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Arrival time

  • Graduates should arrive by 8 a.m. and report to the Library Atrium.
  • Guests should arrive and be seated by 8:45 a.m.
  • No tickets are necessary. Seating is first-come, first served.
  • The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and run for approximately two hours.
  • The ceremony will proceed rain or shine. Read more about the weather policy.

Weather Policy

  • Oglethorpe’s commencement ceremony will continue rain or shine.
  • In the event of thunder and lightning, the ceremony may be delayed.
  • Plan for wet or rainy conditions.
  • Graduates may not carry umbrellas in the ceremony.
  • Ponchos will be provided if necessary.

Campus Safety personnel and commencement volunteers will be on hand to direct guests and candidates to the appropriate location in the event of inclement weather.

Parking

Graduates and guests will be directed to park in one of the many parking lots on campus. View map for parking locations on campus. Brookhaven Police Department will assist with traffic control at the main entrance to campus.

Please plan to carpool as parking is limited.

Overflow parking

Oglethorpe University Commencement guests can park in the parking lot behind the Brookhaven City Hall building at 4362 Peachtree Rd NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319. There is also additional parking next door in the parking garage at 4370 Peachtree Rd NE. Please note the parking garage gates will close at 2:00 p.m., so all cars in the garage must be moved by then. A shuttle service will be provided from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. and will pick up and depart from the parking lot at 4362 Peachtree Rd. 

Additional overflow parking is available at Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church, 3016 Lanier Dr NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319. You may walk in through the back gate of campus if you choose this overflow parking option.

Restrooms

Restrooms will be available for guests in Lupton Hall, Hearst Hall and the Cousins Center. View map for locations.

Guest Services and First-Aid/Medical Tent

A first-aid medical station will be available outside the Cousins Center. A guest services table will be located centrally on the quad.

Etiquette

To ensure a safe environment and so that all guests can see their graduate during the ceremony, please note these requests:

  • Keep walkways open.
  • Do not bring pyrotechnics, including confetti cannons, smoke bombs, sparklers, etc.
  • Designated photo areas are for professional *photographers. Please wait until after the ceremony to approach these areas. This includes standing in front of the stage to take photos.
  • If you bring posters or signs, they should not block the view of the ceremony for other guests at any time.

*Photography

Oglethorpe University has hired a professional photographer to capture each graduate on stage receiving their diploma from the University President and Board Chair, and again immediately after exiting the stage. Unless otherwise specified using the link below, students will receive proofs via their Oglethorpe email.

Please update your photo delivery preferences here.

Exiting

Graduates and other ceremony participants will be dismissed first. Please wait for the commencement recessional to conclude before leaving your seats and exiting.

 

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