2021 Graduation Ceremony

August 2020, December 2020, and May 2021 graduates who will be participating in the May 1, 2021 commencement ceremony may pick up their graduation attire (cap + gown, hood for master’s degree students) from the CSU bookstore. If you do not live locally, we mailed your regalia to the home address on file. If you applied for graduation after February, 25, 2021, we mailed your regalia to the home address on file.

Your graduation fee must be paid before you can pick up your cap and gown. If you have any questions, please call the bookstore at 843-863-8017. Announcements can be ordered at jostens.com. Class rings can be ordered at balfour.com.

There will be no rehearsal on campus this year. However, please watch the graduation preview video here. Special instructions are included regarding parking and entrance to the Whitfield Stadium Center, as well as other important details that will prepare you well for the event. We strongly encourage you to watch the video so you’ll know where to go, what to do, and how to walk across the stage!

Charleston Southern University is conducting two commencement ceremonies this year. A ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 on Buccaneer Field for August 2020, December 2020, and May 2021 graduates. Another ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 30 on Buccaneer Field for August 2019, December 2019, and May 2020 graduates. Participants must report by 5 p.m. with their cap and gown (hood for master’s degree students) to line up for the processional. You must check in to obtain your name card and be directed to the line-up area for the processional. Undergraduates, if you have a 3.5 GPA or higher and 60 hours at CSU, you will receive your honor cord at this time when you pick up your name card. Please do not bring any non-clear bags or personal items. There is no place for secure storage, and you cannot carry anything when you walk in the processional.

The commencement ceremony is a very special occasion, so please dress appropriately.

Men should wear khakis or dress pants, dark (flat) shoes, and a shirt with a collar.

Ladies should wear flat shoes – dark colors are preferable. No heels are permitted on the artificial turf. That includes wedges, stilettos, short or tall heels—no exceptions.  Dresses or a blouse with slacks may be worn under your robe.

All graduates will be provided with a CSU face mask to wear during the ceremony.

NO graduate is permitted to place anything on his/her gown or hood. Approved honor cords (limit of 2), a stole and/or an honor program medallion are the only authorized items. No hat decorations are permitted.  Members of approved campus organizations may wear a single stole outside their graduation gown. Veterans will be wearing a set of red, white, and blue cords. If the guidelines are not followed, members of your organization will not be permitted to wear stoles at future graduations. If you choose to wear honor cords, you may only display two sets outside your gown until the appropriate time.

NO OTHER medals, banners, scarves, etc. are allowed to show outside the gown except the red, white, and blue cords for U.S. Veterans. Monitors will pull you from the line before you go up the steps if you do not adhere to this rule.  If you are pulled from the line, you can pick up your diploma at a later date in the Registrar’s Office.

Contact your academic honor society advisors to obtain cords/stole. Please do not decorate or embellish your cap or gown. You will not be able to participate in the ceremony if you do.

This is a ticketed event. Due to COVID-19 precautions, no more than two guests per graduate at the Whitfield Stadium. The ticket distribution plan will be announced the week of April 19^th via email. Those with tickets will be admitted into the stadium beginning at 5 p.m. Everyone MUST wear a mask and observe physical distancing as well as adhere to the clear bag policy.

There will be overflow seating in the Whitfield Center for Christian Leadership Drew Conference Center as well as Lightsey Chapel where the event will be live-streamed. Seating will be on a first-come basis. Again, masks and physical distancing are required. Should weather be a factor, a rain plan will be announced by April 28.

Any loved ones unable to make it to the in-person event may watch it LIVE through YouTube or Facebook. A link will be available to watch it at charlestonsouthern.edu/2021-graduation.

Please continue to look for updates via email and BucAlerts.

Guests with handicap placards or tags will enter the parking area beside the guard shack and park on the left side of Whitfield Stadium.

GradImages® will be photographing all graduates at the upcoming graduation ceremony. Every graduate will be photographed offstage after they receive their diploma. This is the only time you may remove your mask during the event. There will be no posed photos taken on stage. Guests are not allowed on Buccaneer Field to take photographs.

After graduation, order online at www.gradimages.com or call 800-261-2576. You can feel confident that GradImages® will capture your proud moment. If you register before graduation, you will receive 20% off your order of $50 or more. You may register early on their website: gradimages.com/registration.

Commemorate your experience at Charleston Southern University by participating in the Senior Brick Program with an engraved brick in the Reflection Pond walkway. Personalizing a brick is a great way to celebrate your time at Charleston Southern, to commemorate friendships and memories made, to honor your favorite faculty or staff member, or to memorialize a loved one. The Senior Brick Program is your first opportunity to impact the future of CSU as a graduate by supporting future student scholarships. During your senior year, you may purchase your brick at the discounted price of $30. After graduation, the price will increase to $100. Contact the Alumni Office at 843-863-7517 for more information or buy your brick here.

• Have you cleared all holds? All holds must be cleared by April 23, 2021. This includes completing your chapel credits. No exceptions. Log into your “MyCSU” to check the status of your holds.
• Caps and gowns are available in the University Bookstore from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for those who live locally.
• If you selected not to participate in commencement and have changed your mind, please let the Registrar’s Office know immediately.