For Graduates

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Graduates must report to The Arena at Southlake, Box Office Entry (Lower Level-Zone 4) (view location on map), no later than 9 a.m.

Graduates will go through a security check first, then check in with Clayton State staff. At check-in, you will receive two cards:

• The COLORED card should be given to the photographer before proceeding up the ramp to the stage.
• The WHITE card should be given to the announcer as you walk across the stage.

The color of the photographer card represents your college as follows:

• PINK – College of Arts & Sciences
• YELLOW – College of Business
• ORANGE – College of Health
• GREEN – College of STEM

Immediately following check-in, graduates will enter the processional line, which is organized by college. Your colored photographer card will help you find your place in line.

All graduates must be in appropriate academic attire. Academic attire consists of the following: Cap, Gown, & Tassel.

• Master – Black gown with Clayton State gold seal on both tabs, black cap, and appropriate hood & tassel. Your tassel will be on your LEFT.
• Baccalaureate – Blue gown with Clayton State orange seal on both tabs, blue cap, and tassel. Your tassel will be on your RIGHT.
• Associate – Blue gown with Clayton State white seal on both tabs, blue cap, and tassel. Your tassel will be on your RIGHT.

Please inform your guests the primary entrance into The Arena is Gate C (view location on map). Guests should be seated no later than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony. Late arrivals will be seated at the discretion of the ushers.

Your family and friends may view the ceremony via the live stream.

Disability accommodation can be provided upon request for graduates and guests with disabilities. To request accommodations, please complete the event accommodation request form on the Disability Services website or contact Disability Services at (678) 466-5445. 

We will not have a place to store valuables during the ceremony. Please make other arrangements for your personal belongings, including purses and keys.

Please read the security and allowed items policy.

Clayton State University strives to recognize the exemplary accomplishments of our graduates. Students who are qualified members of nationally recognized honor societies or nationally recognized registered student organizations (for example, fraternities and sororities) that are recognized by the institution during their studies at Clayton State University have been granted authorization to wear regalia from those organizations during the commencement ceremonies.

The only types of regalia items that may be approved are honor cords or stoles. If you have a question regarding regalia for a specific organization, please email the Department of Laker Life. Please note that all regalia requirements as specified by the Registrar’s Office for graduation should be followed and supersede additional student organization regalia requirements.

Students may wear the appropriate symbol of membership in the following organizations:

• Students graduating with Academic Honors (GPA) from Clayton State – Gold Honor Cord
• Honors Program – Gold Medallion
• Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) First Generation Student Honor Society – Navy blue and silver cords
• Alpha Kappa Alpha – Pink and green stole
• Alpha Lambda Delta, The Honor Society for First-Year Academic Success – Burgundy, gold, and white stole or cord
• Alpha Phi Alpha – Black and gold stole
• Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity – Blue and gold
• American Medical Student Association – Royal blue and gold cord
• Clayton State University Athletes – Orange stole
• Delta Sigma Theta – Red and white stole
• Kappa Alpha Psi – Red and white stole
• Learning Assistant Program – Green and white cord
• Military Veterans – Red, white, and blue cord or stole
• Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity – Purple and white graduation stoles and cords
• National Student Nurses Association (SNA) – Blue and white cord or blue and orange cord
• Phi Beta Sigma – Blue and white stole
• Psi Chi International Honor Society – Blue and white cord, gray, blue, and white stole, or black medallion
• Sigma Alpha Pi, National Society of Leadership and Success – Black and white stole and cords; gray/silver and/or red stole or cords
• Sigma Gamma Rho – Blue and yellow stole
• Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society – Purple and white stole
• Society for Human Resource Management – Navy blue, light blue, and white stole, cord, or medallion
• Student Government Association – Royal blue and red cords
• Zeta Phi Beta – Blue and white stole

Unauthorized ornamentation is prohibited. If your item is not listed above, it may not be worn during the ceremony. If any university official deems the attire to be inappropriate, the student will be asked to remove the unapproved item, or the student may be denied participation in the graduation ceremony.