Graduation

2009 CSU Graduation Ceremony

Registration for graduation is now over!

Congratulations! Your graduation from Columbia Southern University (CSU) symbolizes the years of hard work and determination you committed to successfully completing your degree program. Completing a degree through distance learning requires the highest level of self-discipline and motivation. You must be an independent thinker and have full dedication to the end result – achieving your dreams of higher education.

Registered graduates are invited to participate in the 2009 CSU commencement ceremony set for October 16th in Pensacola, Florida at the world's second largest National Museum of Naval Aviation. This 300,000 square foot structure of steel and glass attracts approximately one million visitors a year and features more than 150 aircraft.

The ceremony will be held in the 10,000 square foot atrium with a quartet of McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk jets suspended above in their famous diamond formation. Chief Dennis Rubin, Fire Chief for the District of Columbia, will serve as the keynote speaker for this event. As chief, he is responsible for overseeing more than 2,000 employees. His agency is the nation’s first responder, responsible for safeguarding the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and other precious landmarks, schools, businesses and homes. Chief Rubin’s fire and rescue service experience spans more than 35 years.

Registered graduates are also invited to participate in other activities including an open house, alumni social and graduation reception.  More details about these graduation events will soon be available.

Graduates must submit a $110 ceremony fee along with the commencement registration to participate. Friends and family are also welcome to attend the graduation ceremony. Students may bring up to five guests. The first four guests can attend at no cost; however each additional guest (up to five) will have an additional cost of $10 each. We ask that you provide CSU with the number that will be attending so that sufficient seating will be made available.

Ceremony Registration and Regalia Fees

Once you submit your graduation registration, we will email you instructions for ordering your regalia.

• Associates $30.20 - Cap, Gown, Tassel – (includes shipping directly to student)
• Bachelor's $30.20 - Cap, Gown, Tassel – (includes shipping directly to student)
• Bachelor's with Honors - $36.30 - Cap, Gown, Tassel – (includes shipping directly to student)
• Master's $51.05 - Cap, Gown, Tassel, Hood – (includes shipping directly to student)

Orders for CSU international students will be shipped directly to Columbia Southern University. You will be able to pick up your cap and gown on Monday, October 12th through Thursday, October 15th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. If you need to make special arrangements for picking up your regalia, please contact Kimberly Shirley at kimberly.shirley@columbiasouthern.edu.

Graduating with Honors

Those students who qualify for honors will be given the option to purchase a cord to wear with their regalia. For a student enrolled in the bachelor's degree program to graduate with honors, they must earn the following grade point average.

You must indicate on the online order form if you plan to graduate with honors.
Honors are based upon coursework completed at CSU.  Honor graduates must have no grades lower than "C", and must not have repeated any course at CSU.

Individual and Group Photos

Please submit the Graduation Portrait Order Form to order individual or group photos. Please contact Southern Exposure Photography at (850) 435-3221 if you have any additional questions.

Stay Connected to Your Alma Mater!

As a CSU graduate, you will gain automatic FREE access to our Alumni Association to stay connected with your alma mater. Alumni Association benefits include:

• A social networking site, the CSU Click, exclusively for CSU alumni
• A subscription to our quarterly student/alumni newsletter, the CSU Communicator.
• Notice of any social or career networking events.
• Discounts from companies such as Avis and Liberty Mutual.
• Opportunities to make contact with more than 9,000 other CSU alumni.
• Access to the CSU online library.

Please visit the CSU Alumni section of our website for more details.