General Information
Ceremony Details
Location:
Stegeman Coliseum
Ceremony Date:
May 8, 2025
Gate Open:
6 p.m.
Ceremony Start Time:
7 p.m.
Guest tickets are not required for the Graduate Convocation.
Out of respect for graduating students, guests and Convocation speakers, everyone is expected to remain for the entire ceremony. The ceremony should not exceed 90 minutes.
In addition to the in-person ceremony, the Graduate Convocation will be streamed live on the Terry website beginning 30 minutes before the ceremony starts.
The clear bag policy is in effect for Graduate Convocation. See bag specifications.
Registration
Registration is required for graduating students to participate. Tickets are not required for guests.
Speaker
BJ Schaknowski
BJ Schaknowski is CEO of symplr, the leader in enterprise health care operations software and services. A former United States Marine, he is a 25-year veteran of the software industry, with previous leadership roles in CA Technologies, Intuit, and Sage Software. Before joining symplr, Mr. Schaknowski spent time in executive-level marketing, services and sales roles at Vertafore and LexisNexis Software Solutions. Throughout his career, he has prioritized balancing value and outcomes for employees, customers, and shareholders; he has also extended this commitment to his philanthropic work, including his work on the board of directors for Susan G. Komen. He is a member of the CNBC CEO Council as well as the Fortune CEO Initiative. He received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo and his MBA from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business.
Eligibility
All graduate students who graduated in December 2024 or expect to graduate in May, August or September 2025 are invited to participate in the 2025 Terry Graduate Convocation.
To be listed in the printed program, candidates for degrees must remove their FERPA restrictions when applying for graduation. This requirement must be completed by all graduate students expecting to graduate in the spring or summer 2025 semesters.
If you plan to participate in the Graduate Convocation and have a disability or need special assistance, please contact Jiwon Park at jiwonpark@uga.edu.
Assembly Instructions
Graduates should arrive at their designated assembly time, dressed in cap and gown. Assembly times will be provided at a later date.
In advance of the ceremony, graduates should pick a place to meet family and friends once the ceremony is completed. Leave purses, coats and other belongings with your family or friends. You will not be able to leave items in the hall or on the coliseum floor.
Check In
Smith Street Entrance
- Ph.D.
- MAcc
- MA Econ
- MBT
- MMR
- MSBA
Carlton Street Entrance
- EMBA
- OMBA
- PMBA
- FTMBA
Upon arrival, check in by your program and pick up your name card for the readers. You will take this card with you to the ceremony. Assembly lines will form in the tunnel grouped by program, followed by procession. When processing in, remain in line and avoid gaps.
As you are directed into your row of seats, be sure to fill all seats. Vacant seats in a row could mean some students will not have a place to sit. After finding your seat on the Stegeman Coliseum floor, please remain there and do not stand in the aisles.
Academic Regalia (Cap & Gown)
Graduates must wear appropriate academic regalia to participate in the Terry Graduate Convocation. Caps, gowns and hoods may be purchased online from Jostens.
Please note: If you order your academic regalia from someone other than the UGA Bookstore, the UGA Bookstore will not be able to assist you with missing or replacement items.
The velvet color on hoods worn by master’s and doctorate candidates is indicative of the academic subject area. Graduate degree candidates at Terry wear the “drab” color hood and the “black” color tassel. Candidates should wear their tassels on the right side before their degree is conferred and on the left side afterward. The mortarboard on the cap should be parallel to the ground.
Graduates should leave all belongings with family members. You will not be allowed to carry them onto the coliseum floor.
Permitted vs. Prohibited Items
Security has the right to inspect any item at any time for safety purposes. Prohibited items must be returned to cars or disposed of before entering Stegeman Coliseum and will not be accepted by employees or stored at the gates.
The Clear Bag Policy is in effect for the spring Graduate Convocation and applies to graduates and guests. Please follow the guidelines:
Permitted Items
- Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
- Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″
- Bags that contain necessary medical items, which must be inspected and approved at a designated gate
- Food items must fit inside the permitted-sized bag
- Beverages, including water, in sealed plastic bottles; must fit inside the permitted-sized bag
- Umbrellas
- Cameras and video recorders (the clear bag policy applies to camera bags)
- Strollers
Prohibited Items
- Backpacks
- Wrapped gifts or packages wherein the contents are not visible
- Alcohol beverages are not permitted at any Terry Convocation
- Glass and aluminum containers
- Tobacco: UGA is a tobacco-free campus
- Large items, such as balloons, banners and posters, flags, or amplification equipment, such as bullhorns or megaphones
Parking
Parking for Terry Graduate Convocation is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Suggested parking areas include South Campus Deck (S11), Carlton Street Deck (S15) and Foley Field Lot (S14). McPhaul Lot (S10) and Coverdell Lot (S16) are reserved for designated participants by permit only. Please do not park on sidewalks, landscaped areas, or on streets blocking traffic lanes. Improperly parked vehicles may be towed.
Parking for guests with disabilities is available in the Hoke Smith Annex Lot (S12) adjacent to Stegeman Coliseum. The main entrances to Stegeman Coliseum along Sanford Drive and Carlton Street are wheelchair accessible.
For additional parking questions, please contact Parking Services at 706‑542‑7275.
Disability Access
Visitors with disability concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early to Stegeman Coliseum. Main entrances to Stegeman Coliseum along Sanford Drive and Carlton Street are wheelchair accessible.
On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their wheelchair. Wheelchairs are commonly available for short-term rental from medical supply stores and some pharmacies.
Seating for guests in wheelchairs is very limited in Stegeman Coliseum. Disability and companion seating is along the top row of the lower level. Disability seating allows access for one person in a wheelchair and one companion. Additional family members will need to sit separately in general seating. Please plan accordingly.
Photographs, Videos, Programs & More
Professional photographs will be taken of each Terry College graduate. After Convocation, graduates may access Convocation proofs and order prints from GradImages®. Video capture of the event will be available through the college’s graduation website six to eight weeks after the event.
Convocation programs will be placed in the seats for each of the candidates. Each candidate will be recognized by name in the program using the official information on file with the University of Georgia Office of the Registrar.
Diplomas
Diplomas are mailed six to eight weeks after the official graduation date. Please see the Registrar’s Office website for complete information regarding applying to graduate and diplomas.
Welcome to the Terry Alumni Family!
Congratulations on your accomplishments! We wish you the best of success as you begin a new, exciting chapter of your life!
As a proud Terry College of Business graduate, you understand how your education at the University of Georgia laid the foundation for your success, empowering you with the skills, connections, and insights to thrive.
We invite you to join us in making a meaningful investment in the future of the Terry College. Discover how you can make a difference today and start supporting business leaders like yourself. And remember to keep in touch with us at the Terry Alumni website.