Auburn to celebrate more than 5,000 graduates during spring commencement ceremonies
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1. Ceremony times and location.
College ceremonies take place from May 3-6 inside Neville Arena on the following days/times:
Friday, May 3
5:00 P.M., Graduate School (All PhD and Masters)
Saturday, May 4
8:00 A.M., Colleges of Agriculture, Architecture, Design and Construction, Human Sciences, and Nursing
1:00 P.M., College of Education, Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, and Sciences and Mathematics
6:00 P.M., Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Sunday, May 5
1:00 P.M., College of Liberal Arts
6:00 P.M., Harbert College of Business
Monday, May 6
1:00 P.M., Harrison College of Pharmacy
6:00 P.M., College of Veterinary Medicine
2. What time you need to arrive.
Doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony. Graduates should plan to arrive no later than one hour before your ceremony starts. You'll enter through the main student entrance and pick up you name card before entering the floor. Your guests will enter through the main doors to Neville Arena (the Scholarship Entrance is reserved only for those with ADA needs). Remember, everyone must go through security before entering Neville Arena.
3. Where to pick up your cap, gown and honor cord.
You can pick up regalia orders at the University Bookstore now through Saturday, May 4 at 4:45 P.M. If you still need regalia, contact the bookstore. Graduates who have earned honor cords can request one when you pick up your regalia. All caps and gowns are keepsakes and do not need to be returned.
Someone else may pick up your regalia. The graduate must send written permission for the person picking up their regalia and a photo ID must be presented.
4. Where to park for the ceremonies.
Auburn's commencement weekend is full of activities that will bring lots of visitors to campus. Graduates and guests attending commencement are advised to park in the lots located on the west side of campus, close to the Village Residence Halls. A map of suggested parking lots is available here.
5. Where to find your friends and family after the ceremony.
Once the ceremony ends, graduates can find your friends and family at the Meet-Up Tent (located in the Arena parking lot), pick up some official 2024 graduate swag, and take pictures!
6. How to download and print your commencement tickets.
Graduates with reserved tickets can download and print them directly from Audience View up until their ceremony. We recommend downloading or printing tickets in advance (not compatible with Apple Wallet) to ensure quicker entry into Neville Arena. Additional ticket information is available on the commencement website, or graduates can email gradticketsupport@auburn.edu with questions. Remember, tickets are ceremony-specific and cannot be scanned more than once.
7. What to bring with you.
Graduates cannot bring bags onto the floor; only a cell phone is permitted. Guests MUST ADHERE TO THE CLEAR BAG POLICY. We don't want anyone to have to walk back to their cars, so please remind your family and friends that bags/purses larger than 4" x 6", camera bags, and backpacks are not allowed. Guests can check bags for $5. A complete list of prohibited items is available here.
8. What to wear.
Graduate attire should be appropriate for the ceremony and should not be visible under commencement gowns. While weather in Alabama can be unpredictable in early May, guests should be prepared for warmer temperatures (current forecasts predict temperatures in the mid-80s throughout the weekend).
9. Where to sit inside Neville Arena.
All graduates are seated by college. You will be told what section to sit with and can sit next to whomever you want. Be sure to take pictures with the War Damn Grad sign and in front of the Auburn seal before the ceremony!
10. What happens when you cross the stage.
As you enter Neville Arena, you will pick up your name card. You will sit with your college and walk up to the stage with your row. As you reach the top of the stage, you will hand your name card to the announcer who will read it aloud. When crossing the stage, you will receive a copy of the Auburn Creed from your dean and shake hands with President Roberts and a member of the Board of Trustees. As you exit the stage, you will take a final picture before returning to your seat.
11. How long ceremonies are expected to last.
All ceremonies are expected to last between 1.5 and 2 hours.
11. Where should family members and guests with accessibility needs be dropped off, park and enter.
Any guests who need access to ADA parking or drop-off can do so in the arena parking lot (first-come, first served; placard must be visible). Those who need access to elevators may enter through the Scholarship Entrance, located on the east side of the arena.
13. Which side to move your tassel from.
For undergraduates getting their degrees, your cap's tassel should start out on the right side and be moved to the left when it's time. Students getting a master's, doctorate, or other advanced degree should keep their tassel on the left and not move it.
14. Where to get the AU Commemorative Cord.
All graduates who attend commencement ceremonies will receive an orange and blue commemorative cord as a gift from the university!
15. Where people can watch the ceremonies.
A livestream of the ceremonies is available on the commencement website for guests who can't attend in person. The Village Dining Hall will also be open for guests without tickets to watch the livestream.
16. How to get graduation photos after the ceremony.
After commencement, you'll get an email from Grad Images with the link to purchase the photos from your college ceremony, so make sure you don't miss it. Graduates are asked to register in advance at www.gradimages.com/auburnuniversity to access photos more easily.
17. Where to take graduation pictures with Aubie.
Spring graduates can take optional photos with Aubie on Wednesday, May 1, from 1–3 P.M. and Thursday, May 2, from 10 A.M.-12 P.M. outside of the University Bookstore in Haley Center (no reservations needed). Graduates should come dressed in regalia. Photographers from GradImages, Auburn's official commencement photographers, will take all photos. This is the only opportunity for Aubie photos.
18. Where the best spots on campus are to take photos.
Every student has a favorite place on campus! The most iconic spots are, of course, Samford Lawn, Samford Hall, the front of Langdon Hall, and the Auburn Seal, but Toomer's Corner, the War Eagle wall, top of Horton-Hardgrave Hall, and Cater Hall are great photo ops too!
19. Who the commencement speakers are.
Auburn is excited to welcome two of its most distinguished alumni—seven-time Olympic Medalist, former Auburn swimmer, and Zimbabwe Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, and business icon and renowned philanthropist Phillip McWane, Chairman of McWane Industries.
20. Where to get commencement programs.
Free programs are available at the main entrances before and after the ceremonies.
21. Where to buy flowers.
Families and guests can purchase flower bouquets and leis from vendors on the main concourse.
22. When you'll get your diploma.
All graduates are handed a copy of the Auburn Creed as you walk across the stage. You'll receive your diploma in the mail 6-8 weeks after graduation.
23. How to join the Alumni Association.
Enrollment in the Auburn Alumni Association is complimentary, and all graduates can tap into the Alumni Association through alumni groups and learn about alumni events. Be sure to download the ForeverAU app!
24. Where to go with commencement questions.
If you have questions or need help with commencement-related things, contact the Commencement Office at commencement@auburn.edu.
