Commencement

The North Charleston Coliseum enforces a Clear Bag Policy for this event.

Graduates are strongly encouraged to refrain from bringing personal items that will not fit in their pockets, as there will be no storage available during the ceremony. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, purses, cameras, garment hangers, and umbrellas.

All guests should review the North Charleston Coliseum’s Clear Bag Policy in advance of the event to ensure a smooth entry experience.

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

Students may complete degree requirements at the end of the spring, summer, or fall semester; however, the University holds one graduation ceremony each year in May.

Students who complete their degree requirements in spring are expected to participate in the May ceremony.

Student fees cover the cost of one diploma, mailing and handling, and Commencement-related activities.

All students must submit a Commencement Application Form to the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM) during the semester prior to their final semester. This form is used to:

• Confirm graduation eligibility
• Order regalia
• Order the diploma

MUSC does not conduct a rehearsal prior to Commencement day.

Candidates should arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. ET at the North Charleston Coliseum – East Entrance (under the skywalk) wearing full academic regalia (gown, hood, mortarboard cap or tam, and tassel).

Upon arrival, graduates will check in to receive a seating card that includes their name and assigned position number. Event staff will be available to direct graduates to their seats.

Please note: Entry to the Coliseum floor will close 15 minutes before the ceremony begins, so timely arrival is essential.

The academic costume consists of a black gown appropriate to the degree level, a mortarboard cap (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) or a tam (doctoral degrees), a hood, and a tassel.

The Medical University of South Carolina inside hood colors are black and gold. The outside trim color corresponds to the degree awarded. Only one hood may be worn. For combined degrees, the hood color of the higher degree should be worn.

MUSC honor cords must be worn only as awarded by the College or University. Supplementary ornamentation or decorations are not permitted on academic regalia.

Please note that graduates will be walking across the coliseum floor, up and down ramps or stairs, and across the stage, so appropriate footwear and attire are recommended.

Diplomas are mailed to August and December graduates in the month following completion of degree requirements. Diplomas for May graduates are presented during the Commencement ceremony.

Graduates who do not attend the ceremony may pick up their diploma from the Office of Enrollment Management on the Monday following Commencement.

Diplomas are printed on 11 x 14–inch paper in landscape format.

Graduates may order official Medical University of South Carolina graduation announcements, class rings, and diploma frames through Jostens at jostens.com.

Graduates may also visit the Office of Student Programs in the Harper Student Center, SW213, to view sample items in person.

If you have an outstanding student hold, you will receive a diploma cover when you cross the stage; however, your official diploma will not be issued on the day of Commencement.

Once all outstanding requirements have been fulfilled and the hold is cleared, your diploma will be mailed to you.

Your Medical University of South Carolina email account will remain active for approximately 60 days after your last day as a student, except for current employees and individuals hired by MUSC or MUSC Health during this period.

We strongly recommend that you prepare in advance to avoid losing important information. Before your email account is deactivated, please:

• Transfer personal emails, contacts, and files to a permanent personal account
• Update any devices or services that use your MUSC email address (such as phones, cloud storage, or account logins)

Once your MUSC email account is deactivated, it cannot be reactivated.

Current students may order official paper transcripts at no cost through the Student Portal prior to their graduation date.

Official paper transcripts ordered before graduation will be processed once the degree is posted, typically within one week after graduation. Free paper transcripts are available only to students who are actively enrolled at the time the request is submitted.

Effective on your graduation date, all official transcript requests must be submitted through the National Student Clearinghouse. Please note that effective immediately upon graduation, transcript fees apply:

• $20.00 per paper copy
• $10.00 per electronic copy

Honors Convocation & Hooding Ceremony

Information regarding dates, times, locations, and participation will be communicated by your college and posted here once finalized.

Hooding Ceremony

Information regarding dates, times, locations, and participation will be communicated by your college and posted here once finalized.

Information regarding dates, times, locations, and participation will be communicated by your college and posted here once finalized.

Information regarding dates, times, locations, and participation will be communicated by your college and posted here once finalized.

Convocation

Information regarding dates, times, locations, and participation will be communicated by your college and posted here once finalized.

Awards & Hooding Ceremony

Information regarding dates, times, locations, and participation will be communicated by your college and posted here once finalized.

Please carefully review the spelling of your name and the degree awarded on your diploma. The diploma is printed exactly as the information you provided on your degree application.

Requests for name changes after graduation will be approved only with legal documentation.

Replacement diplomas are available for a $50.00 fee and require a processing period of up to 30 days.

Diplomas are printed on 11 x 14–inch paper in landscape format.

Before framing your diploma, we strongly recommend having several copies made by a business that can reproduce large-format documents. You may also wish to request reduced-size copies and have them notarized as true copies.

Having certified copies can be especially helpful for professional licensure, as many states require official or exact copies of diplomas (reduced copies are often acceptable).

Please note that the Medical University of South Carolina does not issue duplicate diplomas unless documentation is provided showing that the original diploma has been lost or destroyed.

Diploma Costs and Reprints

The cost of the diploma is included in student fees and is non-refundable.

Amended Diplomas ($50 Fee)

An amended diploma is required when the originally ordered diploma must be modified and reprinted due to circumstances within the student’s control, including but not limited to:

• Inability to complete all degree requirements by the date listed on the degree application
• Incorrect degree date or degree type listed on the application
• Misspelling of name(s) or a requested name change
• Any other student-provided error requiring reprinting

Fee: $50.00

Note: There is no charge when an amended diploma is required due to an error made by the University or during the diploma manufacturing process.

Replacement Diplomas ($50 Fee)

A replacement diploma may be requested when the original diploma has been lost, destroyed, or requires reprinting due to a legal name change.

Requirements:

• Completion of a Diploma Request Form (must be notarized)
• Reasonable documentation showing the original diploma was lost or destroyed

Requests for replacement diplomas for deceased alumni may be considered if submitted by a spouse or child and accompanied by:

• A written request and explanation
• A death certificate and/or obituary
• Documentation verifying the relationship

The Medical University of South Carolina reserves the right to determine whether a replacement diploma request is appropriate.

Fee: $50.00

Important: All replacement diplomas will reflect the original degree name and date. Signatures will be those of current University officials.

The University offers unofficial (souvenir) copies of the Medical University of South Carolina diploma. These unofficial diplomas are not official records and are intended for personal or display use.

Cost: $25.00 per copy
Size: 8 x 10 inches

Unofficial diplomas may be used for:

• Additional personal copies
• Gifts
• Display in multiple offices or locations
• Licensure or employment reference purposes
• International degree verification

Order Souvenir Diplomas:

• Students completing a degree application may order up to five (5) unofficial diploma copies when ordering regalia and their official 11 x 14–inch diploma.
• Alumni may order unofficial diploma copiesby contacting the Registrar in the Office of Enrollment Management at registrar@musc.edu 

All unofficial diplomas are mailed directly to the address provided on the request form.

No tickets are required for guests. Seating throughout the Coliseum is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of areas reserved for VIP and accessible seating.

Guests are not permitted to access the arena floor.

Accessible seating is available throughout the North Charleston Coliseum. The accessible entrance to the Coliseum is located on the south side off Montague Avenue.

Accessible seating areas are reserved exclusively for guests with accessibility needs.