Candidate Information

Ceremony

Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the North Charleston Coliseum located at 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418. 

Where to Arrive 

Candidates need to arrive at the North Charleston Coliseum, East Entrance under the sky walk with academic regalia (mortarboard cap or tam, gown, hood, tassel). You will check in to receive a seating card with their position clearly identified by their name and number. There will be staff on hand to direct you to your seat.

• Graduates will need to arrive by 9:00 a.m.

Entrance to the Coliseum floor will be closed 15 minutes before the ceremony, so please plan to arrive on time!

Communications

All University Commencement Event communications will be delivered via your MUSC email and primary phone numbers from the Commencement software, Marching Order.

Announcements, Class Rings and Diplomas Frames

Order your official Medical University of South Carolina Graduation Announcements, Class ring and Diploma frame from Jostens at jostens.com or visit the Office of Student Programs, Harper Student Center, SW213 to view samples.

Clear Bag Policy - Purse and Valuables

There is a clear bag policy for this event. Please review the NC Bag Policy for additional information at https://www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/guest-services/clear-bag-policy. Graduates please do not bring personal items with you that will not fit into your pockets as there is no place to store them during the event (e.g. purses, cameras, hangers, umbrellas).

Commencement Day Participation

Students may complete degree requirements at the end of the Spring semester, or the Summer semester, or the Fall semester, although the University conducts only one graduation ceremony held in the month of May. Students completing their requirements in May are expected to participate in the May ceremony. (Student fees are used to pay for one diploma, mailing/handling and related Commencement activities.) Students are expected to file with the Office of Enrollment Management one online form related to graduation: the Commencement Application Form, filed the semester before the candidate's final semester.

Commencement Rehearsal 

MUSC does not conduct a rehearsal prior to Commencement day. 

Decorum for the event 

The commencement ceremony is undeniably of great importance to each of you, to your guests who are here to celebrate with you, to the faculty, and to the University's special guests. To preserve the proper degree of dignity that this highly academic occasion warrants, the Deans of the Colleges, the University Provost, and the President request that you and your guests do not interrupt the ceremony with inappropriate expressions. By refraining from disrupting the ceremony, you and your guests will allow the awarding of degrees to progress rapidly and with dignity. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Diplomas 

Diplomas are mailed to August and December graduates in the month following completion of requirements, but are presented to May graduates during the Commencement ceremony.  Graduates who do not attend the event may pick up their diplomas on the Monday after Commencement in the Office of Enrollment Management. The Diploma is 11 inches by 14 inches printed landscape.  

NetIDs

Your MUSC email account will remain active for approximately 60 days after your last day as an MUSC student*.

We recommend that you prepare now so that you do not lose any valuable emails, contacts, documents, etc. Please transfer all personal data and files to a more permanent repository. If you activated your phone or other device using your MUSC email address, you will need to change your account settings to ensure your important contacts are retained before your email is deactivated. Once your email account is deactivated, it will not be reactivated.

* Current employees and those hired by MUSC during this period retain their email accounts. 

Regalia

The academic costume consists of black gown of the appropriate degree level, mortarboard cap, hood and tassel. The MUSC hood color (inside) is gold and black the outside trim is associated to the degree awarded. Only one hood may be worn. For combined degrees the color is that of the higher degree is worn. MUSC Honor Cords will also be worn as awarded by the College and University. We do not permit any supplementary ornamentation to the Academic Regalia although doctorate candidates may wear a tam if they choose to purchase one at their own expense. Please be advised that you will be walking across the coliseum and up and down ramps/stairs as well as across the stage.

Student Holds 

If you have an outstanding student hold, you will receive your diploma cover when you cross the stage; however, your actual diploma will not be available on the day of the event. It will be mailed once all of your requirements have been fulfilled. 

Transcripts

Official transcripts that you have already ordered will be mailed out as soon as your degree is posted (usually the week after graduation). Remember that effective immediately after you graduate, the cost of transcripts is $20.00 per paper copy and $10.00 per electronic copy. Free paper copies are provided to enrolled students if your request is received prior to your date of graduation. To order transcripts visit the Student Portal at life.musc.edu. 

Parking at the Coliseum

There is ample parking available at the coliseum. 

Photography

In an effort to inform the parents of graduates about photos at the upcoming Commencement ceremony, GradImages has developed a new preregistration system which allows the graduates and/or their parents to provide their email and mailing address information to Chappell prior to the ceremony. They can also add up to 6 family members' contact information as well to help share the good news and the photos! Graduates can preregister their own email address, as well as addresses for friends and family. Graduation Images will contact them just as soon as their photos are available for online viewing and ordering. Visit GradImages to register at http://www.gradimages.com/Preregistration