Six commencement ceremonies will be held April 28-29 to celebrate more than 1,100 graduates from Samford University. Each ceremony will also be livestreamed and available to watch at Samford.edu/live.
Five of the six ceremonies will take place in the Pete Hanna Center. The commencement for Beeson Divinity School will be held in the Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel. Graduates may invite as many guests as they like, but seating is limited in both venues and will be based on a first come, first serve basis.
To kick off the celebrations, the class of 2023, along with President Beck A. Taylor, will participate in the traditional Senior Walk, followed by the formal opening of commencement weekend. Graduates will walk down Centennial Walk wearing their academic regalia at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27. A class photograph and a short program featuring music and presentations by class officers will follow in Sherman Circle.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, April 27
Senior Walk Celebration
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Centennial Walk and Sherman Circle
Friday, April 28
College of Health Sciences Commencement for Undergraduate Programs
Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing; McWhorter School of Pharmacy; School of Health Professions; School of Public Health
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Pete Hanna Center
Beeson Divinity School
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel
Brock School of Business; Orlean Beeson School of Education
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Pete Hanna Center
Saturday, April 29
College of Health Sciences Commencement for Graduate Programs
Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing; McWhorter School of Pharmacy; School of Health Professions; School of Public Health
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Pete Hanna Center
Howard College of Arts & Sciences; School of the Arts
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Pete Hanna Center
Cumberland School of Law Reception*
Time: 2:30-4 p.m.
Location: Brewer Plaza
*Note: This reception is scheduled before the commencement ceremony. The class of 2023 and their families and guests are invited to attend.
Cumberland School of Law Commencement
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Pete Hanna Center
Parking and Traffic
More than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend commencement weekend at Samford, which is likely to cause traffic congestion. Samford and Homewood police officers will be on site to assist with traffic and direct guests on where to go. Signs will be posted around campus to indicate traffic flow patterns and identify parking locations. Please follow the directions on the signage and be observant of the police officers. Please use caution while traveling through campus and allow extra time to reach your destination.
Parking will be available but limited on campus. The following areas are designated for parking during commencement activities:
- South Stadium Parking Lot
- All parking areas in West Campus
- Rotunda Drive
- North Orlean B. Beeson Lot (by the Orlean Beeson School of Education)
- South Orlean B. Beeson Lot (by the Orlean Beeson School of Education)
- East Stadium Parking Lot
- Lower Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center Parking Lot
- North Parking Deck
- ADA accessible parking will be reserved in the three parking tiers on the west side of the Pete Hanna Center.
For more information, visit Samford’s commencement website.
