Graduation Information
Spring 2021 Graduation
The Application
Graduation applications are due February 15 and must be completed online via MyCharleston.
- Log in to MyCharleston
- Click on the Academic Services tab
- Click on the Banner Self Service Link
- Click on 'Student' and then 'Student Records'
- Click on 'Apply to Graduate'
After you submit your application, your eBill account will show a graduation fee of $25 for each degree and/or certificate you plan to earn.
Students who miss the deadline will have to pay an additional $25 (for a total of $50) and they must apply in person at the Graduate School.
In order to be eligible for spring graduation, you must be enrolled in at least one credit hour during the spring term. Spring graduates receive diplomas and/or certificates with a graduation date of May 7, 2021.
The Ceremony
The details of each ceremony can be dependent on your participation choice. Visit the College's Commencement website for more information.
Thursday, May 6 at 2pm - Patriots Point Soccer Stadium
Limited in-person guests
Friday, May 7 at 6pm - Cistern Yard
No in-person guests, outdoor satellite viewing for limited guests
Saturday, May 8 at 4pm - Cistern Yard
TBD if this ceremony is needed
Sunday, May 9 - inclement weather date for the above ceremonies
NOTE: Master's candidates will process wearing their hoods, instead of the traditional "hooding" of graduates.
Spring or Summer 2020 graduates who want to participate in May Commencement must contact Robyn Olejniczak no later than Tuesday, April 27 at noon.
Tickets
Patriots Point Ceremony
Each graduate student who is participating in the ceremony at Patriots Point is eligible to receive 4 tickets. Tickets will be released directly to participating students via their g.cofc.edu email account at a date closer to the ceremony.
Cistern Yard Ceremony
Each graduate student who is participating in the ceremony in Cistern Yard is eligible to receive 2 tickets for guests to use at the outdoor satellite viewing locations. Outdoor satellite viewing locations include Rivers Green, Stern Garden, and the School of Sciences and Mathematics Building's Courtyard. Tickets will be released directly to participating students via their g.cofc.edu email account at a date closer to the ceremony.
Candidates will receive two emails; a confirmation email and an email with all the mobile-friendly guest tickets. These mobile tickets can be downloaded to a smartphone or can be downloaded as a PDF and printed. Please note, all tickets will be in one email.
Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients
Patriots Point Ceremony: Helen Turner Hill
Cistern Yard Ceremony: Dr. Andrew Sobiesuo
Parking
Graduates and guests can park at one of the public garages near campus. The closest garages are at the Gailliard Center, located at 32 Alexander Street, and the George Garage, located at 34 St. Philip Street. Those attending Commencement can pay a special rate of $5 in these garages. Please note that parking garage attendants will only accept cash upon entering.
Handicap accessible parking is available in any parking garage staffed with a cashier or at any city meter, and is free of charge to persons with valid state-issued handicap placards. Accessible parking is available to visitors on campus in marked handicap accessible spaces after 4pm Monday through Friday, and all day on Saturday and Sunday. A state-issued handicapped placard must be properly displayed on any vehicle parked in an accessible parking space during these times.
Please refer to the College of Charleston parking map for exact locations.
Alcohol and Tobacco Policy
The College of Charleston observes a strict no-alcohol or other drugs policy prior to and during the commencement ceremonies. Ceremony participants, graduation candidates and guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages or other drugs onto the premises or consuming alcoholic beverages during the ceremonies. Any person determined by College personnel to be impaired will be removed from the premises and prohibited from participating in the ceremony.
Use of all tobacco products is prohibited in all College-owned or leased buildings; in all buildings on College-owned or leased land; on all College-owned or leased property, including outdoor seating areas; and in all College-owned, leased, and rented vehicles. Use of tobacco products is prohibited in all those places here identified, including but not limited to, offices (including private offices), classrooms, laboratories, stairwells, elevators, restrooms, hallways, porches and piazzas, rooftops, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, residence halls and historic properties, shuttle buses, shuttle bus stops, parking structures and parking areas on College-owned or College-leased property, sidewalks on College-owned or College-leased property, lobbies and waiting areas, outdoor benches, green spaces on campus, and other common areas. View the Alcohol and Tobacco Policy.
