Ceremonies and Venue - Coastal Carolina University
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Ceremonies and Venue Information

On Friday, Dec. 15, the Fall Class of 2023 will take their place in a long procession of Chanticleers reaching all the way back to 1959 when Coastal Carolina awarded its first degree and back to 1954 when the institution first opened its doors. Commencement serves not only as a tribute to the enduring vibrancy of Teal Nation but also as a powerful symbol of our global, lifelong connections as Chanticleers.

General Ceremony Information

Coastal Carolina University’s Fall 2023 commencement ceremonies will be held on Friday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. inside the HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center.

Conway Medical Center College of Health and Human Performance
Friday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m.
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center  

Gupta College of Science
Friday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m.
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center   

HTC Honors College*
Friday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m.
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center  

*Students earning a degree in Sustainability and Coastal Resilience or Women's and Gender Studies will be recognized at this ceremony. Graduates of the HTC Honors Program will be recognized by the academic colleges they are earning their degrees from.

Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences
Friday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m.
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center  

Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Friday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m.
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center  

E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration
Friday, Dec. 15, at 5 p.m.
HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center

Click here, to view the undergraduate programs in each academic college.
Click here, to view the graduate programs in each academic college.

The ceremony begins with the procession of the graduates, followed by faculty members and the platform party. Other traditional customs include University recognitions; formal addresses from the University President, board of trustees, and CCU alumni; conferring of degrees; and the singing of the alma mater.

The ceremony should last approximately 90 minutes; however, the length of each ceremony may vary due to the size of the graduating class within each college. To ensure a quick and safe exit, graduates are urged to make arrangements before commencement to meet family and friends outside of the HTC Center after the ceremony at a designated location.

Venue Safety Measures

The Fall 2023 Commencement ceremonies will be held at the HTC Center. Doors will open one hour prior to the start of each ceremony. Please note, that guests arriving earlier than one hour prior to the start of the ceremony will be waiting outside until the doors open. Tickets are required for the ceremonies and seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests can enter the HTC Center via gates 1 and 2.

Graduates will need to arrive at the HTC Center and check in at the Gate 3 entrance no later than one hour prior to the start of their ceremony.

Health Safety Statement

Commencement is a time of celebration, and all graduates and guests should evaluate their risk in determining whether to attend the ceremonies. An inherent risk of exposure to contagious infectious diseases (i.e. Chickenpox, COVID-19, Influenza, Measles) exists in any public place where people are present. By attending commencement activities on campus, you voluntarily assume any and all risks of exposure to infectious diseases. 

Graduates and their guests planning on participating in commencement events must agree that they will not attend the ceremony if the graduate, guests, or traveling companions: 

  • Are sick or experiencing symptoms of an infectious disease without a known underlying cause.
  • Have tested positive for COVID-19 or other infectious diseases within 10 days prior to commencement or travel to campus.

Clear Bag Policy

The University will be enforcing the Clear Bag Policy. Clear bag checks will be conducted at each gate entrance. Coastal Carolina University reserves the right to search any person, their bags, and possessions carried into the event facility. A list of prohibited items is displayed at each gate entrance and can be viewed here.

No Re-entry Policy
Guests will not be allowed to re-enter the HTC Center after exiting.

Tobacco-free Campus
Coastal Carolina University is a tobacco-free campus. The use of all tobacco products and all smoke-related products are prohibited in or on all University property. This policy does not restrict or prohibit the lawful possession of tobacco.