Primary updates to share this week include 1) a more defined schedule of ceremonies with a contingency date for severe weather, 2) emerging deadlines, and 3) an email announcement from Office of the President to students who have applied for graduation.
* NOTE: Of particular importance to our graduating students who wish to participate in commencement is a firm deadline established for their graduation petition and for their commencement reservation: Friday, April 2. Please encourage these graduating students to visit commencement.highlands.edu for updates most relevant to them.
Save the Date:
2021 Commencement Ceremonies
Thursday, May 13th • 10am and 6pm
***
Nursing Pinning & Commencement
Thursday, May 13th • 3pm
(for nursing graduates only)
***
Friday, May 14th (severe weather contingency date)
***
Outside Ceremonies – Floyd Campus Grounds
***
IMPORTANT DATES AT A GLANCE:
03/18/21 – Deadline for faculty to submit votes for 2021 Mace Bearer (re: Karen Yerkes email dated 03/04/21)
03/26/21 – Deadline for graduating students to submit orders for cap and gown from GHC Bookstore (extended deadline from an earlier date to accommodate 2021 commencement planning)
04/02/21 – Deadline for students to submit graduation petition
04/02/21 – Deadline for students to submit commencement reservation
04/02/21 – Deadline for faculty to submit orders for regalia rental
Check for weekly updates in Friday posts of GHC Inform!
For questions related to commencement planning, email Graduation2021@highlands.edu
From the President’s Office on March 4th to GHC students applied for graduation:
For the first time in many years, the Georgia Highlands College commencement ceremony will return to the Floyd Campus. This is both timely and meaningful in tradition as outlined in the closing below.
GHC’s highest priority has been – and will remain – the safety of our students and of our faculty, staff, and guests. Holding an in-person, outdoor event with limited seating gives GHC the flexibility needed to ensure 2021 Commencement Ceremonies are implemented with GHC’s campus guidelines at the forefront of planning and execution.
Implementing smaller, in-person commencement ceremonies during COVID-19 will require careful planning and consideration. For now, please save the dates below as we look forward to celebrating the Georgia Highlands College Class of 2021.
Save the Date!
2021 Commencement Ceremonies
Thursday, May 13th • 10am and 6pm
IMPORANT NOTE: Due to strictly limited seating, graduate participation at an in-person ceremony will require a reservation. The online reservation form will be available
March 22 – April 2 at commencement.highlands.edu
Walk-ins without a reservation will be prohibited from participation.
Thursday, May 13th • 3pm – Nursing Pinning & Commencement
(for nursing graduates only)
Friday, May 14th (severe weather contingency date)
Eligibility to participate:
- Must have successfully completed degree requirements in Fall Semester 2020 / Spring Semester 2021.
- Must have applied for graduation by April 2, 2021.
- Must have completed the online reservation form by April 2, 2021.
Guest Tickets:
In accordance with COVID guidelines, seating will be strictly limited. Each graduate may request up to four guest tickets for their designated ceremony. More information about guest tickets will be emailed closer to the event date. Note that commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed to accommodate greater guest celebrations!
Regalia: Deadline to place graduate cap and gown orders from the GHC Bookstore is March 26, 2021.
| IMPORTANT DATES AT A GLANCE | |
| 03/22/21, Monday | Commencement reservations open |
| 03/26/21, Friday | Deadline to place cap and gown order from GHC Bookstore |
| 04/02/21, Friday | Deadline to apply for graduation |
| 04/02/21, Friday | Deadline to make commencement reservation |
| 05/13/21, Thursday | Class of 2021 Commencement |
| 05/14/21, Friday | Severe weather contingency date |
The commencement return to campus is significant for Georgia Highlands College because our very first graduate was given a special commencement ceremony in the president’s office on the Floyd Campus in 1971. In remembering the celebration of our first graduate’s success at the original GHC location, it is a good time to mark this as a new tradition as GHC concludes celebrating its 50th year and moves into the next 50 years.
We look forward to celebrating your big day!
Sincerely,
Office of the President
& GHC Graduation Committee
Georgia Highlands College
P.S. All these details and more can be found at commencement.highlands.edu