On March 21, Piedmont University announced that each undergraduate senior walking across the stage this spring would be allowed only six tickets for their graduation guests, a decrease from the assumed 10 tickets. In the five days since, students and parents have expressed outrage at the decision.
On March 26, at 10:05 a.m. via the Piedmont app, an update from the university’s Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs about the Spring Commencement Ceremony in response to the six ticket rule reads as follows:
“To accommodate the many guests and friends of our 2024 graduates, Piedmont will plan to hold Spring Commencement on the Quad, weather permitting. Seating will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
However, graduates must keep their guest tickets, as in the case of inclement weather, graduation will return to the Mize, and entrance will be by ticket only.
We will confirm the graduation location on Thursday, May 9, by noon. We will communicate the final graduation location to students and families through student email, the Piedmont app, and the Piedmont Parent’s Facebook page.”
While the updated location may solve the concern over limited attendance, the announcement has left more questions than answers for some.
“I don’t know how seating is going to work, just because the Quad is so weirdly shaped with the hill in the middle of it,” said senior sports communications major Silas Sandles. “It’ll be interesting to see how they go about trying to accommodate everybody’s needs.”
The Roar reached out to a Piedmont University representative with follow-up questions regarding the graduation update posted on the app. Questions asked included where graduates and guests will sit, where the stage will be located, if it will still be handicap accessible and if other venues were considered for the ceremony.
The response from a Piedmont representative was as follows:
“After numerous conversations and looking at various options, the decision was made this morning to move the ceremony to the Quad, weather permitting. As the Quad is open space, there will be ample room for faculty, graduates, and our guests. Handicap accessibility is available. Further details are still being worked out, and we will provide additional information as it is available.”
The Roar felt a follow-up email was necessary to receive clearer answers regarding the questions that were asked. More specific questions were asked, including if Habersham Central High School was considered and, if not, why it was not considered.
The Piedmont representative replied with:
“As stated below, various options were discussed. It was determined the Quad was the best option. We continue to seek ways to improve everything we do for our university community, and this includes future graduations. I have nothing else to add at this time.”
Students have expressed concern about the Quad’s size, the placement of parents and guests, and limited parking.
“The Quad is not that big. That’s a lot of people to have. I don’t think they can fit that in the Quad,” said senior applied health science major Brady McGuire.
Although many students still have concerns about graduation being held in the Quad, other students have expressed their gratitude to Piedmont and the update given.
“I was excited to hear about it and excited to see that they posted about it. It’s great that they’ve decided to change the location,” said Sandles.
The graduate student ceremony will also be held at the Quad at 1 p.m., after the undergraduate ceremony, weather permitting.
Spring Commencement for undergraduate seniors will be May 10, at 9 a.m. at the Piedmont University Quad, weather permitting. Keep up to date with graduation and all Piedmont news at piedmontroar.com.
