jostens website or ordered in-person at the RoarStore. Fall 2024 regalia is available to order online beginning September 16 through October 25. Regalia orders placed after October 25 will need to be placed in-person at the RoarStore. The masters and specialists regalia package if ordered online is $99 plus $12 shipping. If graduates order regalia in person at the RoarStore, the regalia package is $109. This regalia package includes the robe, hood, cap, and tassel. Customized stoles may be worn with your cap and gown. Hood and/or tassel colors are not guaranteed for any orders placed after the order deadline. Masters and Specialists graduates will keep their regalia at the conclusion of commencement.
Business attire is appropriate under the gown. The event will be a combination of standing and sitting, so make sure you dress comfortably for both. For those wearing pants, consider dark pants and shoes.
For Doctoral Graduates:
Doctoral students may rent or purchase regalia for graduation online via Jostens website. Fall 2024 regalia is available to order online beginning September 16 through October 25. The rental regalia package for doctoral students (including PhD, DNP, DPT and EdD graduates), costs $179 plus $12 shipping. Rental regalia will be paid for at time of pick-up. Regalia rental pick-ups will take place at the Summerville Campus RoarStore, beginning November 20.
If doctoral students wish to purchase their regalia, a package is available for $997.80. This package is only available for purchase online through the Jostens website. Students may come to the RoarStore to get measured for this regalia or submit their measurements with their order.
If regalia is rented, doctoral students must return their regalia following the ceremony. Returns can be made immediately following the ceremony, or at the RoarStore during operating hours. Please contact the RoarStore if you have any additional questions.
Business attire is appropriate under the gown. The event will be a combination of standing and sitting, so make sure you dress comfortably for both. For those wearing pants, consider dark pants and shoes.
Faculty members need to RSVP for commencement and indicate whether or not they will need to rent regalia to participate in commencement. Faculty may pick up their order at the Summerville Campus RoarStore or can be shipped to you for a small fee. Contact the RoarStore if you haven't made plans for renting regalia or the Office of Faculty Affairs if you have any questions about regalia rentals. The faculty rental regalia deadline for the Fall 2024 commencement ceremonies will be announced soon.
Follow the website below to learn more about what faculty need to know in preparation for commencement.
All commencement ceremonies are ticketed events; and all guests attending must have a ticket, including children. Babies younger than one year old will not require a ticket.
All ticket information will be announced through AU email. Students will be required to use their augusta.edu email address and student ID number to log in to the portal to claim their tickets. Please note, Marching Order shuts down to students the week of the ceremony and tickets will not be accessible to graduates during this week. Students are advised to access their tickets as early as possible.
All seating is general admission and there are no VIP tickets for guests of graduates. Doors will open approximately 90 minutes prior to the start of each commencement ceremony.
If you haven't been to Augusta before, the link below will show you some more about our city, some fun things to do (and eat!) and more!
Graduates needing a disability-related accommodation to participate in commencement should contact Rebecca Berger, Director of Testing and Disability Services for Augusta University. Ms. Berger may be reached by phone at 706-737-1469.
Marching Order is the system used to manage commencement operations, including graduate RSVP's, guest ticketing, graduate communications, and grad passes. Graduates must create an account in Marching Order to access their guest tickets and ensure their name is pronounced and listed correctly for the commencement ceremony. Graduates must indicate whether or not they attend to participate in commencement through Marching Order. Please note, Marching Order shuts down to graduates the week of the ceremony and tickets will not be accessible to during this week.
Marching Order is open now for fall 2024 commencement. Commencement RSVPs are due on November 11th. Please login to Marching Order ASAP to ensure you have a seat for commencement!
Graduates will access their Grad Pass, their "ticket" into commencement, through their Marching Order account. Students can access their Grad Pass by logging into their Marching Order account they created when they submitted their RSVP and selecting "Grad Pass." Access to your Grad Pass will close the week of the ceremony, so students are advised to access their Grad Pass early. Name cards are what students will need to have their name announced as they cross the stage. Name cards will be placed in graduates seats to use during commencement.
Dual degree recipients may not see both degrees received on their Grad Pass and/or name card due to space limitations. Please know both degrees received will show on screen for your guests to see your accomplishments!
Graduation announcements and additional items may be ordered directly from the Jostens website.
Graduates who are graduating with dual degrees may opt to attend one ceremony or both ceremonies, depending on which ceremony their degrees are being conferred in. Contact the Commencement Team if you have any questions.
Undergraduate students graduating with honors will be designated in the commencement program. Qualifying students will be notified via email. If you're unable to pick up your honors cord prior to commencement, students may pick up their cords when checking in for commencement at the Marriott. Please make sure to bring a photo ID if picking up cords at commencement.
Augusta University celebrates generations of families continuing our rich tradition by listing graduates whose parent, step-parent, or grandparent graduated from Augusta University or one of her legacy institutions (ex: Augusta College, Augusta State University). Legacy status is only awarded to those family members who have received a degree from Augusta University or a legacy institution, not to those completing a residency program.
Graduates who are part of our Jaguar legacy family will receive a specially designed pin for commencement to recognize their family’s Augusta tradition. While graduates have the ability to indicate their legacy status on their graduation application, in case someone forgot to do so, please email commencement@augusta.edu with the family members name, graduation year, and institution graduated from by October 11 to have their name included in the fall commencement program. The Office of Alumni Engagement will be in touch with these students about obtaining their legacy pin they will receive to wear at commencement.
Do you still have any questions about the commencement ceremonies this semester? Email the Commencement Team.
Graduates: for any questions you may have about your diploma or graduation application, please email the Graduation Team.
"Augusta: The Bell Rings for Me"
Get ready for commencement by learning the words to our Alma Mater!
Are you stumped about where you can go to take your graduation pictures? We've got you covered! We've compiled a list of some photo opportunities around Augusta University's campuses as well as some fun spots around Downtown Augusta. Tag us in your social media posts: @aug_university
All commencement ceremonies are ticketed events; and all guests attending must have a ticket, including children and infants older than one year old.
All convention center seating is general admission and there are no VIP tickets for guests of graduates. Guests are not allowed on the floor before or during the ceremony. Doors will open approximately 90 minutes prior to the start of the graduate hooding and commencement ceremony and the undergraduate commencement ceremony.
If your guest requires special accommodations, seating is available on a limited first-come, first-served basis. Due to limited seating in the accessible areas, a maximum of one person will be allowed to accompany the person with a disability in the designated seating area. Guests who may need a disability-related accommodation to attend this event should contact Rebecca Berger, Testing and Disability Services Director at Augusta University. Ms. Berger can be reached by phone at 706-737-1469.
The Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center's address is 2 10th Street, Augusta. Students and Faculty participating in commencement will park at no charge in the Georgia Cyber Center parking deck, located at 1 11th Street, Augusta between 11th and 12th streets in Downtown Augusta. Family members of graduates may ride with their student and use this deck as well if it works best for ceremony travel accommodations.
Commencement guests can park in the Reynolds Street parking deck at no charge and use the bridge to access the convention center. Guests who wish to park here will need to tell the parking attendant of their attendance at the AU Commencement Ceremony. Guests will not need to present vouchers upon entry or departure from this parking deck. No commencement guests will be allowed to park in the designated reserved parking spaces in the Reynolds Street parking deck.
Additionally, there are parking lots available on 9th-10th streets, many of them first come, first serve. Please plan accordingly!
ADA Parking is available at the following parking decks:
Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center Parking Garage (located at 9th & Reynolds Street)
Augusta University Nathan Deal Campus Parking Deck at the Georgia Cyber Center
GradImages will be on site to take professional photos of your graduate that will be available for purchase following the ceremony. Graduates can text "Grad24" to 888-299-0978 to find their photos after their ceremonies. If graduates pre-register their information with GradImages before their ceremony, graduates will receive a coupon for 20% off their entire order. Graduates can follow the link below to pre-register their information.
Non-ticketed observers will be able to watch the ceremony live online. A playback of each ceremony will be uploaded to YouTube following the ceremonies. Follow the link below to access the livestream platform for commencement.
Graduates can expect to receive your diplomas 6-8 weeks following commencement. Diplomas will be mailed to the address listed on your graduation application. Email the Graduation Team if you have any questions about your diploma issuing.
Augusta University's inaugural president, Dr. Brooks Keel, served as our keynote speaker for the Spring 2024 Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia (pictured in bottom row, middle and right), served as our keynote speaker for both Spring 2024 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies. Thank you, President Keel and Chancellor Perdue, for providing great words of wisdom for our graduates!
Stephanie Jones, PhD, an alumna of the School of Public Health (pictured top row, left), was selected as our graduate student speaker, providing the invocation for the Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. Rakiyah Lenon, an alumna of the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (pictured top row, middle), was selected as our student speaker for the 10 am Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Luke Anderson, an alumni of the College of Nursing (pictured top row, right), was selected as our student speaker for the 2 pm Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Congratulations to Dr. Jones, Rakiyah, and Luke! Thank you for your encouraging messages you shared with the Class of 2024. Fall 2024 commencement participants, learn more about how you could play a pivotal role in commencement:
We want you to lend your voice to commencement!
Applications are open for the Class of 2024 to represent your class at commencement as the featured soloist or speaker for your commencement ceremony. For the student speaker applicants, please submit an audition video sharing a sample of your message to the graduating class. For the student soloist applicants, please submit a video audition of the National Anthem in Bb Major (starting on the pitch "F") and the AU Alma Mater in FM. Upload your video submissions to Box, naming your folder "FIRSTLAST_FALL2024SPEAKER" or "FIRSTLAST_2024SOLOIST" depending on the position, and share with SGA President Jenessa Ducelus.
Please fill out the appropriate application form and follow video submission instructions for Box:
Student Speaker Application Student Soloist Application
If selected as the student soloist, you will lead the singing of the National Anthem and/or the Augusta University Alma Mater. The sheet music and lyrics for the Alma Mater are listed below for your use:
Applications are due October 14th! Email SGA President Jenessa Ducelus if you have any questions.
Stay tuned to meet your fall keynote speakers!
All commencement ceremonies will be held at Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center in Downtown Augusta
More than 1,250 graduates were celebrated during Augusta University's 2024 commencement ceremonies.
“Kendrick’s actions and interactions with patients reflect a genuine concern for their physical, social and emotional well-being,” said Tiana Brown.
“Making art in general has been very therapeutic for me," said Edna Martinez, a former Marine now art grad. "It's not just a passion anymore. It's become a necessity.”
“Since the day I set foot on campus, I have been so proud of the academic achievements, community engagement and career success of our students and alumni."