Graduation Ceremony FAQ
Graduation is the process of being awarded a degree. All students wishing to graduate must apply for graduation by the application deadline.
Commencement is the ceremony in which the achievement of obtaining a degree is recognized and celebrated by the university community and the students' friends and family.
Friday, December 6
- 3:00 PM
Saturday, December 7
- 9:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
No, there is no practice ceremony. Instructions will be issued before the procession begins, so be sure to arrive at least 45 minutes prior to your chosen ceremony.
Only ceremonies with available seats will show. If the ceremony you are trying to select is not showing, it means that ceremony has filled to capacity.
You may cancel your registration and re-register for an alternate ceremony on a space-available basis via the registration system during the registration period.
PLEASE NOTE: Canceling your original registration does not guarantee a seat in another ceremony; it also does not guarantee your original seat will remain available after cancellation. Revisit the commencement registration page to view which ceremonies are still available. Ceremonies without any available seats will not appear on the registration page. If you choose to cancel, you will receive a cancellation email. If you re-register for a different ceremony, you will receive a confirmation email for your new registration within 24 hours.
The ceremony will take place in the Athletic Center on Clayton State’s main campus.
Tickets are required for anyone over the age of 3. The number of tickets each student will receive will be determined after registration closes and will be communicated via email on November 21. A minimum of four tickets will be allotted per graduate. Any guests who do not have a ticket may view the ceremony at the alternate viewing location in the Student Activities Center.
Children over the age of 3 are required to have a ticket to enter the commencement ceremony in the Athletic Center. Tickets are not required for children 3 years or younger.
Yes. Registration for the fall 2024 commencement will be open November 4-15. Information
regarding registration will be communicated via CSU student email approximately six
weeks prior to date of the ceremony.
Please reset your account login at https://account.clayton.edu/ prior to retaking the survey. Be sure to close and reset your browser completely or switch to a new browser.
Yes. For information regarding the photographer, please visit https://thegradteam.com or call (833) 489-4723.
All degree graduates from summer and fall 2024 will be eligible to participate.
Yes! Alternate viewing will be located in the Student Activities Center Ballroom.
Yes! Commencement caps and gowns are available for purchase online at https://oakhallcg.com/pages/claytonstatelanding. Orders will be mailed to the student. For questions about an order, please contact the vendor at (540) 387-0000 or customercare@oakhalli.com.
The event will be streamed and accessible via the Clayton State University website.
Programs are available at https://www.clayton.edu/commencement. Fall programs will be available the week of the ceremony.
Disability accommodations can be provided upon request for graduates and guests with disabilities. To request accommodations, please complete the event accommodation request form on the Disability Services website or contact them at (678) 466-5445. Large-print programs will be available at the ceremony upon request for guests with low vision.