The Commencement Committee has decided to move Saturday’s Commencement ceremony inside to Ragan-Brown Field House due to the significant threat of thunderstorms moving through the area the morning of the event. While we know this may be disappointing, the safety of graduates and those who work and attend the event comes first, and we want everyone to enjoy the event despite the risk posed by the weather.

Event Details:

• Tickets: Students will receive up to 5 (five) tickets for the ceremony for use by family and friends. Tickets will be distributed at Commencement rehearsal on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Ragan-Brown Field House. If your guest list is larger than five individuals, you will be able to request additional tickets at rehearsal. The availability of additional tickets is based on some graduates not needing their full allotment of 5.
• A note about Ragan-Brown Field House: Despite lower temperatures in the 68 to 72 range on Saturday morning, the Field House may be warm with 1,500 people gathered for Commencement. We encourage all attendees to plan accordingly. We will have hand fans and water available for all graduates at their seats.
• COVID precautions: Masks will be required to enter Ragan-Brown Field House and must be worn during the ceremony.
• Rehearsal: Rehearsal will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Ragan-Brown Field House. We will cover a number of important topics at the event, so please make it a priority to attend. Tickets for Commencement will be distributed after rehearsal. You will also be able to speak with Provost Maria Rosales about the pronunciation of your name For individuals who cannot be at rehearsal, we will distribute information that you missed, including information about getting access to tickets, before 5pm on Friday.

Saturday’s Schedule:

• 7:30 a.m. — Graduates will gather in Alumni Gym (entrance will be from the parking lot side); a continental breakfast will be available.
• 8 a.m. — Graduates will line up in alphabetical order.
• 8 a.m. — Doors to Ragan-Brown Field House will open to guests, who must have a ticket to enter.
• 8:45 a.m. — Graduates will move from Alumni Gym to Ragan-Brown Field House.
• 9 a.m. — Faculty, graduates, and stage party will process into Ragan-Brown Field House
• Approximately 12 p.m. (noon) — Commencement ceremony concludes; reception is held in Founders Hall.

Additional Details:

• Photography: Guilford College has contracted with GradImages to provide professional photography services. They will take pictures as you receive your diploma cover and as you come off the stage. Family members and guests will need to take pictures from their seats in the Field House. Movement that would interfere with the experience of other guests is not allowed.
• Accessibility needs: If a guest needs special seating due to mobility issues, please contact Kristie Wyatt at accessibility@guilford.edu, who will share more information about parking and access to the Field House. Also, please contact Kristie if sign language or Spanish interpretation is needed.
• Webcast: The Commencement ceremony will be webcast for those not attending in person. A link for the webcast will be posted on the Commencement web page.
• On-campus viewing area: For guests who do not have a ticket for the ceremony but want to be on campus for the event, it will be shown on a large screen in the Carnegie Room of Hege Academic Commons. 
• Parking:
  • Areas available to guests of graduates and other attendees for parking are:
    • Parking lot near the baseball field and Hege-Cox Hall
    • Dana Hall lot
    • Milner/South Campus Apartments lot
    • Frank Family Science Center lot
  • Parking areas that will be reserved are:
  • Jack Jensen golf center lot (behind Ragan-Brown field house) (map)
  • Founders Hall lot (map)
  • The parking area immediately outside of Alumni Gym (map)

We look forward to celebrating with you tonight at Toast to the Light (7:30 p.m. outside of Founders), tomorrow at Baccalaureate (11 a.m. in Dana Auditorium), and at the Commencement ceremony on Saturday.

We are so proud of you!
The Commencement Committee