2025 Graduation Ceremony

There will be a rehearsal for the Undergraduate Ceremony on Thursday, May 8 at 1:30 p.m. Graduates should arrive at the Buc Dome to practice lining up. The rehearsal will conclude on Buccaneer Field and should last no longer than 1.5 hours. While attendance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended.

A pre-recorded rehearsal video will be sent out via Tassel for graduates participating in the Graduate Ceremony on May 8. Please be on the lookout for more information.

Participants in the Spring 2025 graduate commencement ceremony must check in by 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.

Participants in the Spring 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony must check in by 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9.

There is no limit on the number of guests each graduate can bring to Commencement on Buccaneer Field.

In the event of inclement weather, each graduate will be given eight tickets to share with family and friends who want to attend the ceremony in Lightsey Chapel. There will be overflow seating for additional guests in the Whitfield Center for Christian Leadership with a live stream.  If a student would like to invite another graduate to their ceremony, then they would have to give them a ticket to use.

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 very seriously consider flat shoes – dark colors are preferable. No flip flops or tennis shoes are permitted.

Graduates inducted into academic honor societies will be allowed to wear the specific honor cord for that academic honor society at Commencement. No other adornments available from the academic honor society such as medals, pins or stoles are to be worn at commencement.

Graduates who are student athletes and graduates who are veterans of the United States’ military will be permitted to wear honor cords.  Athletic honor cords are Navy and Gold. Veteran honor cords are Red, White, and Blue.

Graduates of Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC will be permitted to wear the sash representing their branch of the military.

Graduates who are members of approved campus organizations may wear a single stole outside their graduation gown.

Please note, students are not permitted to decorate their caps or regalia. Students who do not show up with the appropriate attire may not be able to participate in the Commencement activities.

This policy applies for both the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies.

For the Graduate Ceremony on May 8, parking will be available for family, friends, and guests in the Library Lot first and then the Science and Engineering Building Lot once the Library lot is full.  Graduates, faculty, and staff should parkin the Student Lot.

For the Undergraduate Ceremony on May 9, parking will be available for family, friends, and guests in the grass lot across from Buccaneer Field (Corner of Buc Club Drive and Academic Drive). Graduates will park in the in the Student Lot, and Faculty and Staff will park in the Field House Lot.  Parking for those requesting accommodations will be in at the Athletic Center Parking Lot first followed by the Buccaneer Field Parking Lot.

Carpooling to the Undergraduate Ceremony is highly encouraged to reduce traffic and parking needs.

It is the expectation that all candidates for graduation purchase regalia through Jostens. Students should order online by visiting the Charleston Southern University Jostens page.

Yes. There will be a light reception after the ceremony for graduating students and their family and friends. This will be an opportunity for refreshments, pictures, and connecting with faculty within each college.

Yes, every ceremony will be livestreamed. You can find those links here to share. (Links to come)

The undergraduate event will likely run 2.5 hours. The graduate event on will likely run anywhere from 1 hour.

Graduates will receive an email with the gallery link in the days following the event. Pictures will also be accessible on this page after graduation and links to the galleries will be posted on the Charleston Southern University Facebook page.

Ages 2 and under do not require a ticket as long as they can sit on the lap of someone who does have a ticket. Tickets are not required for the Graduate Ceremony in Lightsey Chapel.

Students with guests needing accommodations should make note of these requirements when completing their information on Tassel. Accommodations must be requested by April 16 at 11:55 p.m. in Tassel only.

Yes. The university will follow its Clear Bag Policy for Commencement ceremonies, which states that approved bags may not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″, a 1 gallon (or smaller) re-sealable clear plastic freezer bag, a small clutch purse no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″. In addition, no weapons are permitted at any Commencement ceremonies.

Please note, students are not permitted to decorate their caps or regalia. Students who do not show up with the appropriate attire may not be able to participate in the Commencement activities.

Diplomas will be mailed to graduates after Commencement. Graduating students will receive an email to their CSU email address when the diploma has been mailed. They will be given their diploma cover during the ceremony to be used for pictures.

Please make sure your diploma mailing address is up to date by verifying your address is correct on your MyCSU account. Once you log in, click on your picture or the circle in the upper right hand corner and choose My profile & settings; on the left hand side, choose contact information; click on the drop down arrow under addresses; if your current address needs to be updated, click on Current address, make the changes and save.

The official document of awarding of your degree is the official transcript. You can order your official transcript in MyCSU once all final grades are posted in December, and your degree is conferred. Once your degree has been conferred, the ‘A0’ hold will change to ‘RA’ (Readmission required). This means you have graduated.