Guest Information - May 2025 Commencement Ceremony
(Please note this information is subject to change.)
“Members of the graduating class, demands will be made upon you which were not made upon us. Your training, if you are true to it, will amply qualify you to meet those demands. No wiser blessing could I wish for you than that you may be true to every God-appointed work.”
-The Benson Charge: Catherine Brewer Benson, Wesleyan College’s first graduate, Class of 1840
**Graduates Only to gather at Wesleyan College Historic Marker at 6:15 p.m. at the corner of College Street and Georgia Avenue**
**Reception to follow ceremony at Wesleyan College Leadership Lab, 522 Cherry Street**
**Lemonade on the lawn to follow ceremony**
**Reception to follow ceremony**
Wesleyan College has a long history of welcoming visitors to campus to celebrate our graduates. We strive to provide first-class experience and ask that all guests adhere to the following policies:
What is the Baccalaureate Ceremony?
The Baccalaureate Ceremony is a Wesleyan tradition of celebration, prayer and song held to honor the graduating class. Graduating seniors and faculty gather at the original Wesleyan College location in downtown Macon, and then process to Mulberry Street United Methodist Church for the second portion of the ceremony.
Where do we meet?
Graduating seniors and faculty will gather at 6:15 p.m. at the site of the original Wesleyan College campus (intersection of College Street & Georgia Ave) for a small gathering, which begins at 6:30 pm. Graduating seniors and faculty then process to Mulberry United Methodist Church for the Baccalaureate Ceremony.
Where should I park?
You may park at the Mulberry United Methodist Church at 719 Mulberry Street. Graduates can ride in the Wesleyan shuttle to the top of the hill for the first part of the ceremony.
What if I can’t find a ride?
Free shuttles from campus to the Baccalaureate Ceremony will be provided. Check your email for more information.
Where should my family and friends go?
Guests should find a seat in the Mulberry United Methodist Church and wait for the procession to arrive. Doors will open at 6 PM.
Do I need tickets?
No – you do not need tickets. However, seating will be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis.
What should I wear?
Graduating seniors and faculty are required to wear regalia. Graduates must wear a College-issued black cap, black tassel and black gown. Hoods will not be worn at Baccalaureate. For more information, including ways students may personalize their regalia, please review the Regalia Policy here.
What if it rains?
In the event of inclement weather, students will meet downstairs in the Fellowship Hall of Mulberry United Methodist Church and process upstairs. Please check your Wesleyan email for updates.
Where do we meet?
Graduates will meet in the OSP basement hallway outside Trice and the campus post office at 9:20 a.m. BE ON TIME! We will begin processing at 9:50 a.m. SHARP. When you arrive, follow the Junior Marshals’ lead.
What should I do with my stuff?
Leave all personal belongings with a friend or family members, in your dorm room, or secured in your vehicles. You hands need to be free to accept your diploma!
Where should my family and friends go?
Doors open to Porter Auditorium at 9 a.m. for ticket-holders only. Please encourage your guests to arrive on time, and to allow time for parking and walking to Porter. Doors close to Porter Auditorium when the procession starts at 9:50 a.m. At that time, all ticket holders who are not seated will be asked to wait until the procession is complete.
What is a hooder and why do I need to choose one?
A hooder is a person who places an academic hood over your head during Commencement. Each graduate will designate a hooder to bestow this honor. You may choose anyone as your hooder. They are typically a person who has held an essential, supportive role in your educational journey.
Your hooder will sit directly behind you during the Commencement Ceremony. The hood is their ticket into Porter Auditorium. Details on how your hooder can find seating will be communicated directly closer to the date.
What if my family member doesn’t have a ticket?
Guests without tickets should proceed directly to Pierce Chapel for overflow seating. They will be able to view the ceremony on a large screen.
Where do I get tickets?
Tickets will be distributed by the Office of Student Affairs. Please watch your Wesleyan email for details on how to obtain them.
What should I wear?
Graduates must wear a College-issued black cap, black tassel and black gown. For more information, including ways students may personalize their regalia, please review the Regalia Policy here.
What if it rains?
In the event of inclement weather, we will meet downstairs in Porter Auditorium to line up. Please follow the Junior Marshals’ lead. Check your Wesleyan email for more information.
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In 1840, Catherine Elizabeth Brewer Benson became the first woman to receive her degree from the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.
Catherine Elizabeth Brewer Benson 1840 In the 1839 Georgia Female College catalog, twenty young women are listed in the Junior Class. Of this number, eleven graduated on the night of July 16, 1840, and were pioneers in education for women. By virtue of being alphabetically the first in line, Catherine Elizabeth Brewer was the first woman to receive her degree from the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. READ MORE
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