College of Charleston Cistern, 66 George Street

If weather makes it necessary to move one or both ceremonies, the ceremony/ceremonies will be held in the Carolina First Arena. Decisions on moving ceremonies and changes in start times will be announced as early as possible.

THERE WILL BE TWO CEREMONIES

8:00 AM - Graduates in the morning ceremony begin lining up in Maybank Hall and pick up flowers and honor medallions

8:00 AM - Gates to the Cistern Yard open for the morning ceremony. Remote locations open for seating.

9:30 AM - Processional begins for School of the Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs.

2:30 PM - Graduates in the afternoon ceremony begin lining up in Maybank Hall and pick up flowers and honor medallions

2:30 PM - Gates to the Cistern Yard open for the afternoon ceremony. Remote locations open for seating.

4:00 PM - Processional begins for School of Business and Economics, School of Education, Health and Human Performance, and School of Sciences and Mathematics.

Ceremonies will last 2 1/2 - 3 hours (morning) and 2 - 2 1/2 hours (afternoon).

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.

Students should check with their individual departments for information about departmental receptions after the ceremony.

REHEARSAL FOR UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONIES IS MANDATORY.

Rehearsal will be Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the stage on the Cistern.

9:00 AM for students participating in the morning ceremony: School of the Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs. (Students should arrive by 8:50.)

1:00 PM for students participating in the afternoon ceremony: School of Business and Economics, School of Education, Health and Human Performance and School of Sciences and Mathematics. (Students should arrive by 12:50.)

The rain location is the Carolina First Arena.

There will be a picnic for all graduates between the two rehearsals.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Baccalaureate: 6:00 PM, Mt. Zion AME Church, 5 Glebe Street
The closest parking facility is the George Street Garage on St. Philip Street between George and Liberty Streets.

School Awards Ceremonies:

9:00 AM - School of the Arts Breakfast preceding the ceremony - Recital Hall
9:30 AM - School of the Arts - Albert Simons Center for the Arts, Recital Hall

11:30 AM - Honors College - Physicians Memorial Auditorium
12:30 PM - Honors Program reception - Stern Student Center Ballroom

1:00 PM - LCWA Breakfast preceding the ceremony - Arnold Hall, Jewish Studies Center
1:30 PM - School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs - Arnold Hall, Jewish Studies Center

2:00 PM - School of Sciences and Mathematics - Physicians Memorial Auditorium
Reception following - Physicians Auditorium lobby

2:30 PM - School of Business and Economics - Wachovia Auditorium, Beatty Center
Reception following - Beatty Center

3:00 PM - School of Education, Health and Human Performance - Carolina First Arena
Reception following - Silcox Gym

3:30 PM - School of Humanities and Social Sciences Ceremony and Reception - Stern Student Center Ballroom

It is required that each student complete a Graduation Application before their degree can be awarded. Apply via Cougar Trail before the deadline: Feb 1 for Spring. Follow this link for more information: http://www.cofc.edu/registrar/graduation.htm

Additionally, a non-refundable Graduation Fee of $25* will be added to your account when you submit your Graduation Application. This fee is charged regardless of your commencement plans and is due when you submit your graduation application. Contact the Treasurer's Office if you have questions about your account and/or payment options.

*$33 for 2 degrees - follow link above for more information.

Late applicants must complete a paper form in the Registrar's Office and will incur a $25 late fee in addition to the regular graduation fee. Students who fail to complete their graduation application by the deadline risk being omitted from the lists for diploma ordering and commencement eligibility. Please apply by the deadline!

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, 5/9/09. 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.

Personalized announcements may be ordered through www.BalfourCollege.com. Place your order 4-6 weeks prior to ceremony. Mail announcements to family and friends two weeks prior to ceremony.

Diplomas will be ordered at the end of March for students who have applied to graduate for the Spring 2009 term and have been preliminarily cleared to graduate as planned. To ensure accuracy and avoid delays in receiving your diploma, please check the following information on Cougar Trail before March 15th:

Name: Check your unofficial transcript (under Student Records) to be sure your name is correct. The name printed on your diploma must match exactly what is on your College of Charleston record. Contact the Graduation Assistant if corrections are needed.

Graduation Address: Check your addresses (under personal information) to ensure that the Graduation Address is correct. This address is where your diploma will be mailed if not picked up on the designated pick-up days. Contact our office for assistance with updating the Graduation Address. You may not change this address via Cougar Trail.

Fees Paid: Make sure that all fees have been paid before you leave the College. Diplomas will not be released to students with an account balance. Follow this link for more information: DIPLOMA INFORMATION

DIPLOMA PICK-UP: Diplomas for Spring 2009 graduates* may be picked up May 14-15 and May 18-19, 2009 from 10 am - 3 pm in the Registrar's Office, 2nd floor 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 to the Graduation Address on file in mid-June*.

Diplomas for Maymester and summer session graduates will be mailed approximately 4-6 weeks after the semesters end. Be sure your Graduation Address is a place where you can receive mail up to 12 weeks following your last day of class.

*If you were not pre-cleared before March 27th your diploma may be delayed but will be mailed as soon as it is available.

GradTrak (provided by Bob Knight Photo & Chappell Studio) is our graduation photographer. GradTrak's website allows graduates to view their proofs and place orders online, typically within a week following commencement. To ensure security, the graduate must use an assigned private PIN number to access photos. The site includes frequently-asked questions and contact information to e-mail comments or questions to the Customer Service department. Go to www.gradimages.com.

Graduates can also preregister their e-mail as well as their friends' and family's e-mail addresses at http://www.gradimages.com/Register.cfm and GradTrak will contact them as soon as their photos are available for online viewing and ordering.