When and Where

Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony
Clarence Brown Conference Center
5450 GA-20
Cartersville, GA 30121
Thursday, December 18th, 2025
10:00AM and 2:00PM

Chattahoochee Tech offers 2 identical ceremonies at the end of the spring and fall semesters.  Students are able to choose their ceremony time and register.  If one ceremony time fills up, students will be required to choose the remaining ceremony time. Ceremonies are not divided by programs. Guest seating in the ballroom will be first come, first serve.

• 10AM ceremony – Students need to arrive, check in and be seated in the auditorium by 9:15AM for a few quick announcements before the ceremony begins. All guests need to be seated in the ballroom by 9:45AM.
• 2PM ceremony – Students need to arrive, check in and be seated in the auditorium by 1:15PM for a few quick announcements before the ceremony begins. All guests need to be seated in the ballroom by 1:45PM.

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Fees

Student will need to pay the $40 non-refundable commencement ceremony fee prior to the ceremony date. The fee is charged following the ceremony registration. If this fee is not paid, there will be a hold placed on the account and the diploma will not be mailed until paid.

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Petitions for Graduation

If you have not yet submitted your petition to graduate for the semester you are completing your program in, make sure to do that before registering for the ceremony. If you have questions about your petition or eligibility to participate in the ceremony, please visit our Graduation Requirements page or email Graduation@ChattahoocheeTech.edu.

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Tickets

Guest tickets will NOT be required for our ceremony. To ensure we have space for all students to bring guests, students are allowed to bring up to 4 guests. Guest seating is first come, first serve and if the room reaches capacity, all additional guests will be asked to wait in the lobby area.

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Attire

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.

If you do not have a black regalia set, please visit the Cap and Gown Orders page.

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Honors

The follow graduation cords will be handed out at the student check-in table on ceremony day:

• Chatt Tech College Academy’s Dual Achievement Program – white cord
• Dual Enrollment – turquoise cord
• 3.5+ GPA Honor Graduates – gold cord (*Degree and Diploma Graduates only)
• 4.0 GPA Honor Graduates – gold medallion and gold tassel (*Degree and Diploma Graduates only)
• Special Populations (non-traditional majors) – green cord
• Student Leadership Academy – gold medallion
• Veterans – red, white, and blue cord

The GPA used in determining eligibility for this honor will be the student’s current cumulative and is determined after the semester final grade roll. *Degree and diploma graduates only; certificate graduates not included. 

All cords listed above are provided by the college and will be presented to the respective graduates at the commencement check in on the day of the ceremony.

Other cords, sashes, stoles that are given to students from a college organization or academic club can be worn as well.  We will not be giving those out at our check in table. 

Honors and Recognitions

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Accessibility

Graduates who require special assistance at the commencement ceremony may contact Disability Services prior to the ceremony date.

For guests that require special assistance, the Clarence Brown Conference Center is ADA compliant. The college is unable to reserve seating for guests with special needs. Please arrive early if you have specific seating needs.

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Guests

Commencement is an exciting time for guests and graduates. Please share these details with your guests:

• Due to space limitations and the high number of graduates, each graduate is strictly limited to 4 guests. No exceptions will be made.
• Guests must enter through the main entrance and check in upon arrival.  Graduates have a separate check in location.
• No tickets are required for entry.
• Seating is first come, first served—early arrival is strongly recommended as doors open 1.5 hours before ceremony time. 
• Once the venue seating 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 15 minutes before ceremony time for the processional and will reopen after it concludes if any seating is left.
• Strollers and balloons are not permitted in the ballroom. These items may be left in the guest services area.
• Please silence cell phones.
• Guests are not permitted in the graduate auditorium; it is reserved for graduates and processing staff only.
• Prohibited Items: Artificial noisemakers including air horns, whistles, and confetti cannons.
• For additional family and friends that are not able to attend, the ceremony will be live streaming on the Chatt Tech Facebook page.

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Photography

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 free 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 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.

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