Class of 2020 Commencement FAQs

Regalia for Class of 2020 was mailed to students in spring, 2020.

Academic honor cords were mailed to eligible students in spring, 2020.

Blue tassels were mailed to participating Class of 2020 graduates in spring, 2020.

This year’s Baccalaureate service for both the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 will be a pre-recorded video streamed live on spelman.edu, Facebook and YouTube on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 3 p.m. There will not be an in-person Baccalaureate service this year.

Actress and scholar-activist Danai Gurira will serve as the commencement speaker for the class of 2020, and the National Community Service award recipient will be award-winning playwright and Golden Girl alumna, Pearl Cleage, C'71. Read More. 

Grad Images is proud to be your official graduation photographer. Proofs of your photos will be sent via email the week after your Commencement. You can also view and order your images directly online a few days after the ceremony.

Uplifting our traditions is of utmost concern to the Office of Alumnae Engagement. Therefore, through our research and efforts to explore a virtual March Through the Alumnae Arch, it has been determined that this activity does not translate well in a virtual space. The decision has been made to host this tradition when we are able to safely meet face-to-face, with plans being made for May 2022. There will be an opportunity for reunioners and graduating seniors to interact with the Alumnae Arch through the creation of customized digital images. Please watch the Spelman College Reunion web page for details: www.spelman.edu/reunion. 

Senior fees are assessed for all degree candidates who apply for graduation. These fees offset a portion of the total cost of Commencement events, activities, and services. Some costs include, but are not limited to, caps and gowns, diplomas and diploma covers, graduation week activities, senior portraits, and the graduation venue.

Because of the significant delays in scheduling the Class of 2020 Commencement in-person ceremonies, graduates are offered the opportunity to request a partial refund. The request must be submitted by March 1, 2021. Information was sent to eligible graduates via email.

Spelman has a limited number of hotel options for Commencement. Please view our list of hotels.

Spelman will not be able to offer lodging in Spelman campus housing for graduates or their guests during Commencement weekend activities.

The Commencement exercise will be held at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, which is an outdoor venue. This will be a rain or shine event, so all attendees should be weather aware and plan accordingly. Ponchos are suggested as umbrellas are not permitted in the stadium

The official attire for Commencement is black, closed-toe, comfortable shoes, flesh-tone stockings, an uninterrupted white dress, with the black robe, cap/mortar board and tassel.  All honor cords should be worn, if applicable. Sharp heels are discouraged as you will be walking on the athletic field at Georgia Tech. 

It may be a little warmer on the field, so it is strongly recommended that you wear light, sleeveless attire under your regalia. No shade covering will be available on the filed. Drink ample amount of water days leading up to Commencement to ensure you are properly hydrated. 

Here is the White Attire Tradition for your reference.

Each graduate will receive 6 electronic tickets. More details will be available closer to the event date.

Tickets will be distributed electronically via email during a specified time period determined by the Registrar’s Office. Updates will be shared via the Commencement web page.

We are in the process of finalizing our policy regarding assigned seats for the stadium.

Tickets are required for the Commencement ceremony. As more specific information becomes available, we will provide updates on the Commencement page.

Tickets are not required for children under the age of 2 who will be seated in an adult’s lap for the duration of the ceremony. Per the Fulton County Fire Marshal, children older than 2 years must have a guest ticket to attend.

Unfortunately, no. All ticket requests must come from the graduate. The Registrar’s Office is unable to track any individual ticket requests .

The ceremony will be streamed live on the Spelman’s website – www.spelman.edu.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to accommodate requests for extra tickets. However, the event will be livestreamed at www.spelman.edu, so that family, friends, and supporters can celebrate with you wherever they may be.

The venue will open to guests approximately 60 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.

Yes. Family and friends may view our ceremony online through our live webcast. Information will appear on our website, www.spelman.edu, the week prior to the ceremony.

Yes, prior to the ceremony. No outside food or beverages are allowed.

The ceremony is expected to last 2 – 2.5 hours.

To create a safe ceremony for our graduates and guests, we are following recommended COVID safety guidelines for events. This includes:

• Hosting our ceremony outside
• Seating all graduates six feet apart and providing seating clusters for guests that are six feet apart
• Increased stadium cleaning and disinfecting high touch points
• Limiting touch points with mobile ticketing, contactless entry, and a digital Commencement program
• Requiring face coverings

Face coverings are required for entry into the stadium for graduates and all guests. These must be worn for the duration of the event unless you are actively eating or drinking in your seat.

Approved face coverings must be made with at least two layers of breathable material, fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin, fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face and be secured to allow the guest to not have to keep the covering in place with his/her hands.

Based on guidance from health officials, open-chin triangle bandanas and/or face coverings containing valves, mesh material and or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings. Additionally, costume masks are also not considered appropriate face coverings and are prohibited from being worn inside Bobby Dodd Stadium.

All graduates and guests are encouraged to test at a site provided by your state's Department of Public Health.

 

ADA seating is at the top of Sections 100 through 111 and in Section 115. All of our ADA seating is located on concourse level, looking down on the stage. We are unable to accommodate any guests with wheelchairs on the field.

We do not enforce a strict limit, as we recognize different families have different needs. Each ADA request will receive one companion seat. However, we ask that guests do not request more than they need to help us accommodate as many people as possible. Companions may be relocated within the ADA section to help us accommodate ADA guests.

No, unfortunately, we do not have any at the venue. Please read our Commencement page for suggestions on how to rent one from a third-party vendor.

Each guest is allowed to bring in one (1) 1-gallon clear/reseal able “Ziploc” style bag ONLY. ALL other bags are prohibited from Bobby Dodd Stadium (including clear bags and small clutch bags previously permitted as a part of the bag policy). Exceptions will continue to be made for medical and/or diaper bags – guests with medical and/or diaper bags must request an individual inspection from the gate supervisor.

Additionally, each guest can bring in one (1) sealed bottle of water (up to 1 liter) and a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer (3 oz).

The following items ARE PERMITTED to enter Bobby Dodd Stadium
Game Tickets
Service Animals
Sunscreen lotion
Binoculars Banners, signs & flags without sticks or poles (no larger than 3′ x 5′)
Blankets (non-electric/non battery-powered)
Stadium Seats (chair-backs/seat-backs/seat cushions) WITHOUT arms, pockets, compartments, and/or covers
Medical Assistance Devices
Breast Pumps & Supplies
Baby food (with child in arms)

The following bags:
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)

An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate by respective gate supervisor.

What items are not allowed in the venue?
The following items ARE PROHIBITED from entering Bobby Dodd Stadium
Beverages
Food
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco (including smokeless and e-cigarettes)
Aerosol cans / sprays
Cans
Coolers or ice chests
Thermos/metal bottles
TVs
Ice bags
Bags (not compliant with Clear-Bag Policy; see Prohibited Bags list below)
Horns or other noisemakers (bells, whistles, etc.)
Laser pointers
Video cameras
Selfie sticks
Cameras with lenses longer than 4″
Sticks or flag poles
Flags or banners larger than 3′ x 5′
Pets/Therapy animals
Weapons, including those carried with a permit
Fireworks or other explosives
Illegal drugs
Strollers
Personal transportation devices (skateboards, hover boards, scooters, etc.)
Inflated balls of any type
Stadium seats (chair-backs/seat-backs/seat cushions) WITH arms, pockets, compartments, and/or covers
Umbrellas
Electric/battery-powered blankets
Personal heaters
Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by security or game management

Prohibited Bags:
Backpacks of any type
Printed pattern plastic bag
Fanny pack
Purse
Grocery bag
Duffel bag
Large tote bag
Camera case
Computer bag
Binoculars case
Cinch backpack
Colored plastic storage bag
Any other bags deemed non-compliant by security or event management