Welcome!

We are looking forward to celebrating with you, and your family and friends on Saturday, December 14th, 2024 at 10am EST as you close out another chapter at CIU. To help make information about the upcoming Fall 2024 Commencement ceremony more accessible we will be posting information and updates to this page as plans for commencement develop. Students who have applied for graduation will still be contacted via their CIU student email accounts regarding any actions or updates specific to their graduation status.

Questions or feedback? Contact the Office of the University Registrar (Email: registrar@ciu.edu or Phone: 803-807-5040). Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm EST.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve applied for graduation (degree conferral). Now what?

Once applied you will be added to our graduation mailing list for updates and action items regarding graduation and commencement. Here is a quick run-down of what you can expect.

• Check your CIU email! Announcements regarding commencement and your graduation audit are sent directly to your CIU student email.
   
• The Regalia ordering site is now closed.  
  For any questions regarding regalia please contact the bookstore at 803-807-5263 or ciu@slingshotedu.com.
   
• Submit your Commencement RSVP form (once you receive an email request from our office later in the Fall semester). This helps us to plan the ceremony accordingly (printed name in program) and acts as your RSVP and holds your tickets for your guests.
   
• Know that conferring degrees takes some time: Diplomas for students graduating will be ready to be mailed out 6 – 8 weeks after the Commencement ceremony or conferral date. If your diploma receipt preferences have changed since you applied (i.e., want to pick up instead of having diploma mailed, or if you will be unable to access mail at the given address) please email us at registrar@ciu.edu.

Read CIU’s Graduation Policy.

When and where is Commencement held?

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 14th at 10am EST in Shortess Chapel on the CIU campus. 

View a Map of CIU.

Will my guests need tickets?

Yes! Seating is limited and each guest will need a ticket for the ceremony. Each graduate will receive a specified amount of tickets to reserve for the ceremony. Graduates do not need a ticket for themselves, but do need to reserve their tickets once tickets are released. Tickets are for guests only. Children 3 and over who require their own seat, will need a ticket.

Please understand that tickets are allotted based on the number of students who are participating in the ceremony. We give the maximum amount of tickets that we can based on the available seating that we have in Shortess Chapel and this is determined once all RSVPs are received by our office. 

The Registrar’s office will keep a waiting list for extra tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. To add your name to the waiting list please email, registrar@ciu.edu. We cannot guarantee that any extra tickets will be available. However, Hoke Auditorium will be available for any non-ticketed guest(s) that would like to view the service via livestream. 

Is there going to be a commencement practice/rehearsal?

No, our office will be sending communication throughout the semester as to process and protocol regarding the ceremony. 

Will this ceremony be livestreamed and/or recorded?

Yes, CIU’s commencement will be livestreamed and links will be posted closer to the ceremony date. 

Graduation Day Specifics:

Graduates are asked to check-in 1 hour prior to their ceremony time in front of the Fisher Education Building. Graduates should arrive in their regalia. Fisher will not be locked during the ceremony so please limit bringing purses and other items to the ceremony. 

View a Map of CIU

If I have my diploma certificate or cover/case do I need to bring it to the ceremony?

Every graduate will be picking up an empty diploma cover/case as they walk across the stage, provided by the Registrar’s Office. Please do not bring your diploma or cover/case to the ceremony.

When will my degree be conferred?

CIU has three conferral dates per year — Fall (December), Spring (April/May), and Summer (August).

Your conferral date is based on the term you selected when you applied for Graduation and when all degree requirements are completed.

If you applied for Summer, your conferral date is August 23rd, 2024, and if you applied for Fall, your conferral date is December 13th, 2024.

Please note that it does take up to 4-6 weeks for conferrals to be processed and applied to your academic record. You can verify your conferral date’s status anytime by viewing your unofficial transcript on myCIU.

When are CIU commencement ceremonies held?

Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of term in Fall (December) and Spring (April/May).

When do I get my diploma?

Diplomas for all conferral graduates should be available 6 – 8 weeks after term end, roughly by late October for Summer conferrals, Mid-February for Fall conferral and early July for Spring conferral. Students with accounting balances will need to be settled in order for their diploma to be released.

Are there other graduation activities scheduled besides the commencement ceremony?

The Registrar’s Office coordinates the Commencement Ceremony itself.

Other services or events (ex. commissioning services, hooding ceremonies, dinners) are typically coordinated through the various colleges. Please reach out to your faculty advisor for information regarding these separate events.

I have questions regarding honor cords and/or stoles.

Students who qualify for Honor cords and honor stoles will receive an email from our office and will be distributed from our office. Students unable to pick up cords and/or stoles will receive them during check-in on the day of the ceremony.

Scholastic honors are based on the student’s cumulative GPA as of the previous semester’s GPA and a completed 48 hours at CIU. Students will be notified via email if they earned scholastic honors. Only four-year undergraduate students are considered for scholastic honors. Full policy concerning scholastic honors: https://www.ciu.edu/sites/default/files/105%20001%20Grading%20Policy%20-updated%202021.pdf 

I’m coming to graduation from out of town. Where can I stay?

Columbia, SC offers a wide range of off-campus accommodations, many of which are located within a short driving distance of CIU. CIU also maintains guestrooms at the Alumni Center, which are available to alumni, as well as current students and their families. Please contact the Alumni department if you have questions regarding their guestrooms.

I have handicap accessibility needs for myself or my guests. What should I do?

We would love to accommodate anyone that has accessibility needs. If you or your guests use a walker and/or wheelchair we are able to plan seating arrangements to make you comfortable. Please email registrar@ciu.edu or call 803-807-5040 to request this.

What do I do if I can no longer attend/participate in the ceremony?

Let us know immediately if you aren’t able to attend commencement, preferably by emailing registrar@ciu.edu, but calls are also accepted (803-807-5040).

Will there be pictures of the ceremony available?

CIU’s University Communications department takes photos of this event, including stage photos of our graduates as they receive their diploma covers. The photos are then made available to the students who participated through drop box in the weeks afterward. There is no charge to download from this repository.

See pictures from the 2024 Spring Graduation Ceremony.

Academic Regalia

The Regalia ordering site is now closed.   If you have questions or any issues regarding your regalia, please contact the bookstore (803-807-5263 or ciu@slingshotedu.com).

Students who have ordered regalia are instructed to watch their email. The Bookstore will be contacting you once your order is ready for pickup and should you have any questions you can contact the Campus Store at 803-807-5263 or ciu@slingshotedu.com.

Donning your regalia hood (for graduate and/or advanced students)

To help familiarize our graduating students with how to assemble their regalia we have included here a quick graphic for graduates with hoods included in their regalia (masters and doctoral, seminary graduate hoods pictured). Students graduating with their Bachelors degree do not have a hood. Students graduating with their Associates would wear Bachelor robes.