Today is spring semester graduation day at UGA: graduate students at 9:30 this morning, undergrads at 7:30 tonight in the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. The undergrads in the University’s Class of ‘22 will hear from commencement speaker Ed Bastian, CEO of Atlanta-based Delta Airlines.
From UGA Today…
As CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian leads a team of 75,000 global professionals that is building the world’s premier international airline, powered by a people-driven, customer-focused culture and spirit of innovation.
Under Ed’s leadership, Delta is transforming the air travel experience with generational investments in technology, aircraft, airport facilities and, most importantly, Delta’s employees worldwide. A 23-year Delta veteran, Ed has been a critical leader in Delta’s long-term strategy and champion of putting Delta’s shared values of honesty, integrity, respect, perseverance and servant leadership at the core of every decision.
Since being named Delta’s CEO in May 2016, Ed has expanded Delta’s leading position as the world’s most reliable airline while growing its global footprint and enhancing the customer experience in the air and on the ground. During his tenure as CEO, Delta has become the world’s most awarded airline, having been named the No. 1 airline by J.D. Power; Wall Street Journal’s top U.S. airline; the top-ranking airline in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies; the most on-time global airline by FlightGlobal; the Platinum Award recipient for operational excellence by Cirium; among TIME100′s Most Influential Companies; a Glassdoor Best Place to Work; and more.
In 2018, Fortune magazine named Ed among “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” and in 2019, he was elected to the membership of the Council on Foreign Relations. Most recently, Ed was awarded for his Executive Leadership in FlightGlobal’s 2021 Airline Strategy Awards and named among the Top 10 CEOs of 2021 in Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards as a leader who excelled at supporting their people throughout a global pandemic.
Ed’s values-based leadership propelled the airline to become the industry leader and a trusted global brand, guided by empathy, humanity and devotion to service, which has served Delta well in good times and bad. He has served as a Delta leader and steered the company through the most challenging periods of the company’s history, including 9/11, bankruptcy and COVID-19.
As the world emerges from the pandemic, Delta is leading the industry in the recovery, harnessing the power of innovation and Delta’s people-focused culture to set the course for the future of travel. This post-COVID transformation will reshape the customer experience using the latest technology and be powered by our people.
When asked to sum up his job in five words, Ed’s response is: “Taking care of our people.” The answer reflects his leadership philosophy, which is based on the “virtuous circle” – if you take care of your people, they take care of your customers, whose business and loyalty allow you to reward your investors.
Ed joined Delta in 1998 as V.P. – Finance and Controller and was promoted to S.V.P. in 2000. He left Delta in 2005 and became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Acuity Brands. He returned to Delta six months later to become Chief Financial Officer, and in 2007 he was appointed to serve as Delta’s President.
Before joining Delta, Ed held senior finance positions at Frito-Lay International and Pepsi-Cola International. Ed started his career with Price Waterhouse, where he became an audit partner in its New York practice.
Ed grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He lives in Atlanta and is deeply involved in his faith, family and community.
Follow Ed on LinkedIn and Instagram for his thoughts on leadership, culture, aviation and more.
GENERAL
Ceremony Start Time: 7:30 p.m.
Gates Open: 5:30 p.m.
Guests should enter using gates 2, 4, 6, and 9.
Graduates should enter using Gate 10.
Tickets are not required for the undergraduate ceremony.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Sanford Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
Graduates should arrive by 7:00 p.m. Please be prompt.
Enter through Gate 10 from the Tate Surface lot.
Graduates will be seated by degree.
Graduates may bring a sealed bottle of water into the stadium.
SEATING CHART
Graduates are seated by degree.
VIEWING OPTIONS
In addition to viewing the ceremony in person, the undergraduate ceremony will be broadcast live on the Commencement homepage starting at 7:25 p.m.
ELIGIBILITY
Undergraduates who are eligible to complete their degrees in Spring or Summer 2022 semesters will be allowed to participate in the Spring ceremony.
For general information regarding graduation requirements, consult the UGA Bulletin. To ensure that you have met all the requirements for graduation, check with a degree program specialist in the dean’s office of your school or college. You should also be checking your progress via DegreeWorks. All undergraduates must apply to graduate for the semester in which they will take their last course(s) toward their graduation requirements using the graduation application in Athena.
GRADUATE RECOGNITION
Undergraduate degree candidates will rise with their school or college when degrees are conferred.
Degree candidates earning Latin honors will be recognized during the ceremony. Degree candidates who meet the following GPA criteria and who do not have a FERPA restriction will be noted in the Commencement program. Latin honors distinctions effective for Spring and Summer 2022 undergraduates are found below:
Latin Honors Distinction
GPA Requirement
Cum Laude
3.60–3.74
Magna Cum Laude
3.75–3.89
Summa Cum Laude
3.90–4.00
First Honor Graduates have maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average on all work attempted at the University of Georgia as well as all college-level transfer work attempted prior to or following enrollment at the University. These students are celebrated for their high standards of academic excellence and their outstanding achievements. Their regalia includes a fourragère, a braided cord worn on the shoulder.
For the purposes of the Commencement program, Latin honors recognition is based on the student’s overall undergraduate GPA going into the student’s last semester. Final Latin honors will be determined following the conclusion of the student’s last semester.
KEEPSAKES
Programs
Digital programs will be available to download for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.
The program will contain the names of those students who applied for Spring and Summer 2022 graduation.
If you would like to receive a printed copy of the full Spring 2022 Commencement program, please fill out this form by June 17, 2022. Limit is two per graduate.
A summary program featuring the order of events will be handed out at the ceremony.
In order to appear in the program, candidates for degrees must remove their FERPA restrictions when applying for graduation.
Diploma Frames and UGA Merchandise
UGA merchandise, including diploma frames, can be purchased from the University of Georgia Bookstore located next to Sanford Stadium, the Tate Student Center, and the Zell B. Miller Learning Center.
CONCESSIONS
Guests are permitted to bring in one, unopened bottle of water and food items. Food items must fit inside the permitted-sized bags.
LOST & FOUND
For items believed lost in Sanford Stadium, please contact the University of Georgia Police Department at detectives@police.uga.edu.
FIRST AID
First Aid, Red Cross, and ambulance services will be on-site to assist with emergency needs. First Aid stations are located at Section 119, Section 229, and on the Field Level.
HELPFUL TIPS
- Follow the clear bag policy.
- On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking and standing for long periods of time.
- Leave purses, coats, and other belongings with your family members.
- Remain standing in front of your seat during the entire procession. Do not stand in the aisles.
- Pick a place to meet your family and friends once the ceremony is completed.
- Please be respectful of those around you and the fact that this is a formal academic ceremony. Beach balls, air horns, and other similar distractions may be confiscated.
- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any UGA Commencement ceremony.
PERMITTED/PROHIBITED ITEMS
Security has the right to inspect any item at any time for the purpose of safety.
Prohibited items must be returned to cars or disposed of before entering and will not be accepted by employees nor stored at the gates.
The CLEAR BAG POLICY is in effect for Commencement. Please follow the guidelines below.
Permitted Items
- Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12″x6″x12″.
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags.
- Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″.
- Bags that contain necessary medical items, which must be inspected and approved at either gate 2 or gate 6.
- Food; items must fit inside the permitted-sized bag
- Water, in sealed plastic bottles; must fit inside the permitted-sized bag
- Umbrellas
- Cameras and video recorders (Clear Bag Policy applies to camera bags)
- Strollers (except for in the seating areas)
Prohibited Items
For the safety, security, and experience of all guests, the following items are prohibited:
- Backpacks and bags that do not follow clear bag specifications.
- Wrapped gifts or packages wherein the contents are not visible
- Alcohol
- Glass and aluminum containers
- UGA is a tobacco-free campus.
- Large items, such as banners and posters, or amplification equipment, such as bullhorns or megaphones
INCLEMENT WEATHER
The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies will be held rain or shine and will only be rescheduled in the event of severe weather. Severe weather is defined as rain accompanied by high wind, thunder, and lightning. If necessary, the alternate ceremony time will be announced on this website.
If it is raining on the morning of Commencement, but not declared severe weather, the ceremony will be held as planned in the stadium. Weather conditions could impact the safety and probability of the fireworks show.
Any changes to the Commencement ceremony will be announced by 10:00 a.m. the day of Commencement, and the information will be placed on the UGA homepage by 10:30 a.m.
If weather is a concern for you or a member of your party, you may wish to consider a different viewing option.
PARKING
Parking for Commencement is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Suggested parking areas include Hull Deck (W05), North Campus Deck (N04), South Campus Deck (S11), and Performing Arts Center Deck (E20).
For disability parking, see disability access.
If you have additional parking questions, please contact Parking Services at 706‑542‑7275.
DISABILITY ACCESS
Visitors with mobility concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early and be prepared for the exertion required of the day. Stadium Gates open 2 hours prior to the start of the ceremony.
On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair. Wheelchairs are commonly available for short-term rental from medical supply stores and some pharmacies.
Please review the following for seating reservation information.
Disability Parking and Transportation
Parking for guests with disabilities is available at the East Campus Deck (E04). An ADA accessible shuttle will be available from those areas to the stadium. Personal vehicle dropoffs are NOT permitted near the stadium, please plan accordingly.
Disability Seating Reservations
To better accommodate the various needs of our visitors at Commencement, UGA is providing two options for accessible seating which may be reserved online. Reservations may be made for one person in a wheelchair and one companion. Guests who do not have a reservation will be directed on-site to the section that can best accommodate your needs.
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