Congratulations to our December 2023 graduates!
Commencement will be held Saturday, December 16 in the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome). Guest tickets will not be required for the ceremony, and there is no limit on the number of guests per graduate.
Printed programs will be available at each ceremony. Livestreams and digital programs will be posted on this website for those who cannot attend. - Please note that only the names of those graduates present at each ceremony will be announced from the stage.
All your Commencement Information
Times & Colleges
Saturday, December 16
Commencement will be held in the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome).
The Ballad Health Athletic Center is located on the ETSU Campus along State of Franklin
Rd.
(Physical Address: 1081 John Robert Bell Dr, Johnson City, TN 37601)
10:00 a.m. College of Arts & Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, College of Business & Technology, College of Clinical & Rehabilitative Health Sciences, and College of Pharmacy (Bachelor of Science)
2:30 p.m. Clemmer College of Education and Human Development, College of Graduate & Continuing Studies*, College of Nursing, and College of Public Health
* The programs that participate with the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies are the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Professional Studies, and Doctorate of Education in Global Sport Leadership. All other graduate level degree programs will participate with their corresponding college.
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 visit: https://www.etsu.edu/reg/graduation/studentregalia.php.
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
Ceremony Info
- Ceremonies will last approximately 2 hours.
- Students will cross an ADA-compliant ramp to reach the stage.
- Doctoral and professional students will be hooded by a college representative.
- Students will pause at the exit ramp for a formal photo.
- Graduates will return to their seats on the field after they cross the ramp.
Guest Entry
- Doors will open for guest entry 60 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony.
- Entrances will be on the East and West side of the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome) for guests.
- Please bring as little as possible inside the venue. This will speed up the entry procedure and reduce chances of lines.
- The university’s clear-bag policy will be enforced. Metal detectors will be in place and guests will be screened on entry.
- After entering the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome), guests should proceed to the seating areas.
Guest Exit
Guests are strongly encouraged to make a plan to meet their graduate outside, in the parking garage or elsewhere after the ceremony.
Graduate Info
Graduates do not need to RSVP to attend. Seating assignments will be emailed the Monday
before the ceremony. Graduates will go directly to their seats on arrival. Below are
detailed instructions for the day.
Graduate Entry
- Graduates should enter from the West side of the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini Dome) through the center doors on the ground level.
- Doors will open for graduate entry 60 minutes before the ceremony start time.
- Clear bag policy is in place. Please allow time to pass through security. For more information click on the security tab above.
- Coat rooms will not be available. Please leave non-essential items in vehicles.
- Graduates will be directed to an assigned seat on the field.
- Graduates will be asked to remain in their assigned seats unless they need to use the restroom.
Graduation
- Staff will lead you to the stage when it is time. Please stay in line, in the order you were seated.
- An ADA-compliant ramp leads up to the stage.
- As you cross the stage, your name will be read.
- The Dean of your college will hand you a diploma tube, President Noland will shake your hand, then make your way off the stage.
- Stop where staff tell you to stand for a picture.
Graduate Exit
Graduates will return to their seat on the field after crossing the stage.- At the close of the ceremony, platform party will process through the crowd. Please remain in your seat until the platform party has left the room.
- Make sure to plan a spot outdoors to meet your family following the ceremony.
Doctoral Candidate Instructions:
- Staff will lead you to the stage when it is time. Please stay in line, in the order you were seated.
- 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 your Dean who will present you with your diploma tube. You will then shake hands with the President and go down the ramp at the opposite side from which you approached.
- Stop where staff tell you to stand for a picture.
- Please return to your seat for the rest of commencement.
- At the close of the ceremony, platform party will process through the crowd. Please remain in your seat until the platform party has left the room.
- Make sure to plan a spot outdoors to meet your family following the ceremony.
Faculty Info
Faculty are encouraged to attend to celebrate with their students and are welcome to join the graduates on the floor before the ceremony. There is no need to RSVP. Below are detailed instructions for the day.
Pre-Ceremony:
- Please wear your regalia for the ceremony and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time to give time for parking and security checks.
- The clear bag policy is in place. Please leave non-essential items in vehicles to reduce security wait times. For more information about what is allowed inside, please click on the security tab above.
- 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.”
- Faculty are welcome to join students on the floor prior to the ceremony.
- 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:
Security
Clear-Bag Policy:
- Guests will be allowed to enter the stadium with one clear plastic bag.
- There is no need to empty pockets before passing through the metal detectors.
Allowed:
- 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:
- Glass
- Balloons, confetti and silly string
- Non-clear bags of any size except as listed for medically necessary items
- Drawstring bag
- Fanny pack
- Large purse mesh bag
- Oversize tote bag
- Pattern plastic bag
- Tinted plastic bag
- Backpacks of any size
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco products
- Outside food, snacks, beverages
- Open umbrellas
- Selfie sticks
- Unmanned aircraft or drones
- 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.
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.
Disability Services
ADA Parking: 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.
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.
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.
Graduating students who need accommodations for themselves during the ceremony should contact commencement@etsu.edu and we will connect you with appropriate services.