Welcome to the College of Charleston!

We look forward to having you on campus to celebrate the academic achievements of our bachelor's and master's candidates. Below you will find important information regarding commencement. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Commencement Team.

Important Information

Please find below information that may answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding the commencement cermonies.
  • Parking

    Graduates and guests should park in a parking garage or metered parking spots and are welcome to use alternative transportation (e.g., walk, bike, carpool, ride CARTA buses, use car services).  

    Three public parking garages are located on or near campus. Fees apply as noted.

    • George Garage at 34 St. Philip Street. Commencement rate of $5 prepaid to attendant (cash only)
    • St. Philip Street Garage at 89 St. Philip Street. Commencement rate of $5 prepaid to attendant (cash only)
    • Francis Marion Garage on King Street. Please review all posted rates/fees at the garage entrance. As of publication, the hourly rate is $1 per half hour, or a portion thereof, with a daily maximum of $18.

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

    Accessible Parking Visitors to the College of Charleston who require accessible parking should park at a meter or in a garage. Persons with a valid state-issued placard can park in a garage free of charge. Upon exiting, the driver must present their driver's license to the cashier for verification. 

  • Accessibility Information

    Accessibility Requests

    • Guests: If you are a guest with a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at eop@cofc.edu at least 10 business days in advance of the ceremony.
    • Students: If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Center for Disability Services at snap@cofc.edu at least 10 business days in advance of the ceremony.

    Accessible Seating

    • It is available on a first-come, first-served basis in TD Arena (Winter Commencement) and Cistern Yard (May Commencement).
    • The St. Philip gate entrance (just north of Calhoun) is recommended to anyone that needs to be dropped off until the street closure at 3 p.m. (Friday p.m. and Saturday p.m. ceremonies) or 9 a.m. (Saturday a.m. ceremony).

    Accessible Parking

    Visitors to the College of Charleston who require accessible parking should park at a meter or in a garage. Persons with a valid state-issued placard can park in a garage free of charge. Upon exiting, the driver must present their driver's license to the cashier for verification.

    Cistern Yard information

    • All guests may enter by one of two ways – both of which are accessible:  Porter’s Lodge (located on George Street) or St. Philip Street Gate (located on St. Philip Street).
    • Seating:  Accessible seating is available and integrated throughout this space. However, if a guest has a concern or question, they should contact eop@cofc.edu at least 10 days in advance of the ceremony. If it is the day of, ushers will be available to assist.
    • Individuals using an assistive device (e.g., wheelchair, scooter) or who have limited mobility:  Both entrances into Cistern Yard as noted above (Porter’s Lodge or St. Philip Street Gate) are accessible. If individuals entering Cistern Yard are using an assistive device, it is required that the device not block any aisle.

    Captions
    Captioning of the live stream video will be available on the College of Charleston Facebook page and the College of Charleston YouTube page.

    Interpreters
    American Sign Language interpreters will be at commencement ceremonies.

    Service Animals
    Whether you are a graduating student or a guest, service animals – as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – are allowed at commencement ceremonies. All other animals are prohibited from College commencement ceremonies.

    Wheelchairs and Other Mobility Devices
    College of Charleston does not provide mobility devices for commencement, but they can be rented directly from one of the following area vendors:

    Herbert’s Mobility
    1930 Ashley River Road
    Charleston, SC 29407
    843 571-1515

     


    TD Arena (For winter commencement)

    We do our best to ensure accessibility for all, but guests should contact us if there is an accommodation need due to a disability.

    TD Arena information
    • All guests enter the main entrance (301 Meeting St., Charleston SC 29401).
    • Seating: It is ample in this space. However, if a guest has a concern or question, they should contact eop@cofc.edu at least 10 days in advance of the ceremony. If it is the day of, ushers will be available to assist.
    • Individuals using an assistive device (e.g., wheelchair, scooter) or who have limited mobility: Ushers will direct individuals to the location of the elevator. Guests using the elevator will proceed to the second floor. Upon exiting off the elevator, turn left to enter the seating area for Commencement. Seating options for guests are available throughout this floor who are unable to navigate the stairs.
  • Alcohol Policy

    The College of Charleston observes a strict no-alcohol or other drugs policy prior to and during the commencement ceremonies.

    Ceremony participants, graduation candidates, and guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages or other drugs onto the premises or consuming alcoholic beverages during the ceremonies. Any person determined by College personnel to be impaired will be removed from the premises and prohibited from participating in the ceremony.  

    All graduates planning to participate in the commencement ceremony must acknowledge by their signature that they have read and understand the policy as well as the consequences for violating the policy prior to receiving tickets to commencement. The audience will be reminded prior to the ceremony that any student determined to be impaired will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

    In support of the policy, a "no alcohol or other drugs zone" for Cistern commencement ceremonies that includes Cistern Yard, Randolph Hall and the block bordered by St. Philip, George, Coming and Calhoun has been established. For the December commencement, a similar “no alcohol or other drugs zone” encompasses TD Arena and Johnson Center. 

    • Within this zone, alcohol or other drugs will be confiscated.
    • There will be a bag check for graduates entering ready line-up rooms (Maybank Hall in May and Johnson Center and TD Arena in December). Please read the Prohibited Items and Bag Check page for information about our clear bag protocol. 
    • Secure storage for personal effects will be provided in the line-up rooms, but you are advised to bring as few personal belongings as necessary. No bags will be allowed on stage. 
    • No outside food or beverages will be allowed in the line-up rooms (exception for documented medical necessity only).
    • Once admitted to line-up rooms and ceremony venue, graduates will not be permitted to exit this area and return. Staff will monitor entrances and exits with support from Public Safety.
    • Impaired or inebriated students will be removed from the ready room area, pulled from line, or removed from the stage prior to walking.
      • Using a predetermined protocol, public safety officers and EMS will evaluate students believed to be impaired or inebriated.
      • If it is determined that a student is unable to participate in the ceremony, the student will be escorted from the ceremony and transported to a local hospital by EMS if deemed necessary or turned over to a responsible party (family member or friend).
  • Clear Bag Policy

    In addition to a great overall guest experience, the safety and security of our students, staff, faculty, guests, and all visitors is our number one priority. By adhering to these proactive measures, we can speed up the screening process and enhance the safety inside and out of our commencement venues.

    This protocol also supports Homeland Security's "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign.

    The link below will take you to the Clear Bag Policy, enacted in 2019.

    The following security protocols will be in place for all commencement ceremonies on May 10 and 11. 

    Entrance

    • Graduates can enter through the St. Philip Street gate across from the Simons Center or through the Greenway gate on Coming Street. Gradates will walk-through metal detectors by the fountain in Cougar Mall before entering Maybank Hall.
    • Guests will walk-through metal detectors at the main guest entrance at Porter’s Lodge on George Street.
    • The clear bag policy will be in effect and will apply to both guests and graduates.
    • If you are wearing a medical device, please notify security at the entryway.

    Approved Bags

    • Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″. A logo no larger than 4.5″ x 3.4″ can be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag.
    • One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
    • Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ – approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap

    Prohibited Items

    • Purses larger than a clutch bag (4.5″ x 6.5″), briefcases, backpacks, and cinch bags of any kind, fanny packs, luggage of any kind, computer bags/cases, camera bags/cases, binocular bags/cases or any bag larger than the permissible size (12″ x 6″ x 12″)
    • Coolers, thermoses, cups, bottles, cans, flasks
    • Food of any kind
    • Video cameras, tripods, recording devices, detachable camera lenses over 6″, selfie sticks
    • Weapons/Concealed Weapons
    • Alcoholic Beverages
    • Containers of any kind
    • Aerosol and Spray Cans
    • Mace/Pepper Spray
    • Animals (except service animals)
    • Laser lights, Strobe Lights and Pointers
    • Irritants such as artificial noisemakers
    • Fireworks/Explosives
    • Inflatables (beach balls, etc.)
    • Flags and Flagpoles, unauthorized banners or posters
    • Strollers
    • Illegal Drugs
    • Drones

     

    Clear Bag Policy
  • Online and Satellite Viewing Options

    Commencement Ceremonies are live-streamed on the College of Charleston's Facebook and YouTube pages.

    The ceremony videos become available on the commencement website archive approximately four weeks after the ceremony.

    For guests without a ticket, there will be satellite viewing locations on campus, at the Stern Student Center and the Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center. This space is indoors and airconditioned and does not require a ticket for entry. Please visit the campus map for locations.