MAY GRADUATION INFORMATION

Everything you need to know about the upcoming Graduation day.

Graduation Events

For GradFest information click here.

Friday, May 9

9a.m. - Graduation Practice - Iles P.E. Center
      For those unable to attend practice, please view the instructions here.
6p.m. - School of Social Work Pinning Program - Ackerman Auditorium
6p.m. - School of Business Commissioning and Honors Induction Ceremony - Thatcher Hall Chapel
8p.m. - Senior Dedication Vespers - University Church 

Saturday, May 10
9a.m. - Adoration Service - University Church 
11:45a.m. - Renewal Service - University Church
4p.m. - School of Education and Psychology Dedication - University Church
7p.m. - School of Nursing Dedication - Iles P.E. Center

Sunday, May 11
9a.m. - Commencement Service - Iles P.E. Center 
1p.m. - Commencement Service - Iles P.E. Center

There will be two full-capacity commencement services, 9am and 1pm.  Graduates will be able to register for their preferred service by March 11. Each graduate will be automatically listed for 8 tickets upon registering for their service. Should additional tickets be required, graduates can email graduation@southern.edu to request up to 8 additional tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that all guests will need a ticket, with the exception of babies under the age of 1. E-tickets will be used, and those e-tickets will be sent out to each graduate 24 hours before his/her event and again three hours prior to his/her event. Graduates can then disburse their tickets to their guests. Each ticket can only be used once.

All communication from the Commencement Coordinator and your e-tickets will go to the email address you enter into the registration system. Please be sure you type it carefully. Also note that if you choose to register with a personal email address, you will need watch that address for communication.

We look forward to celebrating this important occasion with you, and we hope that holding it on campus will only add to the good memories you will have of Southern. You can download a copy of the May 2024 commencement program by clicking here. The May 2025 program will be uploaded a couple weeks prior to the services.

Doors for each commencement service will open one hour prior to the event’s scheduled start time.

Detailed instructions for the graduation services are listed below on this page. 

Helium balloons are not allowed inside the gym, because if one is accidentally released, it could set off the alarms in the gym, requiring evacuation of the facility. If balloons are brought in, they will need to be left at the florist's tables and picked up after the service. It is recommended, however, that balloons be left in vehicles to be received after the event.