A requirement to graduate is to apply for graduation. After you apply, make sure you communicate with the Registrar's Office about participation in the ceremony, with the Financial Planning Office to complete exit counseling and with the Business Office to clear any outstanding balances.
Check your email for communication from the registrar as well.
Caps and gowns are required. See the tab below for information about purchasing your commencement regalia. Dress is business casual.
Graduates may wear cords and stoles from approved Wingate University organizations, as well as Latin honor cords distributed by the Registrar's Office. Cords and stoles are vetted and approved by the Office of the Provost and the relevant Dean's Office. Refer to the Wingate Graduation webpage for a list of approved adornments. Cap decoration is permitted, if desired. The tassel on the cap begins on the right, and you will move it to the left when you are announced as a graduate.
For approval requests or inquiries related to graduation adornments, please contact provost@wingate.edu.
Visit the Herff-Jones website to purchase your cap and gown.
Undergraduates need a bachelor's degree cap and gown.
Graduate students receiving a MAED, MAT, MBA, MASM, MPAS or MAC degree are required to have a master's gown, hood and cap.
Graduate students receiving an EdS degree need a doctoral gown, a master's hood and cap.
Students receiving a Doctor of Education, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Physical Therapy degree are required to have the doctoral gown, hood, tam and tassel set.
The University reserves the right to remove a degree candidate from the commencement ceremony if the candidate is not wearing the approved regalia as shown below. Questions regarding regalia should be emailed to commencement@wingate.edu.
Bachelor's Regalia
Black robe with twin front pleats, long sleeves and a zipper closure.
The robe should fall around mid-shin length.
Mortarboards (cap) with black tassels.
Stoles (see photo to the left) are permitted.
Master's Regalia
Please note, Master's and bachelor's regalia are different, so you cannot reuse your bachelor's regalia for your master's ceremony.
Black robe with elongated sleeve extensions draping below the wrist openings.
The robe should fall around mid-shin to ankle length.
Mortarboards (cap) with black tassels.
Master's hood matching your degree:
Accounting - Drab
Education - Light Blue
Sport Management - Sage Green
Teaching - Light Blue
Business Administration - Drab
Physician Assistant Studies - Kelly Green
Education Specialist Regalia
Black robe with bell sleeves and three chevrons on each sleeve in light blue, fine pleating velvet panels from the hemline to the center of the back, also in your discipline color.
The robe should fall at ankle length.
Master's of Education hood.
Mortarboards (cap) with light blue tassel.
Doctoral Regalia
Black robe with bell sleeves and three chevrons on each sleeve in your discipline color, fine pleating velvet panels from the hemline to the center of the back, also in your discipline colors.
The robe should fall at ankle length.
Doctoral hood (longer ands wider than master's hoods).
Mortarboards (cap) with appropriate colored tassel.
Wingate hopes you will participate in the Commencement ceremony to mark this important achievement and allow us to celebrate your milestone. However, if you choose not to attend, please notify the Office of the Registrar.
All diplomas, whether you attend Commencement or not, will be mailed 4-6 weeks after Commencement.
You can purchase your class ring online from Herff Jones, the official graduation vendor of Wingate University. You can purchase graduation announcements and diploma frames from Herff Jones. Click here to view the site to purchase.
Lyceum Series is a graduation requirement and you will not be eligible to walk in commencement, your degree will not be conferred and you will not receive a diploma if you do not complete the lyceum requirement. The Lyceum Series only applies to undergraduate students (excluding those earning a BLS degree). If you have questions about Lyceum requirements, please contact Brooke Thompson at b.thompson@wingate.edu.
Graduates are allowed to decorate their cap if they wish to do so.
On-Campus Housing Check-Out
Seniors living on-campus will receive check-out procedures via email in the coming weeks. The deadline to check-out is by 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. Seniors living on-campus should contact the Office of Residence Life at (704) 233-8245 if you have questions or concerns.
Honors Calculations
Honors listed in the Commencement program are based on your cumulative GPA from the semester before you graduate, so they may differ from your final honors. GPAs are not rounded for honors (e.g., 3.499 is not rounded to 3.500).
Your final honors are based on your final cumulative GPA and are noted on your diploma and transcript.
The honors are as follows:
Cum laude: 3.500 to 3.649 (Pharmacy and Physical Therapy: 3.50 to 3.69)
Magna cum laude: 3.650 to 3.899 (Pharmacy and Physical Therapy: 3.70 to 3.89)
Summa cum laude: 3.900 to 4.000 (Pharmacy and Physical Therapy: 3.90 to 4.00)
If you have questions about honors, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
We designate a seating area for special needs access. The designated area utilizes folding chairs, which can be easily moved to make room for a wheelchair, walker or stroller.
Guests are advised to arrive early.
Handicap parking permits are required to park in handicap spots.
Parking for commencement is available in all campus parking lots. There is no cost to park. Campus safety and other staff will be available to direct guests to Cuddy Arena. Guests are advised to arrive early.
Special Needs Parking
We are especially attentive to our guests who require a little extra help when traveling to Commencement. You or your guest must be attending Commencement and have a handicap parking permit to use handicapped parking for Commencement.
In October 2025, Rashard Johnson was named Atrium Health Navicent’s new president. Johnson leads the health system’s facilities in central Georgia, including Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center in Macon, Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Milledgeville, and Atrium Health Navicent Peach in Byron.
Johnson previously served as president of Atrium Health’s south market, successfully leading teams at several hospitals in North Carolina. He is recognized for his hands-on approach to hospital management and his collaborative leadership style.
Johnson has also served as CEO for Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital, and Emory Long Term Acute Care in the Atlanta area, and led Advocate South Suburban Hospital and Advocate Trinity Hospital in the Chicago area.
Previously, he served as vice president of operations and chief operating officer for Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands, Lakeside, and Springwoods Village Hospitals in Greater Houston, Texas. Prior to CHI St. Luke’s, Johnson served five years as the assistant vice president of support services for UT Southwestern University Hospitals and Clinics in Dallas.
Johnson earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Central Florida. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE). He also dedicates his time and talent to several nonprofit boards, including the Wingate University Board of Trustees.
