Commencement Update: Location Change due to weather

Officials at Gardner-Webb University have announced that tonight’s commencement ceremony will be moved indoors to the Paul Porter Arena in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. The decision was made out of an abundance of caution, because the Cleveland County area is under severe weather warnings. The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are required for entry. Each graduate will receive four tickets, which will be available, beginning at 5 p.m., at the LYCC ticket booth. Guests may watch a livestream of the ceremony in an overflow room in Tucker Student Center.

Inclement Weather Plan

Commencement will be held in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center and tickets will be required to attend. Graduates should meet at the Dover Theatre at LYCC by 6:30 PM.

Ticketing Process

The ticket count for each student is 4 tickets. All tickets are for general seating. Each ticket will be checked at the interior entrances to the arena.

Please check our website and social media pages for updates.

• Graduates can pick up their tickets on Friday evening in front of the Dover Theatre starting at 5:00 PM. You will need a student ID or picture ID.
• Guests without a ticket are welcome to watch the livestream of the ceremony in Stewart Hall in the Tucker Student Center. 

In case of inclement weather on Saturday, the recognition ceremonies planned in Spangler Stadium will move to the following locations. No tickets will be required for Saturday’s events.

The University plans to host the Commencement in Spangler Stadium even it is raining or the weather conditions are not ideal. A weather delay is also possible. Umbrellas are permitted in the stadium. Only if there is severe weather will the event be moved indoors to the LYCC. If there is an immediate threat of dangerous weather conditions after the stadium gates open on Friday at 6:00 PM,  emergency personnel will be deployed to direct graduates and guests to secure locations. The GWU lightning detection system will alert if a strike is within 10 miles of campus at which time the stadium would need to be cleared. The start of program may be delayed. If possible and as conditions allow, the program would resume.