Graduation at Columbus State

Important Facts About the Commencement Ceremony

• All students will be listed in the ceremony program. If you prefer not to have your name included in the program, please contact the Graduation Verification Office at graduation@cscc.edu at least one week prior to the ceremony. PLEASE NOTE: names will not be redacted from programs posted to this site after the ceremony.  
• Any student must be in the appropriate cap and gown to participate in our Commencement ceremony. If the student is not in the appropriate regalia (cap, gown, tassel, and honor cords/stoles), they cannot be in the ceremony. In addition, while students may decorate their caps and any cords/stoles, there should not be any alterations, modifications, or decorations on the gown itself. The only items that can be worn with the caps and gowns are honor cords distributed to students from a CSCC organization or the college itself. Students may wear stoles that have been given to them or purchased from CSCC or outside organizations. Commencement staff reserve the right to request students remove any item(s) that are not “reasonable and faithful to the traditions which give rise to the [academic costume] code. Caps and gowns may be purchased through the Columbus State Bookstore. A limited number of caps and gowns may be available for purchase the morning of the ceremony, but students are encouraged to purchase these before that time. 
• Graduates are prohibited from carrying any items onto the stage when accepting their diplomas. This includes, but is not limited to, personal belongings, signs, or other objects.  
• Graduates are expected to arrive two hours prior to the ceremony start time. Graduates will be in a separate area from their families and others during that time and during the ceremony. Graduates’ families and friends can also arrive at that time to secure their seats in the ceremony venue on a first-come, first-served basis.  
• Students will receive a certificate of completion at the ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to the students once degrees are verified. Generally, this takes up to 10 weeks after the ceremony.  
• International students who require a letter of invitation for family and friends to attend the ceremony from outside the U.S. will need to request this letter up to a month in advance. See above for deadline dates to obtain this letter. For more information, please see: Global and International Students: Writing a Graduation Invitation Letter.