2024 Spring Commencement: Everything You Need to Know

Each May, graduating seniors clad in white dinner jackets and dresses process to the picturesque Cistern Yard for one of the country’s most indelible commencement ceremonies. This year, undergraduate and graduate degree candidates will take to the stage in front of Randolph Hall on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, 2024, to celebrate this academic milestone.

Here are answers to some common questions about College of Charleston Commencement ceremonies:

When is commencement?

There are three commencement ceremonies this year, with students broken up into groups based on their academic school. There are no rehearsals this year. Each commencement will last between 2 and 2 1/2 hours beginning at the following times:

4 p.m., Friday, May 10

• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs 

10 a.m., Saturday, May 11

• School of Business
• School of Education
• School of Health Sciences

4 p.m., Saturday, May 11

• Graduate School
• School of the Arts
• School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering 

What kind of bag can I bring?

In order to expedite entry and provide a safe and secure environment, the College of Charleston has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for events, including commencement. Only clear bags and small, clutch-size purses are allowed. Approved bags include the following:

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″; a logo no larger than 4.5″ x 3.4″ can be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ – approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap

Please read our prohibited items list (which includes, but is not limited to, unapproved bags, alcohol, food, cans and bottles, and weapons). Please note that the College of Charleston is a tobacco-free campus.

Can infants or toddlers enter the Cistern Yard without a ticket?

No. Due to fire and safety restrictions, everyone who enters the Cistern Yard must have a ticket, regardless of age.

How many tickets will each student receive?

Each graduate will receive four tickets to the commencement ceremony in which they are walking. Tickets are ceremony specific and may not be used for any other ceremony. Tickets will be loaded directly to the graduate’s CofC email account.

• Friday commencement tickets will be sent out on Monday, April 29, 2024.
• Saturday morning commencement tickets will be sent out on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
• Saturday afternoon commencement tickets will be sent out on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

There will also be satellite viewing locations where additional guests who do not have tickets can watch the ceremonies live. Tickets are not required for admission to these sites, all of which have air conditioning and easily accessible restrooms. The satellite viewing locations are:

• Stern Student Center Ballroom at 71 George Street
• Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center Room 101 at 58 Coming Street

How can family and friends watch commencement at home?

All ceremonies will be livestreamed on the College of Charleston Facebook page and the College of Charleston YouTube page. Recordings of the ceremonies will also be archived and made available for viewing approximately four weeks later on the commencement website.

What if it rains? 

The College of Charleston monitors the weather for commencement weekend 24 hours a day. In the event of rain or other inclement weather, ceremonies will be moved to the College’s TD Arena.

While our top priority is your safety and that of your guests, we will do everything we can to keep the ceremony in Cistern Yard. Rain alone will not dictate moving the ceremony to TD Arena. The College reserves the right to adjust the ceremony’s schedule if required by inclement weather.

We will update graduates via email, the commencement app (see below) and College social media channels as we have additional details. Please be prepared to adjust quickly due to changing weather conditions and to follow all instructions given during the ceremony.

What should guests wear? 

There is no particular dress code for guests, but please take the heat and humidity into account. Women typically wear lightweight dresses and men tend to wear khakis and blazers, seersucker or some other lightweight fabric.

Can I take photos?

Family and friends are welcome to take photos of the event, but are asked to be respectful of other guests. If you want to leave your seat to take a photo of your graduate crossing the stage, you may do so, but please quickly return to your seat so others can see their grads cross the stage.

GradImages will also be providing professional photography at each ceremony.

Where should graduates and guests park? 

Graduates and guests should park in a parking garage or metered parking spots and are welcome to use alternative transportation (e.g., walk, bike, carpool, ride CARTA buses, use car services).  Three public parking garages are located on or near campus. Fees apply as noted.

• George Parking Garage at 34 St. Philip Street: commencement rate of $5 prepaid to attendant (cash only)
• St. Philip Street Garage at 89 St. Philip Street: commencement rate of $5 prepaid to attendant (cash only)
• Francis Marion Garage at 399 King Street: As of publication, the hourly rate is $1 per half hour, or a portion thereof, with a daily maximum of $18. Please review all posted rates/fees at the garage entrance.

College of Charleston surface parking lots will be available only to faculty, staff and students working the ceremonies.

Visitors to the College of Charleston who require accessible parking should park at a meter or in a garage. Persons with a valid state-issued placard can park in a garage free of charge. Upon exiting, the driver must present their driver’s license to the cashier for verification. 

What about lodging for guests who are coming from out of town?

There’s no shortage of places to stay in downtown Charleston. Whether you’re looking for a waterfront hotel like the Harborview Inn or the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront, a full-service hotel like the Charleston Marriott or a location close to campus such as the Francis Marion Hotel, the Holy City has got you covered. For a full list of accommodations, visit the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

When will my student get a diploma?

Diplomas will be ordered for students who graduate successfully in the term in which they apply after their degree has been conferred. Diplomas will be mailed four to eight weeks after conferral, provided the graduate doesn’t have a financial hold.

Who are this year’s commencement speakers?

• Julia L. Eichelberger, Professor, English (Friday ceremony)
• Gioconda “Gia” Quesada, Associate Provost for Assessment (10 a.m. Saturday ceremony)
• Elizabeth “Liz” Jurisich, Professor and Department Chair, Mathematics (4 p.m. Saturday ceremony)

Spring commencement has gone mobile! Everything you need to know – schedules, maps, reminders and more – is now at your fingertips on your iPhone/Android for free on the College of Charleston Events app. Download the app here or search for CofC Events in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.