If you are an Undergraduate student receiving a Bachelor’s degree, click here for more information.

If you are a Graduate student receiving a Masters, Specialist, or Doctorate degree, click here for more information.

If you are a Graduate student receiving a Certificate, click here for more information.

Jostens is an UWG approved vendor for graduation announcements. Students may place orders for personalized announcements online by accessing the UWG Jostens' website. The number of announcements ordered is a personal preference, but please note that the seating tickets are limited. See the Tickets section for more information.

Publications and Printing, Your On-Campus Copy Center, also offers commencement announcements and UWG thank-you note cards. For information and prices, you are invited to visit: http://www.westga.edu/pubprint/index_14746.php

Appropriate dress for graduation includes dark shoes for men and women. Men should wear dark pants and a tie. It is important that students do not bring handbags or personal items because there is no secure holding area.

Caps and gowns can be purchased at the UWG University Bookstore and should be done in advance. Students' tassel colors will vary based on the college of their major.

College colors to be worn by undergraduates and graduates are:

College of Arts and Humanities – White
College of Business – Drab
College of Education – Light Blue
School of Nursing – Apricot
College of Science and Mathematics – Yellow Gold
College of Social Sciences – Citron
Doctoral Candidates - Gold Metallic

Ceremony Details Spring 2013:

Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013

Time:  9:30 AM Ceremony (Graduates arrive no later than 8:30 AM)
                    Richards College of Business
                    College of Social Sciences
                    College of Science and Mathematics

            2:00 PM Ceremony (Graduates arrive no later than 1:00 PM)
                    College of Arts and Humanities
                    College of Education
                    School of Nursing

Location: UWG Coliseum

*It is important to report promptly at the time instructed. It may not be possible to include late-arriving candidates in the procession.

You can find detailed ceremony instructions listed in the following documents:

Commencement Letter from our President

Ceremony Information

Ceremony Instructions

Parking and Traffic Instructions

Undergraduate students should view their Wolf Watch degree audit online. To view audit:

1. Log on to the myUWG portal
2. Go to BanWeb tab
3. Go to Wolf Watch link
4. Student information will automatically populate
5. For more information about Wolf Watch, please visit the Wolf Watch  section of our webpage.

*Undergraduate students who attended UWG before Fall 1998 will not be in Wolf Watch due to the change in quarter hours to semester hours. To determine undergraduate quarter hour equivalencies, please view our Undergraduate Equivalency Chart.  To determine how quarter hours convert to semester hours, multiply by two the number of quarter hours and then divide by three.

Diplomas are not given to students during the commencement ceremony. Instead, diplomas are mailed four to six weeks following commencement to eligible students' permanent address as indicated on their graduation application, or students may wish to pick up their diploma on the designated pickup dates. Please check your MyUWG email account for confirmation of the designated pickup dates.

The student's name will appear on the diploma as they have indicated on the graduation application form. Undergraduates should contact the Registrar's Office at registra@westga.edu immediately if there is a change in address or marching status after submission of the graduation application. Graduates should contact Allysn Marple at amarple@westga.edu if there is a change in address or marching status after submission of the graduation application.

Please know that if changes are requested after the diploma order is placed, a Diploma Replacement Form and fee must be submitted to the Registrar's Office.

Grades are required for all classes taken and will be recorded on the academic transcript. This includes courses not necessarily applied to a degree. A candidate will not be certified to graduate with incomplete grades.

After the Registrar's Office receives final grades from faculty, a final audit of the student's academic record will be completed and diplomas will be ordered and issued to eligible graduates as soon as possible.   For students completing transient work at an alternate university during their final semester, official transcripts must be received by 12:00 noon on the Monday following graduation.  If transcripts are received after this date, degrees will not be awarded until the following semester.

Handicapped parking spaces at the coliseum are limited and parking reservations are not available. Guests with disabilities are encouraged to arrive at the Coliseum at least one hour prior to the ceremony. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, handicap-accessible parking, special seating, sign language interpreting, Braille or large print programs. Go to  Graduation Accommodations or contact the  Coliseum at 678-839-5105 for additional information.

The University of West Georgia awards baccalaureate degrees with honors to those undergraduates which have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on all courses attempted. Transfer students will qualify for honors if they attain an honors grade-point average on all work attempted at UWG and combined total of all courses attempted at both UWG and other institutions.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog regarding the Honors policy for further clarification. The award is based on the student's GPA at the end of the semester prior to the graduating semester. Membership in an "honor society" and wearing the respective honor cords requires obtaining them from the appropriate honor society. At commencement, UWG recognizes only honors as defined by University Policy: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude.

Graduation ceremonies are held in the UWG Coliseum. The Coliseum is a new 122,500 sq. ft sports and pubic assembly facility that is located on the backside of the main campus in Carrollton, Georgia (map). Please note that all students and guests should review our Parking and Traffic Instructions prior to arriving on campus for the ceremony. For directions to the Coliseum, click here, and for a listing of area hotels and motels, visit the Carrollton Convention and Visitors Bureau web site.

Arrangements have been made with Village Photographers to photograph each graduate as they cross the stage and receive their diploma.  An individual photo will also be taken of each graduate as he or she exits the stage.  There are no fees for this service and no obligation to purchase.   Free proofs of these photos will be sent by mail and e-mail to graduates and their families approximately one week after the ceremony. 

Graduates  should register here http://villagephotographers.com/grad_form.asp  before arriving on graduation day in order to receive a free proof.  A variety of print packages are available starting at $6.95.   If you have any questions regarding photographs, please email info@villagephotographers.com.  Since professional photographs will be available, family members and guests are encouraged to remain in their seats, relax and enjoy the ceremony.

At each commencement ceremony conducted in the Coliseum, tickets will be provided to each student who applies for graduation and indicates that they will march. The tickets are distributed by the University Bookstore with the cap and gown purchase or by picking them up separately.

The reception of tickets is not an indication that the student will be graduating.  The number of tickets will differ each semester depending on the number of participating graduates.  This is in compliance with fire marshal occupancy codes.   

Every guest, including children and infants, will be required to provide a ticket upon entrance.  Each prospective marching candidate will receive 8 tickets for the ceremony.  If students need more than the allotted amount of tickets or have lost them, they may acquire these from others, but UWG will not provide extra tickets.