THERE WILL BE TWO CEREMONIES

9:30 AM-School of the Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs. Graduates line up at 7:30 AM in Maybank Hall. Gates to the Cistern Yard open at 8:00 AM.

4:00 PM - School of Business and Economics, School of Education, Health and Human Performance, and School of Sciences and Mathematics. Graduates line up at 2:00 PM in Maybank Hall. Gates to the Cistern Yard open at 2:30 PM.

A coat check area will be the only secured location. If possible, do not bring personal items. Personal items you bring should be checked at the secure area.

Individuals with handicaps may enter the Cistern Yard from the side entrance on St. Philip Street.

REHEARSAL IS MANDATORY.

Thursday, May 8, 2008 at the Cistern Yard.
9:00 AM for students participating in the morning ceremony.
1:00 PM for students participating in the afternoon ceremony.
The rain location is the F. Mitchell Johnson Physical Education Center.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - All graduates and their families are invited to the Senior Picnic on George Street.

Garage parking will be available in the core of campus at the following locations for a special event rate of $3.00 per vehicle.
- The new George Garage, located on St. Philip Street between George and Liberty Streets (next to CVS)
- The College's St. Philip Street Garage, located on St. Philip Street between Vanderhorst and Calhoun Streets (next to the AT&T Building)
- The Wentworth Street Garage, located on the corner of Wentworth and St. Philip Streets

Please note that guests parking in these garages will be required to present their commencement programs upon exiting the garage in order to be eligible for the $3.00 special rate. The $3.00 rate will be available only to vehicles that enter and exit these garages on Saturday, 5/10/08. Please refer to the College of Charleston parking map for the exact locations of the above-listed garages: http://www.cofc.edu/~parking/pdf/MAP%20ONLY.pdf.

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

Handicap accessible parking will be available in the B and GL Lots, which can be accessed from George Street (see parking map for exact location). Handicap accessible parking is also available in all of the garages listed above. A valid state-issued handicap-accessible placard is required to park in these locations.

Hourly parking is available for the normal hourly fee in the following locations (fee may vary by location):
- The municipal surface lot on George Street (across from the F. Mitchell Johnson Physical Education Center)
- The Majestic Square parking garage (behind Saks near the corner of King and Market Streets)
- The Francis Marion garage (located on King Street across from Marion Square)
- The Renaissance garage (located on Wentworth Street across from the Renaissance Hotel)
- The Charleston Place garage (located behind the Charleston Place Hotel; accessed from Hasell Street)

Please note that the locations listed directly above are listed as a courtesy and will not be available at a special rate. Please check the individual locations to inquire about their hourly rates.

Public Safety will be on duty to offer assistance and directions.

The tradition of carrying roses at graduation goes back to at least the 1930's!

When ordering flowers, please be sure to designate which ceremony you are in!

Flowers can be ordered from the College Bookstore. Women traditionally carry bouquets of six red roses tied with a red bow ($19.90); the boutonniere for men is a single red rose ($4.50).
All flower orders after April 30 will incur an additional $10 charge. The last day to place an order is May 5 at noon. Roses may be picked up immediately prior to lining up for commencement; flowers must be preordered and will not be sold on commencement day.

Diplomas may be picked up* Thurs. May 15, Fri. May 16, Mon. May 19 and Tue. May 20, 2008 from 10 am - 3 pm in the Registrar's Office, 2nd floor of Lightsey Center. A photo ID is required for pick up and only the graduate may pick up the diploma. Diplomas not picked up will be mailed in mid-June to the Graduation address listed on your Graduation Application. To avoid delays in receiving your diploma, please check your personal information on Cougar Trail to ensure the Graduation address is correct. Contact our office for assistance with updating the Graduation address. (You may not change this address via Cougar Trail.) Also please check to make sure that all fees have been paid before you leave the college. Diplomas will not be released to students with an account balance. Detailed diploma information can be found here: http://www.cofc.edu/~register/GRADUATION_DIPLOMA.htm
or you may contact the Graduation Assistant for help at: Graduation@cofc.edu.

*Diplomas may not be available on these dates if you applied or were pre-cleared after March 21st.

A decision regarding change of venue for the commencement exercise from the Cistern Yard to the John Kresse Arena will be made on Friday or Saturday. ADMISSION TICKETS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ALL GUESTS. If one or both ceremonies are relocated to Kresse Arena, students will line up in Silcox Gym. Students may call 843-725-RAIN for updates or check the College of Charleston homepage. Local television news and radio stations will also broadcast the information.