Commencement FAQs

Monday, May 18, 2026

Georgia World Congress Center 
285 Andrew Young International Blvd 
Atlanta, GA 30313

10:00 A.M.

Class of 2026 Includes the following graduating students:

• Summer 2025
• Fall 2025
• Spring 2026

Debbie Kaye Allen

Actress, Producer, Director, Choreographer, 
Educator, Cultural Icon

Class of 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026

Vivian Wilson Henderson Health and Physical Education Center
Leonidas Epps Gymnasium 
11:00 A.M.

A Baccalaureate Service is a celebration that honors a graduating senior class from a college/university. The event is typically a Christianity-based interdenominational worship service.

Reverend Chaloea Hale, CAU, ‘06

Senior Pastor
Bethel United Methodist Church
Atlanta, GA

The Commencement Ceremony is a celebration for all students who have completed degree requirements at Clark Atlanta University.

The graduation fee is required of all graduating students regardless of participation in the ceremony.

The graduation fee $300.00. This fee assists with administrative costs of graduation.

The graduation fee is non-refundable.

NOTE:  

• Per the official Clark Atlanta University policy, undergraduate students may participate in Commencement activities if all courses are scheduled to be completed by the end of the spring term. 
• Graduate students must have completed all requirements to participate.
• Please do not have family and friends proceed with flight arrangements and/or any plans to attend the ceremony until you have met requirements to participate in the ceremony.
  • If the status in Degree Works is DR, Under Departmental Review, please check with departmental chair or advisor.
  • If the status in Degree Works is AP, Applied, the student is on track to graduate pending the successful completion of all academic requirements and course credits as delineated in the application. 
    • Also, applied indicates that the student is eligible to participate in Commencement Activities 2026.
    • Students with account balances and library holds are not eligible to participate.
  • If the status in Degree Works is AW, Awarded, the student is eligible to participate in Commencement Activities.
  • If the status in Degree Works is NR, Not Ready,  please check with departmental chair or advisor to ascertain the additional requirements needed to meet graduation requirements as this indicates that you are not eligible to participate in Commencement Activities.

If the status in Degree Works is RV, Revoked, the student is not eligible to participate in Commencement Activities.

Financial holds and library holds were due by April 1, 2026.  If you still have a balance you must contact the Office of Student Accounts immediately.

The venue will be open for Graduating scholars at 8:00 A.M.  The designated gathering area is located in Exhibition Hall A.

Venue doors will open at 8:00 A.M. for seating.

The doors will close at 9:15 a.m.

Tickets are not needed for the 37th Commencement Convocation.

Seats cannot be reserved nor can they be held

A link for the ceremonies will be posted and accessed online at www.cau.edu. The Panther Chatbot will also provide the link.

The processional will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Guests may take their own photos; however, guests must remain seated and do not block the aisles or view of other guests. This is not only to keep the ceremony running on schedule, but is also for the safety and convenience of all attendees.

A professional photographer has been hired to take individual pictures of each student accepting their diploma cover from the President. Graduation pictures may be ordered online at www.curtismcdowell.com.

OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC REGALIA must be worn during Commencement Convocation with comfortable black shoes.

DRESS CODE FOR PARTICIPATING Candidates for Graduation.

• Males:  Black pants, white dress shirts, dark ties (black), black shoes.
• Females:  Black dresses or skirt and pant suits black shoes.
• No unauthorized costume or ornamentation shall be worn during the commencement ceremonies. 
• Candidates will not be able to participate in commencement ceremonies if academic apparel is altered in any way.

CAU graduating students have the following option for receiving official academic regalia:

• If the final deadline of April 24, 2026 was missed, extra regalia will be available in the CAU Bookstore beginning May 6, 2026.  
• Supplies will be limited.

For more information, contact the local HJ grad specialist:

MESSIER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
678.240.9283
Messier.Assoc@herffjones.com
Shop online at
Herff.ly/cau

Salute to Graduating Scholars:
Thursday, May 14, 2025
5:30 P.M. 
Vivian Wilson Henderson Health and Physical Education Center
Leonidas S. Epps Gymnasium

The Salute to Graduates is a reception honoring all graduating students. The top honors are recognized. Honor cords and medallions are presented.

Honor cords will be distributed at the “The Salute to Graduating Scholars” Thursday, May 14, 2026. 

 In recognition of superior scholarship, the faculty of Clark Atlanta University approves candidates for undergraduate baccalaureate degrees to receive Latin Honors. Students who have completed a minimum of sixty-six (66) semester hours while enrolled at the University with the following cumulative grade point averages are eligible to graduate with Latin Honors.

• Cum Laude (with distinction) – 3.25 but below 3.50,
• Magna Cum Laude (with great distinction) – 3.50 but below 3.80,
• Summa Cum Laude (with highest distinction) – 3.80 +

Latin Honors are based on cumulative grade point averages and semester hours earned fall semester prior to spring commencement. Only grades earned at Clark Atlanta University will be used in the GPA calculations for awarding Latin Honors. Latin honors are noted on the diploma and published in the Commencement program.

Transfer students with a minimum 3.25 cumulative CAU GPA who do not meet the minimum credit requirement for Latin Honors will be listed on the Honor Roll published in the Commencement program.

Graduate students with a 4.0 cumulative CAU GPA will be listed on the Graduate Student Honor Roll published in the Commencement Program.

In the selection of the class valedictorian and salutatorian, all credits earned, whether earned at Clark Atlanta University; in transient status; or transferred in from another institution will be included in the GPA calculation.

Students with highest number quality points, time to completion of degree, along with earning all credits attempted will be considered for valedictorian and salutatorian.

Students selected as class valedictorian and salutatorian must not have earned a final grade below “C.”

Courses may not have been repeated for qualifying for the graduation honor as valedictorian and salutatorian.

Students who satisfy degree requirement for the BA/MA and or BS/MS degrees may qualify for honor based on the undergraduate (baccalaureate) GPA.

Students selected as class valedictorian and salutatorian must have completed a minimum of sixty-six (66) semester hours while enrolled at the University.

Transfer students with a 3.25 cumulative CAU GPA who do not meet the minimum credit requirement for Latin Honors will be listed on the Honor Roll published in the Commencement program.

The Hooding Ceremony at Clark Atlanta University is conducted within each school.   The ceremony is a special recognition for graduates receiving a master’s degree or a Ph.D.  Undergraduate students are recognized during the ceremony as determined by the school.  

The Hooding Ceremonies Times and Locations are listed in the Schedule of Activities.

No. The School of Arts and Sciences gives a “Recognition Celebration” to acknowledge outstanding achievement among its students. 

Students and faculty will wear formal Business Attire – dark suits and dresses.

The Hooding Ceremony of School of Business at Clark Atlanta University gives special recognition for graduates receiving a master’s degree. The candidates are individually recognized at the hooding. 

In order to participate in the Hooding and Recognition Ceremony and Commencement activities, all faculty and students must be in full regalia. Ph.D. Candidates may choose to wear either official CAU faculty-quality regalia or standard doctoral regalia. Master’s candidates may wear official CAU regalia. 

The Hooding and Recognition Ceremony in the School of Education provides the unique opportunity to celebrate outstanding achievements among students and faculty in particular collaborative accomplishments. Undergraduate students and graduate students are recognized during the ceremony. The School of Education pins all graduation candidates. Doctoral candidates are recognized; however, they are hooded and celebrated during a dedicated segment of the Clark Atlanta University Commencement Ceremony. 

In order to participate in the Hooding and Recognition Ceremony and Commencement activities, all faculty and students must be adorned in full academic regalia. Doctoral candidates may choose to wear either official CAU faculty-quality regalia or standard official standard CAU doctoral regalia.  Doctoral candidates must carry their academic hoods over their right arm during the hooding ceremony. Undergraduate and Masters’ candidate students are required to wear their academic hoods during the hooding ceremony. All undergraduate and Masters candidates must wear standard academic regalia. 

The annual hooding ceremony of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work is a symbolic ritual inducting master-level graduating students into the profession.  Undergraduate social work students are pinned, and Ph.D. candidates are recognized. 

In order to participate in the Hooding and Recognition Ceremony and Commencement activities, all faculty and students must be in full regalia. WMYJSSW Ph.D. students wear black suits or dresses. They are hooded at commencement in their regalia. Social Work Graduating Master and BSW level students are required to wear their regalia at the hooding.

Students, family members or guests with disabilities or requiring special accommodations for the Baccalaureate or Commencement Services should click on the following link to reserve seating in the designated area:

Office of Accessibility Services - Spring 2026 Commencement

Guests will be directed to the designated seating area upon arrival at each venue.

• Families must provide wheelchairs, walkers, etc.
• A family member must accompany the special-needs guest(s) to assist when necessary.

Limited Handicap Parking spaces are available. 

The University does not provide on campus lodging. 

Click here to view our Accommodations List.

Activities that will take place prior to  Commencement Week are as follows:

• Last Day of Class:  Wednesday, April, 29, 2026
• Final Exams for Graduation Candidates: Thursday – Friday, April 30 – May 1, 2026
• Graduation Information Session and : Monday, May 11, 2026

Graduation Activities & Commencement Dates are as follows:      

Monday,  May 11, 2026

Graduation Activities Overview Session
Virtual Walk-Through
(Graduating Scholars)
ZOOM Session
5:30 P.M.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Salute to Graduating Scholars
6:00 P.M. 
Vivian Wilson Henderson Health and Physical Education Center
Leonidas S. Epps Gymnasium

Hooding Ceremonies and Recognition Programs 

Friday, May 15, 2026

School of Arts & Sciences Masters and Doctoral Ceremony
11:00 A.M.
Thomas W. Cole, Jr. Research Center for Science and Technology
Delores P. Aldridge Auditorium 

Friday, May 15, 2026

School of Business Hooding Ceremony
4:00 P.M.
Thomas W. Cole, Jr. Research Center for Science and Technology
Delores P. Aldridge Auditorium 

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work Hooding Ceremony 
11:00 A.M.
Thomas W. Cole, Jr. Research Center for Science and Technology
Delores P. Aldridge Auditorium 

Saturday, May 16, 2026

School of Education Hooding and Recognition Ceremony
2:00 P.M.
Vivian Wilson Henderson Health and Physical Education Center
Leonidas S. Epps Gymnasium

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Baccalaureate Service
11:00 A.M.
Vivian Wilson Henderson Health and Physical Education Center
Leonidas Epps Gymnasium 

Note:  A Baccalaureate Service is a celebration that honors a graduating class from a college/university. The event is typically a Christianity-based interdenominational worship service, yet everyone is welcome to participate.

Class Photos

Immediately following Baccalaureate Service 

President’s Panther Passage & Reception
Immediately following Class Photos
Panther Prowl: Atlanta Student Movement Boulevard —Harkness Hall Gate
Reception Stations: Trevor Arnett Quadrangle and Freshmen Quadrangle 

Monday, May 18, 2026

Commencement Exercises
10:00 A.M.
Georgia World Congress Center
Building A
285 Andrew Young International Blvd. 
Atlanta, GA  30313

More information will follow via, emails, and ZOOM sessions.