By: CofC Media
Graduation is a rite of passage at every university. But at the College of Charleston, Spring Commencement is a truly special event – a visually stunning ceremony that bonds generations of CofC alumni.
Each May, graduating seniors clad in white dinner jackets and dresses process to the picturesque Cistern Yard for one of the country's most indelible commencement ceremonies. This year, undergraduate and graduate degree candidates will take to the stage in front of Randolph Hall on Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, 2022, to celebrate this seminal academic milestone.
When is Commencement?
There are three commencement ceremonies this year, with students broken up into groups based on their academic school. Each commencement will last between 2 and 2 1/2 hours beginning at the following times:
- 4 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022, for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs. A rehearsal is set for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4.
- 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022, for the School of Business and the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. A rehearsal is set for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4.
- 4 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022, for the School of the Arts; School of Sciences and Mathematics; and the Graduate School. A rehearsal is set for 1 p.m. on
How Can People Watch the Ceremony?
All ceremonies will be livestreamed on the College of Charleston Facebook page and the College of Charleston YouTube page. Recordings of the ceremonies will also be archived and made available for viewing approximately four weeks later on the commencement website.
What if it rains?
The College of Charleston monitors the weather for Commencement weekend 24 hours a day. In the event of rain or other inclement weather, ceremonies will be moved to the College's TD Arena.
Who are this year's commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients?
FRIDAY, MAY 6, CEREMONY
- Commencement speaker: Susan Farrell, professor of English at the College of Charleston
- Honorary degree recipient: Philanthropist John Winthrop
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 10 a.m. CEREMONY
- Commencement speaker: Steve Litvin
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 4 p.m. CEREMONY
- Commencement speaker: Judge Richard M. Gergel
- Honorary degree recipients: State Representative Leon Stavrinakis '88 and State Representative Gary Simrill
