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Commencement

Commencement

2021 Hooding Ceremony

December 2021 Graduates are invited to participate in a Georgia State Law Hooding Ceremony.

December 17th, 2021 Reserve a time

Reservations with a confirmation email are required. A grad may only reserve one hooding appointment. Additional appointments may be released once the initial times are reserved.

Prepare Before Your Date & Time

  • Reservation time slots will open on Monday, October 11th. Reservations with a confirmation email are required. A grad may only reserve one hooding appointment.
  • 8 total attendees permitted. Grads may invite 8 guests to attend their ceremony. Additional supporters may view the ceremony via the web stream links.

Wear Your Regalia & Return Your Regalia

Regalia (Cap, Gown & Hood) are required for this event.

Deadline to Purchase or Rent regalia for hooding ceremony by October 29th if you wish to pick up your regalia at the Commencement Fair.

  • You may choose to have the regalia shipped to your home address for an additional shipping fee of $12.98 by November 19th
  • Orders PLACED AFTER October 29th must be mailed to your home at the additional shipping fee charge

The final deadline for on-line cap and gown orders is November 19th at 11:59 p.m.

Return: For regalia that has been mailed to your home, please use the return shipping label. Those that have picked up regalia can return it to the designated bin at the College of Law near the exit as you leave the ceremony. You can also return your regalia to the bin located in Career Development by Friday, January 7th.

Video Streaming Links

Streaming links from previous 2021 hooding ceremonies:

Hooding Ceremony Agenda

Your hooding ceremony from check-in to departure should be around one hour. To accommodate everyone, it is critical that you arrive at your scheduled time in your regalia and follow all requirements.

Building access will be limited to the ceremony spaces, particularly the lower level Conference Center and Ceremonial Courtroom. With the highly contagious Delta variant fueling a rapid rise in COVID infections and in compliance with USG COVID-19 guidelines, we strongly encourage that everyone in attendance wear a mask throughout the event. 

Parking: T-Deck

Parking is available in the T-Deck, located at 43 Auburn Ave., Atlanta GA 30303.

Cost: $10 (cash or card)

Parking Map

Georgia State University College of Law Driving Directions

Reception Parking

Step 1: Check-in inside the Law Lobby

The entire party should arrive 15 minutes early to check-in with a Hooding Ceremony representative inside the law lobby.

Graduates should wear their regalia when they enter the College of Law building.

With the highly contagious Delta variant fueling a rapid rise in COVID infections and in compliance with USG COVID-19 guidelines, we strongly encourage that everyone in attendance wear a mask throughout the event. 

Step 2: Optional Atrium Photos

If the graduate party is early for their appointment, a COL staff member will escort the party to a designated area of the Atrium. As the party is assembling prior to the scheduled ceremony time, the group may take photos in the Atrium area only and use the restroom if needed.

With the highly contagious Delta variant fueling a rapid rise in COVID infections and in compliance with USG COVID-19 guidelines, we strongly encourage that everyone in attendance wear a mask throughout the event. 

Step 3: Conference Center Holding Room

A host will escort the entire party downstairs to the conference center to watch a celebratory message.

Building access will be limited to the ceremony spaces, particularly the lower level Conference Center and Ceremonial Courtroom. With the highly contagious Delta variant fueling a rapid rise in COVID infections and in compliance with USG COVID-19 guidelines, we strongly encourage that everyone in attendance wear a mask throughout the event. 

Step 4: Hooding in the Ceremonial Courtroom

Next, the entire party will be escorted into the Ceremonial Courtroom. Dean Reed will welcome and congratulate the graduate on behalf of the College of Law Faculty. After her remarks, she will ask a member of the faculty to stand on a small platform in the front of the courtroom to hood the graduate. All professional photos will be made available electronically as a gift from the College of Law. The party will have an opportunity to take your own photos.

Step 5: Pick up Commencement Book & Photo Information

The host will escort the entire party back to the Atrium to pick up a commencement book.

All professional photos will be made available electronically as a gift from the College of Law.

With the highly contagious Delta variant fueling a rapid rise in COVID infections and in compliance with USG COVID-19 guidelines, we strongly encourage that everyone in attendance wear a mask throughout the event. 

Step 6: Personal Photos & Exit

The host will escort the entire party to the exit the College of Law building, where a backdrop is available for group photos with personal cameras or phones.

Return Your Regalia

Regalia (Cap, Gown & Hood) are required for this event. You will need to rent your regalia from the Georgia State University Atlanta Bookstore. Please call the bookstore no later than Friday, October 29th to confirm your order. Regalia can be mailed to the graduate or picked up at the bookstore address provided below.

BOOKSTORE ADDRESS:

66 COURTLAND ST SE

GEORGIA STATE BOOK STORE

ATLANTA, GA US 30303-3021

Phone: 404-413-9700

Return: For regalia that has been mailed to your home, please use the return shipping label. Those that have picked up regalia can return it to the designated bin at the College of Law near the exit as you leave the ceremony. You can also return your regalia to the bin located in Career Development by Friday, January 7th.

Traditional Graduation Timeline

Fall Semester (at least one semester before graduation)

Fall Semester

January

January

February

February

  • Click here for a step-by-step guide to renting your regalia
  • February 19, 2021
    Regalia Early order deadline
    Regalia orders placed by February 19th will be delivered to the bookstore on or before March 19th for on-campus distribution.
  • March 29, 2021
    FINAL Regalia order deadline
    Regalia orders placed by March 29th will be delivered to the bookstore on or before April 29th for on-campus distribution.
  • Returning your Regalia: Graduates can return their regalia by either bringing it to the bookstore or by dropping it off in the designated box at the College of Law located near the exit as they leave their ceremony. The regalia must be in the packaging the graduate received it in prior to dropping it into the return box.
  • Contribute to the class gift to be recognized in the official Hooding Ceremony printed program, annual fund report, and campaign plaque.

March

March

  • Contribute to the class gift to be recognized in the official Hooding Ceremony printed program, annual fund report, and campaign plaque.
  • Commencement Invitations/Announcements are available to students that complete the Mandatory Exit Survey in Symplicity.

Mandatory Exit Survey

Georgia State University College of Law ABA & NALP Employment Reports

Georgia State Law is required to report statistics of graduates to the American Bar Association (ABA) and National Association for Law Placement (NALP). These statistics are also used to calculate ranking scores with the U.S. News & World Report and other entities. The Georgia State University College of Law’s national reputation relies on accurate and complete reporting.

All student information is reported anonymously and kept strictly confidential.

All survey fields must be completed by graduates (including salary), even if employment is outside the legal field or not yet obtained. The ABA implements secure protocols to ensure data accuracy and considers Symplicity survey entries to be the most authentic source of information.

The Center for Professional Development & Career Strategies Office will verify survey completion and and inform graduates when they can pick up their invitations. 

Questions?
lawcso@gsu.edu

April

April

May

The Spring 2020 Commencement Ceremony has been temporarily postponed.
More information will be provided as soon as it is available.

  • The College of Law building is closed to outside guests, including photographers, during Spring Finals. Please plan accordingly.

June

June

  • Degree Conferral
  • Request final/degree bearing transcripts through PAWS after conferral, for submission to the bar.

TBD - Hooding Ceremony

Hooding Ceremony

  • Check ceremony regalia to ensure all elements are included (Cap, gown, and hood).
  • Share graduation photos on Twitter & Instagram with #GSULawGrad

Parking

Parking is available for a small fee per vehicle in deck N, deck K, and deck S. ADA parking is in deck G.

Please allow at least 30 minutes for parking.

Parking Map

Commencement Parking

Guest Seating

Main level seating is first-come, first served. To avoid disruption of the event, entry will be restricted to the upper level 15 minutes before the event starts.

Tickets are not required for admission and there are no reserved seats.

Security Precautions: The Sports Arena will have their usual security protocols in place. All bags will be searched and strollers, wrapped gifts or balloons will not be allowed

Grads Check-In

Do NOT bring valuables to the ballroom.

Report in your academic regalia to the 1st Floor Student Center East Ballroom, on the corner of Gilmer and Piedmont streets.

Marilyn Crouch, College of Law registrar, will meet you and point out your position in the processional. After receiving these instructions, you will proceed to the Sports Arena for the official processional.

Ceremony Starts

Graduates will proceed to the hooding station where selected members of the faculty will affix an academic hood to your regalia. The ceremony itself will last about 90 minutes.

Reception at College of Law

Please join the law school community in congratulating this year’s graduates immediately following the commencement ceremony at the law school.

Reception Highlights

  • Food and beverages will be on the Main and Lower Level
  • There will be College of Law logo screens (“step & Repeat”) to take pictures in front located in the Lower Level Courtroom
  • Please feel free to eat and sit down in any of the rooms in the building, including the Court Room (Lower Level). Every room in the building will be open, so please feel free to sit and enjoy with family and friends.

Parking is available for free in the T-Deck, with a paid receipt from deck N, K, or S. The T parking deck is located at 43 Auburn Ave., Atlanta GA 30303.

Parking Map

Reception Parking

Regalia Return

  • If you ordered regalia in the Spring, it is ready for pick up in the bookstore.
  • If you requested a refund, your regalia is still available, however you need to coordinate payment prior to pick up.
  • If you did not order regalia in the spring and want to participate in the hooding, you need to contact the bookstore at 0570mgr@follett.com by October 9th, and provide your name and height.

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