Graduation

General guidelines

December commencement is a time to celebrate your educational efforts; however, in keeping with the idea that this should be a dignified ceremony, we will conduct a formal graduation. Please adhere to the following guidelines.

• Men, it is recommended you wear a white dress shirt and ties, dark pants and dark shoes. Jeans, tennis shoes and/or flip flops are not appropriate.
• Women, it is recommended you wear a dress, skirt, or slacks and dress shoes. Please make sure that your dress is not longer than your graduation gown. Consider you will be walking up three flights of stairs when selecting the height of your heels. Jeans, tennis shoes and/or flip flops are not appropriate.
• Caps should be worn so they sit level rather than on the back or to the side of the head.
• In respect for each graduate and their families, we ask spectators and degree candidates remain seated.
• Degree candidates and their guests should not participate in disruptive behavior until the last graduate walks across the stage. Noisemakers, beach balls, balloons and other items that could disrupt the ceremony will not be tolerated.

Students

We expect the convocation to last about 90 minutes on December 14. USC Upstate Chancellor Brendan Kelly will preside at convocation.

• There are no rehearsals prior to graduation.
• Students should report dressed in academic regalia to Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium – lower level no later than 9:00 a.m. for 10:00 a.m ceremony and 1:00 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony.
• If a degree candidate anticipates his/her name may be mispronounced, he/she may write the name phonetically on the top of the name card.
• Students arriving late may risk not marching in the procession and will be placed at the end of the line, out of their degree order.
• Please do not bring umbrellas, purses, or any valuables with you, as there will not be a secure place to store them.

Parking and Directions

The Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Parking Information and Directions

Photography

Professional photographers will photograph each degree candidate as he or she is greeted by Chancellor Kelly. Complimentary photograph proofs will be sent to the permanent address of each degree candidate about 30 days after the ceremony. Additional photographs may be purchased upon receipt of the proof, but there is absolutely no obligation to purchase any photographs.

There will also be a professional photographer available to take still cap and gown photographs of the degree candidates on this special day. This photographer will be located in Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium – lower level from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. for the December Commencement exercises. For more information, contact Grad Images at 1-800-261-2576 or at www.gradimages.com.

Auditorium Clear Bag Policy

Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium has recently rolled out its new “Clear Bag Policy” for all guests visiting the venue and they want people to be aware of the new security screening process. You can view all the details about the security screening policy at the link below.

The auditorium has 12” x 6” x 12” clear tote bags for sale at the box office for $5 cash only. They also have one-gallon Ziploc clear bags at no cost to guests who may need one.

More Information about the Clear Bag Policy

SENIOR LEGACY FUND

The Senior Legacy Project is a long-standing tradition in which each graduating class presents the University with a gift to commemorate their time at USC Upstate and give back to help give future generations of students the opportunity to experience a life-changing students opportunity to leave your mark on USC Upstate.