Graduation
Graduation from college is an exciting time in your life. This page contains much of the information you will need to know regarding your graduation from Clayton State University. If you do not find the answer to your question on this page, please email lizwellington@clayton.edu.
- How to apply
- Graduation application deadlines
- Spring 2008 Commencement
- Diplomas
- Photographs
- Special Announcements
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Apply
- Obtain a graduation application from the academic department of your major. Some academic departments have the graduation application on their website. Please check with the department of your major on how to obtain a graduation application.
- Submit your completed graduation application and the $35.00 graduation application fee by the deadline listed below to the Office of the Registrar in STC-239. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
- You will receive your graduation evaluation from the Registrar’s Office within 6-8 weeks. Please continue to monitor your student email account. All correspondence from the Office of the Registrar will be sent to your CSU student email account.
Key points to remember
- Because applications are reviewed in the order they are received, the sooner you submit your application, the sooner you will receive a response. We encourage you not to wait until the last minute to submit your application. Applications for future terms may be submitted at any time up until the deadline.
- Any deviation or substitution from what is printed in the catalog as a requirement for your degree/certificate must be approved in writing by your academic department and dean. Please click here if you need to print a course substitution from. Course substitutions are the responsibility of the student. The Office of the Registrar will not facilitate a course substitution.
Graduation Application Deadlines
Graduation applications submitted after the published deadline will not be accepted. If you miss the published deadline, you will need to apply for the next available term.
| Term | Deadline | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2008 | September 15, 2007 | No Longer Available |
| Summer 2008 | January 30, 2008 | No Longer Available |
| Fall 2008 | June 1, 2008 * | Available |
| Spring 2009 | September 15, 2008 | Available |
* Graduation applications will be accepted until 6:59 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2008.
Spring 2008 Commencement
Please continue to closely monitor your CSU student email account. All communications regarding commencement will be sent to your student email account. We will not have a rehearsal.
Who is eligible?
Students who completed degree requirements spring 2008 are eligible to participate in the ceremony on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Graduates who elect not to participate in this ceremony will not be eligible to walk in a future ceremony unless they earn a new degree.
Date, Time & Location
Due to the size of the graduating class, CSU will hold two commencement ceremonies. You must attend the ceremony designated for the school of your major.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
9:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
Clayton State University
Athletics & Fitness Center9:00 a.m. – graduates report at 8:15 a.m.
- College of Arts & Sciences
12:00 p.m. – graduates report at 11:15 a.m.
- School of Business
- School of Nursing
- College of Professional Studies
- College of Information & Mathematical Sciences
Participating in the ceremony
You MUST notify the Office of the Registrar if you plan on participating. An on-line registration form will be available approximately seven weeks prior to commencement. You will receive an email to your CSU email account once the registration period is open.
Please keep in mind that participation in the ceremony does not constitute degree completion. Degrees are awarded pending a final audit of your records conducted by the Registrar’s Office in the weeks following commencement.
Cap & Gown
Cap and gowns must be purchased before the day of the ceremony. You may order your cap and gown directly from Jostens at www.jostens.com or 1800-854-7464. Jostens will be on campus on selected days each semester to facilitate the ordering of cap and gowns. You will be notified via your CSU email account when Jostens will be on campus.
Academic Attire & Honors
All participants must wear the appropriate academic attire. Academic attire consists of the following:
- Cap & Tassel
- Gown
- Baccalaureate - BLACK
- Associate - GREY
- Academic honors sanctioned by Clayton State University
- Academic Honors (GPA)- Gold honor cord
- Honors Program Students- Gold Medallion
- Sigma Theta Tau- Purple & White honor cord
- Beta Gamma Sigma- Stole
- Mu Phi Epsilon- Medallion
- Psi Chi- Gold double cord with blue and gold tassels
- Sigma Tau Delta- Stole
- Sigma Phi Alpha National Dental Hygiene Honor Society, Alpha Alpha Xi chapter- Stole
- Golden Key Honor Society- Gold and blue cord
IMPORTANT:
Unauthorized ornamentation is prohibited. If any commencement official deems the attire to be inappropriate, the student will be asked to remove the unapproved item or the student may be denied participation in the commencement ceremony.Tickets
Due to the size of the graduating class, each student will be allotted up to 5 tickets.
- Only students who have registered to participate in the ceremony will receive tickets.
- You will be notified via your CSU email account when you can pick up your tickets.
- NO extra tickets will be distributed
- All guests regardless of age must have a ticket in order to be admitted to the ceremony.
- Please inform your guests that they should be seated no later than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony.
- Guests will not be admitted to the gymnasium during the processional.
- Doors will open 45 minutes prior to the ceremony.
- LOST TICKETS WILL NOT BE REPLACED.
Alternate Viewing
Friends and family may view the live web cast at www.clayton.edu or view a simulcast in University Center Room 272. Seating is limited to the first 150 guests. After the live web cast, the ceremony will be available for viewing on demand at www.clayton.edu.
Parking
Please advise your guests that parking will be limited. Please encourage them to arrive early so that there is enough time to find parking and arrive at the gymnasium at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins.
Diplomas
Because all final grades will not be reported to the Office of the Registrar until after commencement, we will not be distributing diplomas at the ceremony. We will be conducting final audits of all graduates in the weeks following commencement. Diplomas will be available in approximately 8 weeks. You will be notified via your CSU student email account and USPS mail when your diploma is ready.
Photographs
Students participating in the graduation ceremony will have an opportunity to purchase individual photographs from a professional photographer. Proofs will be emailed directly to the student. Any questions about pictures should be directed to Village Photographers: 1-800-444-7427.
Special Accomodations
Special accommodations can be provided upon request for anyone with disabilities. To request assistance with special needs, please contact Disability Services at 678-466-5445.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I wear under my gown?
A: Men should wear a white dress shirt (with collar), dark slacks with dark (brown or black) dress shoes.
Women may wear a dress or slacks. Many women prefer to wear a white dress shirt (with collar) to wear under their gown for a more finished look. Pants or skirts should be a dark color worn with dark (brown or black) dress shoes. Please be aware that you will be standing for long periods of time; therefore you should strive to wear comfortable dress shoes.
Q: Will there be rehearsal?
A: No. You will be given information about the line-up when you arrive at commencement.
Q: I failed one of my classes that I needed for graduation. Can I participate in the ceremony?
A: No. Only students that have completed degree requirements may participate in commencement. You will be eligible to participate once you meet all of the requirements for your degree.
Q: Will you have a place to store my valuables (purse, phone, keys) during the ceremony?
A: No. Please make arrangements to have guests hold your valuables or keep them locked in your car during the ceremony. We do not have space to store valuables
Q: What does my $35.00 graduation application fee go towards?
A: Your application fee helps to cover administrative costs associated with the audit of your application as well as material costs for your diploma and the program for the commencement ceremony.
Q: I participated in the commencement ceremony; does this mean I am an official graduate of Clayton State University?
A: No. Participation in the ceremony does not constitute degree completion. Degrees are awarded pending a final audit of your records conducted by the Registrar’s Office in the weeks following commencement. You will be notified via your CSU student email account and the USPS mail system when your degree has been awarded and your diploma is ready to be picked up.
If you have any graduation related questions that have not been addressed on this page, please email lizwellington@clayton.edu.