Fall 2020 commencement will be held in-person and virtually

This December, Coastal Carolina University will be holding two in-person commencement ceremonies. One will be held for students graduating this fall, and the other for those who graduated in the 2020 spring and summer terms when virtual ceremonies were the only option.

“Graduating from college is a momentous occasion, and Coastal Carolina University is thrilled to be planning for the return of in-person commencement ceremonies,” CCU President David A. DeCenzo said in a news email. “We are being responsive to the heartfelt wishes of our graduating students and their families. The health and safety of everyone involved will be at the forefront of these traditional events on the Coastal Carolina campus. The University’s board of trustees and I look forward to recognizing and celebrating our 2020 fall, summer, and spring graduates.”

A CCU News email said, both ceremonies will be held outside at Brooks Stadium and have limited capacity and seating arranged to ensure social distancing is taking place. Masks will be required of everyone attending and CCU’s Clear Bag Policy will also be enforced at the ceremonies.

For seniors graduating this semester, the ceremony will be held in-person on Friday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. for students of all five colleges. The rain date for this ceremony is Sunday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. Fall graduates will also be recognized during a virtual ceremony on Friday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m.

Spring and summer graduates had virtual ceremonies due to COVID-19 and will now have the opportunity to attend an in-person ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. The rain date for this ceremony is Monday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m.

“CCU received approval from the South Carolina Department of Commerce to host the commencement ceremonies inside Brooks Stadium,” a CCU News email said. “The approval is in accordance with S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order that outlines a procedure for exceptions to gathering restrictions. Brooks Stadium’s revised capacity, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AccelerateSC, NCAA, and Sun Belt Conference guidelines, cannot exceed a total of 5,000 attendees, which include graduates, family members, faculty and staff, platform party, volunteers, and vendors.”

Important Dates Calendar:

Nov. 29, at midnight: Deadline to submit the graduate virtual submission form

Dec. 6, at 4 p.m.: Deadline to claim graduate and guest tickets

Dec. 8: Date graduate seat assignment will be emailed to the graduate

Dec. 11, at 1 p.m.: Fall 2020 in-person commencement ceremony inside Brooks Stadium

Dec. 13, at midnight: Graduation application status must state “pending with the Office of the Registrar” to have a graduate slide appear during the virtual ceremony

Dec. 18, at 6 p.m.: Fall virtual commencement ceremony