TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY 2025 SPRING听COMMENCEMENT

May 3rd and May 10th, 2025听 |听 9:30 a.m. |听 Daniel "Chappie" James Arena

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Ceremony Information

鈥�听Saturday, May 3, 2025听 |听 9:30 am

Graduate School听& Professional School Commencement
General Daniel "Chappie" James Arena
Speaker: Dr. LaKisha Odom
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鈥�听Saturday, May 10, 2025听 |听 9:30 am

Spring Undergraduate Commencement
General Daniel "Chappie" James Arena
Speaker: U.S. Congressman Shomari C. Figures (D-Ala)
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Know Before You Go

• CLEAR BAG REQUIREMENT -- In the interest of public safety, all venues will adhere to a clear bag requirement for all Commencement Ceremonies.
  • The implementation of these measures is intended to enhance public safety on campus.听
  • Approved clear bags are listed below and 听辞谤听in person from the University鈥檚 bookstore.
    • Approved bags are bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12鈥漻6鈥漻12鈥�.
  • To Purchase clear bags online,听.
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• PROHIBITED ITEMS -- This is a list of items NOT ALLOWED!!! Please DO NOT bring these items to campus!!!
  • NO GUNS or WEAPONS
  • NO AIRHORNS听
  • NO WHISTLES
  • NO COW BELLS
  • NO BALLOONS
  • NO FLOWERS
  • NO CAKES
  • NO ANIMALS

Ticket Information (Updated)

For the Graduate and Professional Programs Commencement:听

• No tickets will be issued to the Graduate and Professional Programs students.
• No tickets will be needed for guests to enter the Chappie James Arena.
• No tickets will be needed for the overflow locations.

For the Undergraduate Programs Commencement:

• Undergraduate students will receive SIX (6) tickets to issue to their guests.
• Tickets are required for everyone two years old and above to enter Chappie James Arena.
• No tickets will be needed for the overflow locations.
• Tickets & parking passes will be distributed to Graduating Students on Thursday, May 8, from 1:30pm--5:30pm at the Logan Hall Ticket Windows.
• For students who could not pick up their tickets on Thursday, the alternative day to pick up tickets is听Friday, May 9th from 4pm--6pm at Logan Hall.
• Students must have a parking pass which will be provided with tickets, along with showing your ID. Students will enter campus via the Farm Road gate.

Parking and Shuttle Guidelines for Commencement听(Updated)

• Parking for Graduating Students on May 10 鈥� Students must have a parking pass which will be provided with the tickets, along with showing your ID. Students will enter campus via the Farm Road gate.

• Parking for Attendees with ADA Accomodations 鈥� These Attendees may enter campus via the Lincoln Gates (must have placard visible)听to go and drop off their guest. Any person who accompanies them must have a ticket to enter the arena. Both people must have a ticket. Then they can proceed to ADA parking as listed on the campus map.

• Parking for the Public on Saturday - Click here for NEW Public Parking Guidelines听
  General public attendees should听park at B.T.W. High School and catch the Shuttle to campus.

Overflow Locations

• The Chapel
• Logan Hall
• Tent outside of the Chappie James Center

Livestream

• For those who cannot make it to the in-person event, you can still watch the ceremony via livestream on our .听 The Processional will begin at听9:30 a.m. CT on May 3听and May 10.听
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COMMENCEMENT DAY INFORMATION

Commencement Day Information

• CLEAR BAGS - All venues will adhere to a clear bag requirement听for all Commencement Ceremonies, in the interest of public safety.听Implementation of these measures is intended to enhance public safety on campus.听Approved clear bags are bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12鈥漻6鈥漻12鈥�, and 听or in person from the University鈥檚 bookstore.
• NO WEAPONS OR OTHER PROHIBITED ITEMS allowed on this campus in the interest of public safety.
• LIVE-STREAM of Commencement will begin at 9:30am (CT) on the University's听听on May 3听and May 10.
• COVID-19 UPDATES can be found by clicking here.
• SHUTTLE SERVICE听will begin at 6:45 am from B.T.W. High School.
• THE UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE听will be open听on the Friday before each commencement (tentatively 9am - 5pm). It will also be open on Commencement Day, May 3听and May 10听(tentatively 10am-3pm).

COMMENCEMENT WEEK CEREMONIES AND EVENTS

DATE/TIME	CEREMONY/EVENT	LOCATION
Fri, May 2, 2025听 |听 10 am	Rehearsal for听Graduate and Professional Ceremony	Chappie James Arena
Fri, May 2, 2025听 |听 11:30 am	Graduate and Professional Toast	Chappie James Museum
Fri, May 2, 2025听 |听 12 pm	Rehearsal for CVM Oath Ceremony	Chappie James Arena
Sat, May 3, 2025听 |听 9:30 am - 12:30 pm	Graduate and Professional听Ceremony听() Speaker:听Dr. LaKisha Odom LINEUP LOCATIONS	Chappie James Arena
Sat, May 3, 2025听 |听 听Immediately following Commencement Ceremony	College of Veterinary Medicine Oath Ceremony	Chappie James Arena
Thu, May 8, 2025听 听|听 听10 am	Rehearsal for Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony	Chappie James Arena
Thu, May 8, 2025听 听 |听 听1-2 pm	Senior Toast	Logan Hall
Thu, May 8, 2025听 听 |听 听1:30-5:30 pm	Tickets & parking passes distributed to Graduating Students	Logan Hall ticket windows
Thu, May 8, 2025听 |听 5-6 pm	School of Education Induction Ceremony	TU Chapel
Fri, May 9, 2025听 听|听 10 am - 12 pm	Joint ROTC Commissioning Ceremony ()	TU Chapel
Fri, May 9, 2025听 听|听 听1-3 pm	SONAH Capping and Pinning Ceremony听()	TU Chapel
Fri, May 9, 2025听 听|听 听4-6 pm	COE Order of the Engineer Ceremony听()	TU Chapel
Fri. May 9, 2025听 听|听 听4-6 pm	Tickets & parking passes distributed to remaining Graduating Students who were not able to pick theirs up on Thursday	Logan Hall ticket windows
Fri. May 9, 2025听 听|听 听6-8 pm	BSW Social Work Pinning Ceremony	Virtual
Sat, May 10, 2025听 | 9:30 am 听 听 听 听	Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony听() Speaker:听U.S. Congressman Shomari C. Figures (D-Ala) LINEUP LOCATIONS	Chappie James Arena

COMMENCEMENT FAQs

ADA ACCESSIBILITY

Sections are available听in the Chappie听James Center for individuals with any ADA issues. Graduating seniors should inform appropriate University personnel in advance of any special needs of family members or guests. Please call 615-604-1225.

Designated ADA parking听will be beside the Chappie James Center near the airplane. The circle in front of the Chappie James Center is for Emergency vehicles and ADA drop-off only. Please consult the听campus map听for regular parking.

Shuttle Service听will begin at 6:45am from B.T.W. High School.

PARKING

(Click here to view Campus Map)

SHUTTLE SERVICE

• General public attendees should听park at B.T.W. High School and catch the Shuttle to campus.听Click here for NEW Public Parking Guidelines听鈥�

PROCEDURES FOR CANDIDATES

Candidates are asked to adhere to the following procedures:

1. All candidates are required to wear approved academic regalia --traditional caps and gowns. Persons who are not in compliance with approved academic regalia will not be permitted to participate in the听Commencement听Exercises.听
2. Decorating of caps and stoles will be permitted as long as they are kept within the 蘑菇视频鈥檚 tradition of character and excellence.
3. Candidates should wear black shoes and clothing that harmonize with academic regalia.听Comfortable听attire is recommended.
4. Academic regalia is most appropriate when worn without jewelry such as bangles, large necklaces, or large earrings.
5. Chewing gum is inappropriate and not permitted.
6. Smoking is prohibited at all times.
7. Behaviors that disrupt the Commencement Ceremony听are prohibited. Gestures such as听dances, flips, gyrating, twirling, stepping and yelling are not allowed.听
8. Sneakers, fuzzy slippers, flip flops, and crocs of any kind are not allowed, and heeled shoes over 4 inches in height are prohibited.听
9. Men should remove their hats during the Invocation, Benediction and the singing of the Tuskegee Song.
10. All candidates will rise, as a group, when presented to the President by their respective deans.
11. After receiving the diploma cover, candidates must return to their seats and remain until the conclusion of the Commencement Exercises.
12. Only University authorized photographers/videographers听are permitted on the floor to take pictures or video during the Commencement Exercises.

鈥婫RADUATION CAP DECORATION GUIDELINES

Decorations on graduation caps (mortar boards) are a symbol of pride and accomplishment. The decorations represent personalized statements about accomplishments that can be presented in the form of a quote, an image, a symbol, or other things.

To ensure that commencement exercises remain dignified celebrations of achievement of all students, the following rules must be followed when decorating caps for graduation:

• Decorations should not interfere with attaching the tassel to the cap.
• Only the flat top of the TU-issued cap may be decorated.
• Decorations may not hang off the sides of the cap.
• Large 3-D embellishments may interfere with the view of students seated behind you
• and are, therefore, prohibited.
• Graduation caps must not have any advertisements, symbols, words or slogans听conveying messages inappropriate at a dignified commencement ceremony.
• Caps must not threaten the safety of others or use any hate speech of any kind.
• Caps must be consistent with the code of conduct for 蘑菇视频.
• Obscene, profane, or vulgar language is expressly prohibited.
• Words or items diminishing or slandering toward any individual or institution, the
• University, any faculty or staff member, and/or any student are prohibited on graduation caps.
• Decorations are prohibited on academic gowns and hood.

Not sure if your decorations meet the guidelines? Email Student Affairs for guidance: studentaffairs@tuskegee.edu

Failure to adhere to these rules for graduation cap decoration and/or instructions from commencement event staff could result in a student鈥檚 removal from commencement exercises and may add a Student Conduct Violation to the student鈥檚 record.

LINEUP LOCATIONS

听 听 听Participants should assemble in Foster Hall as follows:

听 听 听1)听 Graduate & Professional Commencement on May 3rd:

• Ph.D. candidates 鈥斕齊oom 528
• DVM candidates 鈥斕齊oom 529
• Master's candidates 鈥斕�2nd floor auditorium

听 听 听2)听 Undergraduate Commencement on May 10th:

• SOE 鈥斕齊oom 529
• CAENS 鈥斕鼺ourth floor hallway
• CAS 鈥斕齌hird floor听
  • Room 325 鈥斕齎isual Arts, Biology
  • Room 326 鈥斕鼵hemistry, Communications, English, History, Math
  • Room 327 鈥斕齅usic, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology
• CBIS 鈥斕齋econd floor Library
• TSACS & COE 鈥斕齋econd floor Auditorium
• SONAH 鈥斕齋econd floor听听(Updated)
  • Room 328 鈥斕鼿ealth Science
  • Room 329 鈥斕齆ursing

鈥婳FFICIAL DRESS ATTIRE

All degree candidates should dress in a manner appropriate for the dignity and solemnity of the University鈥檚 Commencement Exercises.听All degree candidates must wear academic regalia (caps and gowns) to the Commencement exercises. Graduation attire should not be removed at any point during the University鈥檚 Commencement Exercises. Graduates should wear black shoes and clothing that harmonize with academic regalia. Sneakers, fuzzy slippers, flip flops, and crocs of any kind are not allowed, and heeled shoes over 4 inches in height are prohibited. Please note that Dress Attire will be enforced. Those not in dress attire will be removed from the Line of March.

We understand that some graduates may have cultural or personal preferences for dress attire, and those who need to wear specific attire for religious or cultural purposes (e.g., hijab, etc) are welcomed to do so. However, for those outside of those specified needs, we ask that you respect the formality of the occasion and adhere to the dress code guidelines. We want to ensure that all graduates are presented in a uniform manner and that the focus remains on celebrating your academic achievements.

ACADEMIC ATTIRE

THE CAP - The approved cap of the academic costume is the mortar board or Oxford cap- a stiff board nine inches square, usually covered in cotton poplin, Russell cord, or spun rayon, placed on a soft cap made of the same material and jointed in a pointed design in front and back. The front of the cap is shorter than the back, but the color is always that of the gown and is uniformly black for the four-year colleges. The use of velvet material has been reserved for the cap for the doctor鈥檚 degree. A silk cord with a tassel made of many strands of threads is attached to a button in the center of the board. The length of the cord and tassel may vary with the degree of the wearer.

THE GOWN - The basic design for gowns is similar for all degrees; the minor variations in fullness and length of sleeves and trimmings are indicative of degree levels. Cotton poplin fabric is used for the bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 gown, and ribbed rayon or silk material is reserved for the doctor鈥檚 gown.

THE HOOD - No longer worn for warmth, the hood has become the colorful standard bearer of academic symbolism. It varies in length from three feet to three and a half feet, representing the bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, and doctor鈥檚 degree, respectively. The colors or colors of the lining of the hood is trimmed or edged in a border of velvet either two inches, three inches, or five inches in width for the bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctor鈥檚 degree. The border color represents the faculty or field of study in which the degree was awarded.
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Information taken from The Admissions, Academic Records, and Registrar Handbook of Policies and Procedures, C. James Quann and Associates: 1979.

HONORS REGALIA - In recognition of scholarship of high quality, a student may graduate with distinction according to the following cumulative grade point averages:

• Summa Cum Laude (3.75) - Gold shoulder stole/crimson letters听
• Magna Cum Laude (3.50) - Gold shoulder stole/crimson letters听
• Cum Laude (3.25) Cords - One gold and one crimson

Candidates for honors must qualify one semester prior to commencement. Regalia for honor students will be issued at graduation rehearsal. Students are permitted to keep honors regalia.
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All seniors completing graduation requirements should place orders for graduation regalia with the Tuskegee Campus Bookstore. Order should be placed early to receive regalia in time for the Commencement Ceremony. For more information (regarding regalia and invitations), call 334-727-8844.

ORDERING TRANSCRIPTS

ACADEMIC TERMINOLOGY

Academic Terms: 鈥淎lumni鈥� and Others

• alumna - Use this singular term for a female graduate.
• alumnus - Use this singular term for a male graduate.
• alumnae - Use this plural term for a group of female graduates.
• alumni - Use this plural term for former students or graduates, whether referring to a group of males or a group consisting of males and females.
• alma mater - A term that may be used when referring to 蘑菇视频, the university from which you have graduated.

Degrees

• Bachelor of Arts - B.A.
• Bachelor of Science - B.S.
• Master of Arts - M.A.
• Master of Science - M.S.
• Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - DVM

蘑菇视频 Alumni Associations:

• Tuskegee National Alumni Association, Inc. (TNAA)
• 蘑菇视频 National Athletic Association (TUNAA)
• 蘑菇视频 Agriculture, Environment & Nutrition Sciences Alumni Association (TUAENSAA)
• Tuskegee Architecture and Construction Alumni Association (TACAA)
• 蘑菇视频 Nursing Alumni Association (TUNNAA)
• 蘑菇视频 Band Alumni Association (TUBAA)
• Tuskegee Veterinary Medical Alumni Association (TVMAA)
• 蘑菇视频 Engineering听Alumni Association (TUEAA)

CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION "MUSTS" AND DEADLINES

THE TUSKEGEE SONG