The Guilford community warmly invites you to join us in celebration of the Commencement of the Class of 2019. Baccalaureate will be held on Friday, May 3, and Commencement on Saturday, May 4. Caps and gowns can be ordered through the bookstore through the end of April.

For more information on events and details specific to graduating seniors, please visit guilford.edu/seniors.

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole

Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, a globally recognized anthropologist, educator, author, and humanitarian, will be the featured speaker for Guilford College’s Commencement exercises on May 4, 2019. In addition, Dr. Cole, President Emerita of Spelman College and Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She will be the fifth person to be recognized with an honorary degree by Guilford College.

Congrats, Class of 2019!

Meet some of our outstanding seniors.

This year's graduates are artistic, scientific, prolific, athletic, empathetic, globally minded, locally engaged change makers. Learn more about them — what they've accomplished and what they're planning for the future.

Commencement Weekend Schedule

Friday, May 3

  • 11 a.m. — Baccalaureate in Dana Auditorium (Parents and families are welcome to and encouraged to attend.)
  • 12 p.m. — Picnic on the Quad for faculty, staff, graduating seniors, parents and families
  • 1:30 p.m. — Graduation rehearsal on the quad (for graduates only)
  • 4 p.m. — The Sankofa (BAGC) Pinning Ceremony in the Carnegie Room will honor the Black graduates of Guilford College, past and present

Saturday, May 4

  • 7:30 a.m. — Graduates should be ready outside Founders Hall and the Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Plaza at 7:30 a.m. and in line by 8:00 a.m.
  • 8:45 a.m. — We cordially ask that guests be seated by this time. Please join us for a reception to celebrate our amazing graduates immediately following the ceremony on the Quad.
  • 9 a.m. — Commencement ceremony on the Guilford College Quad
 

Information for Family Members and Guests

Thank You for Sharing Your Student With Us

Congratulations on the momentous and significant achievement of your student in becoming a Guilford College graduate!  The Guilford community and the extended family of alumni are eager to celebrate with you on Commencement Day.

For those of us who work with your student, these four years went by far too quickly. It seems only a short time ago that we welcomed them as first-years on Move-In Day. We are proud of all of their achievements and look forward to seeing the bright future that awaits them.

Special Hotel Rates

We have discounted rates specifically for Commencement weekend at the following hotels. You may also want to consider this list of year-round accommodations.

Holiday Inn Greensboro
$115
Contact them directly and mention “Guilford College.”
3005 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27403
336.294.4565

Courtyard Greensboro
$147
4400 West Wendover Ave, Greensboro, NC 27407
336.294.3800

Parking

In addition to regularly marked handicapped parking spaces, the entire section of parking on George Fox Drive between New Garden Road and Levi Coffin Drive will be reserved for handicapped spaces during Commencement. For more information, please visit the Campus Map and Parking page.

Photography

The College will engage the services of a photographer, who will photograph each graduating senior individually as their diploma is presented. We provide this service to ensure this moment is captured, thus relieving parents and friends of any need for photographing. An email will be sent to the graduating senior the week after Commencement with proofs and information on how to order. You can also search the photo proofs at www.gradimages.com.

Share Your Student's Achievements

Share news of this milestone with your hometown newspaper(s) and websites. Read more at guilford.edu/seniors.

Special Accommodations

A special viewing area will be provided in the Carnegie Room of Hege Library for language translation, families with small children, closed-captioning for the Deaf/hard of hearing, and anyone with special needs. Feel free to utilize this space for wheelchair accessibility and live streaming. 

If you or any guests in your party request special accommodations, including sign language interpretation, please let us know by filling out this brief form prior to April 27.

Information for Graduating Seniors

Find out when and where to get your cap and gown, learn about events planned to celebrate your achievements, and more.

Meet This Year's Seniors

The Class of 2019 is filled with an amazing group of students who are ready to take on the world! We're excited to see what they accomplish.