Commencement Ceremony

Submit your petition to graduate. Students must be a Summer or Fall graduate to participate.  Completing the petition doesn't automatically register you for the ceremony. This allows us to process and release your award.

Register for Commencement by Sunday, December 6^th at 5:00 PM. Registration is first come, first serve. Once a timeslot fills up, it will be closed.

All students that register for Fall Commencement will receive a confirmation email with next steps and payment information.   One week before the ceremony, a final reminder will be sent with additional details and arrival times

Pay the $50 non-refundable commencement ceremony fee in your me@ChattTech Student Portal or with a campus Cashier.

Locate the Student Accounts card and click on “Pay My Bill”. Select your term in the drop-down box and follow the steps to submit payment.

All students must wear a black regalia set (black gown, cap, tassels) to participate.

We encourage you to decorate your caps! We love to see all the creative designs.

Students can purchase their cap/gown from one of the following options:

• Marietta or North Metro bookstores (while supplies last)
• Herff Jones site:
  • Bookstore pickup order deadline: October 26, 2026
  • Home delivery (standard shipping) order deadline: November 9, 2026
  • Home delivery with rush shipping order deadline: November 20, 2026 
• Amazon (this method is great for last minute orders)

Students are able to invite up to 5 guests to the ceremony.   We will notify students in early December (once ceremony numbers are finalized) if there is room to invite more than 5 guests.

Guest tickets are not issues/required.  This is an honor system to allow all students to celebrate with their family and friends.

• Student check in begins 1 hour 30 mins before their ceremony time.
• Check in doors close 20 mins before ceremony to line up students.
• Students arriving late will be asked to wait in lobby until lineup is finalized and will be added at the end of the line.
• If you are riding with family, please make sure they drop you off at the door. See parking section!
• Guests are not permitted in the auditorium during check in. Leave all personal items in your vehicle or with family members.
• Wear comfortable shoes walking up ramps.
• Photo opportunities will be set up including professional photographers

• Due to space limitations and the high number of graduates, each graduate is strictly limited to 5 guests.
• Guests must enter through the main entrance and check in upon arrival and no tickets are required.
• Seating is first come, first served—early arrival is strongly recommended as doors open 1 hour and 30 mins before ceremony start time.
• Once the venue reaches capacity, any additional guests will not be allowed inside and will be asked to wait in the lobby and watch the live stream on the screens.
• The ballroom doors will close promptly 15 mins before ceremony time for the processional and will reopen after it concludes

• Students will receive a diploma cover during the ceremony. Official diplomas will be mailed once all audits have been completed. Expect 4 weeks for awarding/printing of awards.
• Honor cords given by the school will be handed out at check in:
  • Medallions are students with a 4.0 cumulative GPA in a degree or diploma program
  • Gold cords are the honor graduates with a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA in a degree or diploma program.
  • Red, White and Blue cords are graduates who are also veterans.
  • Teal cords are Dual Enrollment graduates.
  • White cords are our Chatt Tech Academy Dual Achievement High school graduates.
  • Gold Medallions are graduates of our Student Leadership Academy.
• Any other cords/stoles that have been given to you by an academic program, club or honor society are fine to wear during the ceremony.
• Scarves and other non academic regalia will need to be removed before the ceremony.

 

A photographer from GradImages® will be taking a candid photograph of all graduates during a special moment of recognition. One or two more photos will be taken during the ceremony in addition to the candid handshake photograph. Graduates will receive a proof of this photo via e-mail within 2 weeks after the ceremony. Graduates and guests may place orders or obtain answers to questions at www.gradimages.com or 1.800.261.2576.

Personal photographs may be taken during the commencement ceremony. However, guests and graduates may be restricted from photographing from certain areas.

Share the Livestream

Do you have family celebrating your graduation from afar? No worries—we’ve got several ways they can be part of the celebration no matter where they are. Each commencement ceremony will be livestreamed through the Chattahoochee Technical College Facebook page. 

At Chatt Tech, we want you to celebrate this milestone. Below are some ways you can show you are Chatt Tech Proud.

Spread the Joy!

Is there a college employee whose support or guidance was essential to your success? Help them experience the joy of commencement by sending them a thank you note! It only takes a minute or two to complete the form and tell them how much you appreciate them!

Share your good news!

We have some special Class of 2026 social media graphics for you to download and share. When you share those—along with pictures of how you’re celebrating commencement with classmates, family, and friends—don’t forget to include #ChattTechGrad!

You might see your post on Chatt Tech’s Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts!

Celebrate with the Class of 2026! Download the Celebration Pack and share your moment on social media.

Participation Information

Faculty are invited to celebrate our graduates through involvement in Commencement but are assigned by our Deans and Associate Dean. 

The week of the ceremony, faculty will be emailed with Commencement day reminders and instructions.

*All full-time faculty are expected to attend at least one graduation ceremony of the two that are held each academic year.

Regalia

Faculty participating in the ceremony are required to wear a black regalia gown.  Caps are not worn.

Arrival Time

Please arrive 1 hour before your scheduled ceremony time and report to the faculty staging room. 

Parking

• Parking is available at Clarence Brown Center.
• Overflow parking is available across the street at Georgia Highlands.

• There will be a shuttle to take staff and faculty from GHC to Clarence Brown.

Please park in the lot with access to Cline Smith Road.  If coming from I-75, staff and faculty should take a right on Cline Smith Rd. at the signal light before Clarence Brown.  Then take a left in the GHC parking lot. The shuttle will run back and forth until 5:30pm.

How do I get my diploma?

At the end of each semester following grade roll, all petitions are reviewed and students that meet all requirements are awarded their degrees, diplomas and/or certificates. When all awards are processed, they are uploaded into Parchment Services for sending. 

• Degrees – Students earning an Associate Degree will receive a printed copy via mail and a digital degree from Parchment.
• Diplomas – Students earning a Diploma will receive a printed copy via mail and a digital diploma from Parchment.

• Certificates - Students earning a Certificate will receive a digital certificate from Parchment. Certificate graduates (not receiving a diploma or degree) that participate in the commencement ceremony will receive a printed copy of their certificate also.

Please allow approximately 4-6 weeks for the processing and sending of all awards. Digital diplomas will be sent first with the mailed diploma following a few weeks after.

 

Looking for employment opportunities or professional attire to wear to an interview? Career Development staff are here to help!

 

Graduates that wish to continue their education in a new program can submit a Program Change Request Form. If more than three terms have passed since you graduated, you will need to submit an Application for Admission and pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.

All transcript ordering is online only.

Chattahoochee Technical College uses Parchment Transcript Services for all official transcript orders.

 

Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle.

Your connection to Chattahoochee Technical College doesn’t end when you graduate. As a Chatt Tech alumnus, you are part of a growing community of graduates who are making a difference in their careers, their communities, and beyond.

We want to stay connected with you and celebrate where your Chatt Tech journey has taken you.