FAQs
Q: Where can I find up-to-date information about commencement?
A: Detailed information regarding commencement can be found online at coastal.edu/commencement. Click on the “Fall Commencement” tab to find useful information, including information about parking, important deadlines, dining and accommodations, accessibility and special needs accommodations. Also, follow us Facebook @CCUGRADS. Fall ceremony recording and highlight videos from past comment ceremonies are viewable on the CCU Commencement YouTube channel.
Q: Are tickets required?
A. Yes, general admission tickets are required for the ceremony at the HTC Center. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The graduate does not need a ticket and is the only person who can claim tickets. Guests without tickets to commencement may view a live stream of the ceremony at Wheelwright Auditorium located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle, Conway, SC 29526.
Claim Tickets »
Q: I missed the Grad Fair, where can I get my cap and gown?
A: Oak Hall is the official vendor of Coastal Carolina University commencement regalia, and caps and gowns can be ordered online.
Order Regalia »
Q: As a graduate, when should I arrive at the campus for commencement?
A: You should arrive no later than one hour prior to the start of your ceremony. Please arrive dressed in your regalia, as time will be limited. Enter at Gate 3, the back corner entrance of the HTC Center. Designated graduate parking is located in the four lots surrounding Hicks Dining Hall (BB, CC, DD, and EE lots). Valuables/purses should not be brought with you, as there is no secure storage available. Graduates must make prior arrangements to get tickets to guests.
Q: My family and friends would like to arrive early to beat traffic and get the best seats; when should they arrive?
A: Doors to the HTC Center will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Shuttle service will be available 90 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony to transport guests to the HTC Center. Guests are to enter at either Gate 1 or Gate 2. Please note that guests that arrive earlier than one hour prior to the ceremony will wait outside of the HTC Center (seating is not available outside during this time).
Q: I need handicap-accessible parking for commencement; how can I ensure that?
A: Limited handicap-accessible parking for guests with disabilities is available in the AA lot in front of the HTC Center. This lot is accessible via Founders drive, and only accessible to those who have an official state-issued ADA placard. Designated handicap golf cart shuttles will be available to transport disabled/elderly guests who park in general parking, to the HTC Center.
Accessibility »
Q: Some of my friends and family will not be able to attend the ceremony in person; will there be a broadcast?
A: The University is pleased to provide a webcast of the ceremony on the commencement website. Guests that will be on campus but do not have a ticket for the ceremony, will be able to view the ceremony at The Coastal Theater inside the Lib Jackson Student Union located at 100 Spadoni Park Circle, Conway, SC 29526.
Live Stream Location »
Webcast »
Q: What will parking on campus be like during commencement weekend?
A: Parking on campus will be available to all attendees of commencement at no cost. No parking permits are required for general parking.
Continuous, complimentary shuttle service from general parking areas to the HTC Center will be available. Guests are urged to use the shuttle service. All shuttles are wheelchair accessible and will begin service 90 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
There are two shuttle zones in the general parking areas, the teal shuttle zone, and the bronze shuttle zone. To ensure an easy return, guests should take note of the zone in which they have chosen to park. After the ceremony concludes, clearly labeled shuttles will be waiting outside of the HTC Center to transport guests back to their zone. Shuttle zones will be displayed on commencement parking signs, shuttle stop signs, and the front and side screens of shuttles. (The bronze shuttle zone services the KK and QQ lot. The Teal Shuttle Zone services the GG lot, the HH lot and those that view the live stream in Wheelwright Auditorium).
Q: Is there reserved seating for guests that need special assistance?
A: ADA seating is available in the first row of each section, which is designated by white and blue tape. Due to high demand, this area is strictly reserved for our ADA patrons plus one companion. This area, like all commencement guest seating, is first-come, first served. Event staff will be on hand the day of commencement to assist.
Q: How do I know if my son/daughter is graduating?
A: Your graduate will need to check their status with either their designated advisor or the Office of the Registrar, which is located in Baxley Hall, Room 222. To be eligible for graduation, the student must meet all course requirements, all “in residence” requirements, all departmental or program requirements, and have submitted a graduation application. The student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Coastal Carolina University, and have earned the minimum hours as determined by the degree (120 earned hours minimum). If the student has received a grade of I (incomplete) for any of his or her classes for the current term (or have an “I” from a previous term), he or she must have completed all coursework and turned it into the instructor by the end of the term.
Q: Do students have to apply for graduation?
A: Yes, the first step you need to complete is to meet with your academic advisor. You should discuss your Program Evaluation and any degree and/or program requirements that must be completed. Then you must apply for graduation online through WebAdvisor. Graduation applications must be submitted by Friday, April 12, 2019, to avoid paying any additional late fee. Please note: If your graduation application has not been processed by the Office of the Registrar at the time names are pulled and reviewed for printing in the commencement program, your name may not appear. For dates specific to each term, contact your advisor. For questions regarding graduation applications, contact Office of the Registrar at 843-349-2019 or visit their office located in Baxley Hall, room 222.
Q: When do I get my diploma?
A: Diplomas are not distributed on commencement day but are mailed later to the address specified on your graduation application. You should receive your diploma six to eight weeks after your commencement ceremony. If you need to change the address that was given on your graduation application, contact Office of the Registrar at 843-349-2143 or visit their office located in Baxley Hall, room 222.
Q: How long does the ceremony last?
A: The ceremony should last approximately one and a half hours. Graduates are urged to make arrangements before Commencement to meet family and friends after the ceremony at a designated location outside of the HTC Center.
Q: I don't have enough tickets for the ceremony, is there any way that I can get additional tickets?
A: It depends. After the initial tickets have been claimed and the number of available seats has been established, an email will be sent to graduates notifying them of any rush/additional tickets. Rush tickets are not guaranteed but are subject to seating availability.
Q: Do graduates have a designated parking location for the ceremony?
A: Yes, graduate parking is located in the four lots surrounding Hicks Dining Hall (BB, CC, DD, and EE lots). Graduates are to arrive no later than one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Enter at Gate 3, the back corner entrance of the HTC Center for student line-up. Valuables/purses should not be brought with you, as there is no secure storage available. Graduates must make prior arrangements to get tickets to guests.