FAQ

When do I petition to graduate?

A student at Columbus State who is nearing completion of their degree should meet with their advisor to file a “Petition to Graduate”. Your advisor will evaluate all course work completed, review the cumulative grade point average and review courses that you are currently enrolled in to determine your eligibility to graduate. When completed, this Petition must be filed with the Office of Records and Registration by the following dates:

To graduate this quarter	File Petition by this date
Summer Quarter 2012	June 29, 2012
Autumn Semester 2012	September 18, 2012
Spring Semester 2013	February 8, 2013

What if I miss the deadline to file a Petition to Graduate?

If you miss the deadline to petition, please contact your academic advisor in the Advising Center to determine your options.

Who can attend Graduation?

The Spring Quarter 2012 Commencement Ceremony will be held June 8, 2012 at Veterans Memorial, 300 West Broad Street, and is free and open to the public. Columbus State does not require tickets for your guests, as there is generous seating in the auditorium.  Parking at Veterans Memorial is available in the Vets Memorial Parking Lot for $7, and across the street in the COSI parking lot.  Handicap accommodations are available. The College provides interpreters for the deaf at all ceremonies.

Can't make the ceremony? Watch graduation live! View live stream.

Is there a rehearsal?

Columbus State does not require graduating students to attend a rehearsal for the ceremony. Instead, graduates are asked to arrive at the ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in order to allow for a briefing by the Registrar, who will instruct the graduates on the procedure for marching in the Processional, and receiving their diplomas on stage.  The Processional will start promptly at 10 a.m.

What do I wear?

Once you have chosen to attend the ceremony, you must order your graduation attire from the Columbus State Bookstore. The price for the cap, gown and tassel is $24.99. You can purchase your attire at the Bookstore, or order online at http://bookstore.cscc.edu.

Coordinators at the graduation ceremony will also have a list of those students who have earned academic honors by earning an accumulated 3.5 GPA or higher throughout the course of their degree.  Honors graduates wear an Honors Cord, which will be distributed at the ceremony when you check in for the line-up. Caps and gowns are black; the tassels are blue and white.  Sizes range from 4’10” to 7’ tall, in Regular, XL or 2XL.   

Photography at the ceremony

Columbus State contracts with Bruce Heflin Photography to do commencement photos of each graduate receiving their diploma from the President on stage. The company also produces a video of each ceremony.  The photographer will also give you the opportunity to do a portrait in cap and gown prior to the Processional March – this is optional.  

After the ceremony, the photographer will be available to take candid photos and family portraits.  All photos are immediately available for viewing on the photographer’s website, at www.mypicturesnow.com. Simply select the event name, and scroll through the images to select which photos you would like to order.

Graduation Announcements

The Columbus State Bookstore at Discovery Exchange can order your Graduation Announcements.  Diploma frames, class rings and graduate gifts are also available at the Bookstore. Visit http://bookstore.cscc.edu to browse these products.