There are 3 steps needed to participate in the School of Computing Ceremonies:

1. Students must have submitted their application for and been accepted for graduation.
2. Students must RSVP for one of the School of Computing Ceremony no later than Friday, April 16, 2021.
3. Order Regalia. Regalia must be ordered no later than Sunday, April 4th at midnight.

The School of Computing Ceremony is a part of the University of South Alabama Commencement Weekend. It is hosted by the Dean and the School of Computing Faculty to individually recognize the accomplishments each undergraduate and graduate candidate of the School of Computing, which is not possible at the larger University Ceremony.  It is an opportunity for School of Computing graduates to celebrate their success with the School of Computing faculty and staff.  

At the School of Computing Ceremony, the names of all degree candidates will be individually announced, and each graduating student will walk in front of the stage. Graduates will receive their diploma cover.

The University Virtual Ceremony will allow a celebration for the entire graduating class. At the University Ceremony President Tony Waldrop will confer the degrees upon all graduating students, the commencement speaker will deliver an address, and doctoral students will be recognized.

The School of Computing ceremony will last approximately thirty minutes. After students are admitted, the student will not be permitted to leave until the conclusion of the ceremony.

Yes, Students will be required to stay for the entirety of their ceremony.

Yes, Participants should wear traditional business attire or business casual under the academic regalia (cap and gown). Please do not bring purses and other personal items with you. School of Computing faculty and staff cannot be responsible for students’ personal belongings.  

All participants must wear academic regalia ordered online through Graduate Supply House. Undergraduate and Master’s regalia is a keep-sake and will not need to be returned. PhD student regalia is rental only.  Regalia must be ordered by Sunday, April 4, 2021 at midnight.

Online ordering OPENS: March 4, 2021 (https://gradsupply.com/usa/)

Online ordering DEADLINE: Sunday, April 4, 2021 at midnight (https://gradsupply.com/usa/)

Regalia may be ordered for pick-up at the USA Bookstore or shipped to your home.  PhD regalia will be returned to the USA Bookstore or sent via mail using a provided pre-paid return shipping label.  

Students may contact the USA Bookstore if interested in ordering official graduation announcements.

Tentative honors based on the student’s academic record through the end of the last term completed will appear in the printed commencement program.  Final official honors will be computed after all grades are processed at the end of the term for the final term of attendance and will appear on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Undergraduate students who have at least 60 GPA hours in residence with a grade point average of 3.50 or better at the University of South Alabama are graduated with distinction. Transfer credit hours are not included in the determination of academic honors. Academic honors are not awarded for graduate degrees or professional degrees.

Cum Laude 3.50 - 3.69
Magna Cum Laude 3.70 - 3.89
Summa Cum Laude 3.90 - 4.00

Cords and stoles from various student organizations may be worn during the commencement ceremony.  Students must contact their organization for availability and pick-up information.

PhD graduates will receive their diploma cover at the School of Computing Ceremony. Hooding may take place at the School of Computing prior to the School of Computing Ceremony. They will individually be recognized, and their degree officially conferred at the University Ceremony

Diplomas will be mailed by the university following Commencement Weekend.  

Graduating students participating in the School of Computing Ceremony who require accommodations (i.e., mobility impaired, visually impaired, etc.) for the ceremony must contact the School of Computing Dean's Office two weeks prior to ceremony. Handicapped parking will be limited but available.

A professions photographer will be taking official commencement photographs for the School of Computing ceremony. Graduates will be photographed before, during, and after the ceremony – no non-socially distanced group photos will be taken. Copies will be available through the School of Computing website after graduation weekend.

A Congratulatory Video will be created and played during the SOC ceremony.  The video will contain personalized video snippets sent to us from family and friends congratulating our graduates on their accomplishments.  If someone would like to send in a video for a graduate, they need to email their congratulatory video snippet (30 seconds or less, in one of the following formats:  FLV – Flash Video, ASF – Windows Media, QT – Apple QuickTime, MOV – Apple QuickTime. MPG – Digital Video Format, MPEG – Digital Video Format, AVI – Digital Video Format, M4V – Digital Video Format, WMV – Windows Media, MP4 – Digital Video Format, 3GP – Multimedia Mobile Format) to Mrs. Ashley Burns (ashleyburns@southalabama.edu) no later than Friday, April 16, 2021.

After a careful review of current COVID-19 conditions and necessary health and safety protocols, University leadership has approved a plan for guests to attend the commencement ceremonies for Spring 2021.

SOC Graduating will be able to invite up to 4 guests to attend their ceremony. The ceremony will be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend. At the SOC ceremony, students will be recognized by name and receive their diploma covers and have their photos taken. Social distancing protocols will be observed, and guests will be seated with sufficient distance between groups. All attendees, students, and guests will be required to wear a mask at all times.

Gradates will receive a Google Form from the Mitchell Center to obtain the names and email addresses of their guests. Upon receiving the guests’ names and email addresses from the graduate, the Mitchell Center will issue electronic tickets to the guests. Assigned seats are required. The Mitchell Center will stagger guests’ arrival times via the electronic tickets to seat the lower sections first. For guests without email addresses (e.g., children), their tickets will be issued to one of the graduates’ other guests who does have an email address. That guest will be responsible for their own electronic ticket and those assigned to the guest(s) without email addresses. These guests will be required to enter together. Guests must display their electronic ticket(s) with seat assignments and meet entry requirements. Guests will be seated in groups of 4 in the 300-level sections of the arena. Children under the age of 2 will not be required to have a ticket as they will be expected to sit in the lap of an accompanying adult.