ETSU Fall Commencement

Times & Colleges

Due to the academic restructure on July 1, 2024, some ETSU majors have moved to a new college. All students participating in the December 2024 Commencement exercises will graduate with the college that houses their major following the restructure.

Please consult the below list to confirm which ceremony to attend: 

Saturday, December 14, 2024

10:00 A.M. Ceremony

• Quillen College of Medicine

  Biomedical Sciences
• College of Public Health

  Environmental Health
  Health Administration
  Health Sciences
  Microbiology
  Public Health
• College of Health Sciences

  Allied Health
  Cardiopulmonary Science
  Clinical Nutrition
  Counseling
  Dental Hygiene
  Human Services
  Individual, Family, & Community Sciences
  Kinesiology
  Physical Therapy
  Radiologic Science
  Rehabilitative Health Sciences
  Respiratory Therapy
  Social Work
  Speech-Language Pathology
  Sport Physiology and Performance
  Sport Science & Coach Education
• College of Arts and Sciences

  Anthropology
  Appalachian Studies
  Applied Data Science
  Art
  Biology
  Bluegrass, Old Time, & Country Music Studies
  
  
  Chemistry
  Communication & Storytelling Studies
  
  
  Criminal Justice and Criminology
  Engineering Technology
  English
  Foreign Languages
  Geosciences
  Graphic Design
  History
  Interior Architecture
  Mathematical Sciences
  Mathematics
  Music
  Philosophy
  Physics
  Political Science
  Psychology
  Public Administration
  Sociology
  
  
  Surveying and Mapping Science
  Theatre

2:30 P.M. Ceremony

• Clemmer College of Education & Human Development

  Applied Science
  Curriculum & Instruction
  Early Childhood Development
  Early Childhood Education
  Education Specialist
  Educational Leadership
  Elementary Education
  Interdisciplinary Studies
  Liberal Studies
  Reading
  School Librarianship
  Special Education
  Teacher Education
• College of Business & Technology

  Accountancy
  Brand and Media Strategy
  Business Administration
  Computer Science
  Computing
  Digital Marketing
  Digital Media
  Economics
  Finance
  Information Systems
  Management
  Marketing
  Media and Communication
  Sport and Recreation Management
  Sport Management
  Supply Chain Management
• College of Nursing

  Nursing

We will not be holding a graduation practice/rehearsal. Seating assignments will be emailed on the Monday before the ceremony.

For information about cap and gown, please review Student Regalia Information.

There will be an opportunity to buy flowers and gifts at commencement. Proceeds go to the Preview and Orientation Leader Organization (POLO), Alpha Lambda Sigma (Adult Student Honor Society), and Tao Sigma (Transfer Student Honor Society). Families and supporters have the option to purchase at the door or pre-order through this link.

Island Photography will be taking pictures of each graduate. They typically send picture proofs to the student’s email. If you have additional questions, please contact Island Photography directly. www.islandphoto.com 

Guests

Guest tickets are not required for the ceremony, and there is no limit on the number of guests per graduate. Ceremonies will last approximately 2 hours. Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate during the ceremony, and printed programs will be available for those attending in person.

Guest Entry

• Doors will open to guests 60 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony.
• Guest entrances will be on the East and West side of the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome).
• The university’s clear-bag policy will be enforced. Metal detectors will be in place and guests will be screened on entry.
• Please bring as little as possible inside the venue. This will speed up the entry procedure and reduce chances of lines.

Seating

• Guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Accessible seating is available for those with mobility restrictions. Please go to the Disability Services tab for more information.
• For safety reasons, guests are to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony.
• Aisles and passageways are to be kept open at all times.

Guest Exit

• Commencement closes with a recessional. Please remain seated until after the recessional is completed. 
• Guests are encouraged to meet their graduates outside, in the parking garage, or elsewhere after the ceremony.
• Please do not require graduates to leave the ceremony before it ends.

Graduates

Graduate Entry 

• Doors will open for graduates 60 minutes before the ceremony start time.
• Graduates should enter from the West side of the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome) through the center doors on the ground level.
• The university’s clear-bag policy will be enforced. Metal detectors will be in place and graduates will be screened on entry.
• Please bring as little as possible inside the venue. This will speed up the entry procedure and reduce chances of lines.
• Once inside the venue, graduates should find their seats before connecting with friends and faculty.

Graduate Attire

• Please arrive wearing academic regalia.
• Commencement is a formal, dignified event, so wear your best underneath your academic regalia.
• Avoid wearing shoes that are difficult to walk in or can cause you to trip and fall.

Ceremony information

• For safety reasons, graduates are to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony. Aisles are to be kept open at all times.
• Staff will lead you to the stage when it is time. Please stay in line, in the order you were seated.
• All graduates will proceed up a ADA-compliant ramp leading to the stage.
• As your name is read, please cross the stage.
• Doctoral candidates will be hooded by a college representative. 
• You will receive a diploma tube, President Noland will shake your hand, then please make your way off the stage.
• Staff will direct you to stand for a formal photograph and then return to your seat.

Graduate Exit

• Commencement closes with a recessional. Please remain in your place until after the recessional is completed. 
• Make sure to plan a spot outdoors to meet your family following the ceremony.

Doctoral Candidate Instructions

• As you approach the stage, please carry your hood draped over your right forearm.
• Once on the stage, your hooder will take the hood from you. Stand in front of your hooder and face the audience.
• The hooder will open the hood and place it over your head where it will come to rest at your collar, draping the length of the hood down your back. (Depending on your height, you may need to stoop slightly.) Smile and enjoy the moment.
• You will turn to face your hooder and thank them. This is a special moment to acknowledge the mentoring relationship you have shared with your hooder.
• You will proceed across the stage to receive your diploma tube, shake hands with the President and go down the ramp at the opposite side from which you approached.
• Staff will direct you to stand for a formal photograph and then return to your seat.
• Commencement closes with a recessional. Please remain in your place until after the recessional is completed.
• Make sure to plan a spot outdoors to meet your family following the ceremony.

Faculty

Faculty are encouraged to attend commencement and celebrate with their students. There is no need to RSVP. Below are detailed instructions for the day.

Faculty Entry

• Please arrive wearing your regalia and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
• Faculty should enter on the west side of the Mini-dome through the doors on the ground level facing the parking garage. There will be a sign above the door marked “Faculty.”
• The university’s clear-bag policy will be enforced. Metal detectors will be in place and guests will be screened on entry.
• Please bring as little as possible inside the venue. This will speed up the entry procedure and reduce the chances of lines.

Faculty Procession

• Please report to Gordon Ball basketball court, room W101, at least 15 minutes prior to ceremony start time.
• Faculty will line up by college in the hallway 10 minutes prior to ceremony start time.
• The procession will enter the field through the Southwest doors and process down the first aisle to the faculty seating area. Banner carriers will continue to the stage to post the banners. Staff will direct those hooding to a special reserved seating area. All other faculty will be seated by college. Staff will be on hand to give the cue for when to enter and where to go.
• Please be sure to turn off your cell phone before the ceremony begins.

 Hooding

• Faculty who are hooding should check in with the hooding coordinator upon arrival to the Gordon Ball basketball court.
• At the appropriate time during the ceremony those hooding will be prompted to line up and will be guided by staff to the stage entrance. They will go up the graduate entrance ramp and stand on the designated spot on stage. Graduates will take turns to be hooded. Faculty will hood each of their respective graduates, then exit the stage, and return to their seats.

 Post-ceremony

• At the close of the ceremony, the platform party will process back through the central aisle. We request that all faculty and students stay through the end of the ceremony until after the platform party recesses.

Commencement Hooding Instructions

Parking

• Guests can park at any of the campus parking garages or parking lots adjacent to the mini-dome.
• Parking is also provided on levels 3-6 of The James and Nellie Brinkley Center Parking Garage. There is a pedestrian bridge leading from the James and Nellie Brinkley Center to the entrance of the mini-dome.
• For more information about accessible parking locations, please go to the ETSU accessibility map.

Parking and Drop-off Map

Disability Services

There is limited disability-accessible guest seating on the gym floor. This area is available on a first come, first serve basis. Only one person in each party will be allowed to sit with the guest requiring accommodations. Other guests will be directed to sit in the stands.

A portion of the ETSU Parking Garage will be designated for disability parking. Proper credentials are needed to access this area. There is also a drop-off area at the intersection of State of Franklin Road and Harris Drive.

Please click here for a Parking and Drop-off Map.

ASL sign language interpreters will be present for each ceremony and closed captioning will be featured on screens. Students will cross an ADA-compliant ramp to reach the stage. Graduating students who need accommodations during the ceremony should contact disabilityservices@etsu.edu.

Etiquette, Protocols, & Security

By tradition, the ETSU Commencement Ceremony is a formal, dignified event to honor the achievements of graduating students. To help preserve the decorum of the event, it is requested that guests and graduates exercise etiquette appropriate to the occasion. We ask that you please observe the following:

• Be on time: Please plan to arrive on campus one hour before the ceremony starts. This will give you enough time to park and walk to the ceremony venue.
• Cell phones should be turned off or operated in silent mode during the ceremony. Do not speak on a cell phone or carry on a conversation during the ceremony as this prevents others from hearing and enjoying the ceremony.
• Be respectful: Commencement is both a joyous and solemn event. Please express your excitement in ways that will not prevent others from hearing the speaker, seeing the stage, and enjoying the ceremony.
• Remain through the full ceremony: As a courtesy to all graduates and families, everyone is requested to remain until the conclusion of the ceremony.

Public Safety

For safety reasons, guests and graduates are to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony. Aisles and passageways are to be kept open at all times. Only graduates, faculty and commencement personnel will be permitted in graduate areas.

Security

The university’s clear-bag policy will be enforced. Metal detectors will be in place and guests will be screened on entry. There is no need to empty pockets before passing through the metal detectors.

Allowed:

• Guests will be allowed to enter the stadium with one clear plastic bag.
• Small clutch purses no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches (approximately the size of a hand). May include handle or strap.
• Mobile phones, binoculars and cameras
• Diapers and necessary items for babies and young children
• Medically necessary items that must be carried in a specific bag. The bag can be non-clear and will need to be sized proportionately to the size of the medical items.
• Umbrella strollers
• A clear sealed plastic bottle of water. Concession stands will not be open.

Prohibited Items:

• Glass
• Balloons, confetti and silly string
• Non-clear bags of any size, except as listed for medically necessary items
• Alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco products
• Outside food, snacks, beverages
• Open umbrellas
• Selfie sticks
• Unmanned aircraft or drones
• Wrapped parcels or presents
• Weapons, including pocket knives
• Skate boards, hover boards or Segways
• Artificial noisemakers
• Large strollers
• Posters and signage
• Pets or animals of any kind, with exception of documented service animals. 

ETSU is a tobacco-free campus. Smoking/vaping is not allowed on the premises.

All bags and patrons subject to search. ETSU reserves the right to eject patrons for failure to adhere to policies and/or unruly and unlawful behavior.