Join us for CalSouthern’s Commencement Ceremony

CalSouthern’s 2024 in-person commencement ceremony will be held in Atlanta, GA on Friday, October 25th, 2024, at the Georgia World Congress Center located in the Georgia Ballroom.

Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Ballroom (Building C)
285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW Atlanta, GA 30313

Yes. The 2024 Commencement Ceremony will be live streamed. More information and viewing links will be posted here once they’re available.

• View Livestream Options Here:

  Facebook
  TBD
  Youtube
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It was the Commencement Planning Team’s goal to consider all AIUS Graduate points of view in the city selection this year, which is why we conducted our first ever location survey in January 2024.  Based on nearly 900 survey responses, Atlanta, GA, was identified as the preferred location of eligible graduates by a 15% margin.

While we understand that the survey results may not align with your preference, we do sincerely hope that you can participate and celebrate your accomplishment with us in Atlanta this October. If you are not able to join in person, we are pleased to share that all 2024 Graduates will be invited to participate in a virtual commencement ceremony in January 2025. Details on this event will be released later in the year. Furthermore, graduates are welcome to attend any future ceremony following the completion of their degree.  If next year better aligns with your personal or professional schedule, you are welcome to walk the stage then or any year thereafter.

The Graduatioin Fee is not related to any commencement event. This fee covers costs associated with graduation processing. For example, completing the degree verification, updating external portals, and issuing a diploma and transcript. Please note that no diplomas will be awarded at the Commencement Ceremony – instead, you will receive your diploma and transcript in the mail after your degree audit has been completed.

Participating in any commencement ceremony does not equal an endorsement by CalSouthern of the completion or conferral of a degree or program. Regardless of participation in any commencement event, all program requirements must be met for CalSouthern to officially confer any degree or deem a program as completed.

To participate in a commencement ceremony:

All financial obligations must be satisfied, including the payment of all tuition and fees, as well as the graduation audit fee. All learners on monthly payment plans must pay all current/past due tuition and fees by the established ceremony registration deadline.

For undergraduate and master’s program learners, all coursework and academic requirements of the learner’s program must be complete, or scheduled and on track to be completed by the end of the calendar year in which the ceremony is held. For doctoral learners, all coursework and academic requirements of the learner’s program must be complete and the degree must be in conferred status by the established ceremony registration deadline.

Graduates may participate in one in-person ceremony per completed CalSouthern
program.

Registration details for the 2024 in-person commencement ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.

• The Registrar’s Office and Learner Accounts will review your request to participate in the ceremony and ensure that you are eligible to walk this year. If they determine that you are eligible, they will send a confirmation to your e-mail address, so please be sure to check there. You will also receive an e-mail confirming your reservation.

The in-person commencement ceremony will be streaming online, so those unable to attend will be able to watch the ceremony virtually. Only graduates who are active participants in the ceremony will have their names read aloud.

Stay tuned for the announcement of our virtual ceremony. Eligible graduates who are unable to attend the in-person ceremony or who would like to celebrate once again may choose to participate in the virtual ceremony held in January 2025. More information on this event will be released in the coming months.

• Yes. If you are a CalSouthern graduate from a past year, we welcome you join us and celebrate this year. Please keep in mind that any year-specific regalia (tassel, charms or stole of achievement) you order from our vendor this calendar year will state “2024.”
• If you have earned multiple degrees with CalSouthern, you will walk for the highest awarded degree.

ORDER YOUR REGALIA

• Order your cap & gown through Jostens.
• https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1362208/California-Southern-University/
• Scroll to the “SHOW YOUR PRIDE” section and click GRADUATION PRODUCTS.
• Shop Graduation Caps & Gowns
• Select your package based on degree.
• Enter “GOWN FIT” (your height/weight)
• Enter “MAJOR/CURRICULUM” (your program of study)
• Click “Continue” and “Add to Cart”
• Complete the Checkout information and click “CHECKOUT.”
• Please contact Jostens at 800-854-7464 if you do not receive confirmation of your order.

The deadline to order regalia for the 2024 commencement ceremony is Friday, September 13th, 2024.

•  If you have registered for the ceremony but still need to purchase your cap & gown, please call Jostens at 800-854-7464 to place your order by phone or visit the online store link below. Please note that rush delivery fees may be applied for orders made after the September 15th registration cutoff.
• If you have registered for the ceremony but still need to purchase your cap & gown, please call Jostens at 800-854-7464 to place your order by phone or visit the online store link below. Please note that rush delivery fees may be applied for orders made after the September 13th registration cutoff.

• Yes, so long as the decoration is limited to the top of the cap, is not distracting or cumbersome, and is family-friendly.

• Yes, so long as it does not obscure any CalSouthern regalia pieces such as the hood or stole of achievement, which should always remain on top.

• If applicable, Academic Honor Cords will be provided complimentary to those who RSVP and attend the in-person commencement ceremony. Please note your program CGPA must be calculated once your program is fully completed to know your honors status. That said, it is possible your final honors status may not be the same as your status as of the in-person commencement ceremony date.

Those who have received honors and are unable to attend the in-person commencement ceremony, can purchase an honor cord through Jostens using the link below:

CalSouthern: Jostens Gold Honor Cord

To receive a medallion as a CalSouthern graduate, you will need to participate in the in-person ceremony. The medallion will be given to you at check-in as a token for participating in the ceremony.

• To place an order for a class ring, please visit our vendor, Jostens
• To place an order for personalized graduation announcements, please visit our vendor, Jostens
• To place an order for a California Southern University diploma frame, please visit our vendor Jostens

• There are no tickets for this event and seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis. We ask that you limit your guest list to seven or less, to allow the opportunity for all graduates to have guests in attendance to celebrate their academic achievement.

• Although tickets are not required currently, please indicate how many guests you plan to have attend during the registration process. We will use this information to gauge audience size again capacity.

• No, there is not assigned seating but will be on a first-come, first-served basis. We ask you to limit your guest list, to allow the opportunity for all graduates to have guests in attendance to celebrate their academic achievements.

• No, the graduating learner does not need a ticket. However, all graduates must register to participate in any in-person commencement ceremonies.

• If you forgot to indicate any special accommodations needed during the registration process or need to add accommodations, please contact commencement@calsouthern.edu as soon as possible.

• They do not need a ticket as there are no tickets required for this ceremony currently. There will be reserved space in the lobby area for stroller parking.

• No, there will not be a secure location for you to leave your belongings while you are walking in and attending the ceremony. We ask that you leave any belongings with your guests or in your vehicle so that you do not have to carry them in the procession.

• No balloons or signs are allowed in the theater as they may block the view for other guests.

Yes, prices for parking at GWCC fluctuate depending on other events happening on their campus on that day. Attendees can reserve and pre-pay for parking at the GWCC at a lower cost than paying the day of the event. This is strongly encouraged to save money on parking!

Once the ceremony is posted to the GWCC public calendar, we will send the link to include step-by-steps instructions on how to pre-pay for parking.

The ceremony will take place in the Georgia Ballroom, inside the Georgia World Congress Center, located at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. View routes for public transportation and driving directions below, or Click here for Google Maps, and enter your starting point.

Public Transportation

MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (​​​​​​MARTA) is Atlanta’s public transportation system comprised of a bus and rail system that connects all parts of Atlanta. A single $2.50 fare covers one-way bus or train trips, including transfers. Events in GWCC Building B can use the GWCC/CNN Station (W-1).

If you are coming from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, MARTA has a rail station located at the north end of the airport, near baggage claim.

Atlanta Streetcar

Attendees staying in the downtown area can board the Streetcar at one of the 12 stops along the route. The nearest stop to the GWCC Building B is the Centennial Olympic Park stop, which is about 1/2 mile (roughly a 10 minute walk) to the Building B entrance.

Visit the streetcar website for fare, schedule, and safety information.  You’ll also find a list of things to see and do in Downtown Atlanta that are easily accessible from the Atlanta Streetcar.

Taxi / Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

A taxi stand is located just across from the Building B entrance at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW.

TIP! You can tell a driver to plug in the “GWCC Building B Bike Rack” location to bring you to the correct spot!

Driving Directions

From the North:

I-75/85 South. Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 249C toward World Congress Center (.3mi). Turn right onto Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW (.7mi). Turn left on Northside Dr NW (.7mi). Turn left onto Mitchell St SW/M.L.K. Jr Dr SW (.1mi). Slight right onto Mitchell St SW (423ft). Turn left at the 1st cross street on Mangum St SW.

From the South:

I-75/85 North. Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 246 for Central Ave toward Downtown (.5mi). Merge onto Central Ave SW (.6mi). Turn left onto Trinity Ave SW (.3mi). Turn right onto Forsyth St SW (213ft). Turn left onto Nelson St SW (492ft). Turn right onto Ted Turner Dr SW (282ft). Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Mitchell St SW (.2mi). Turn right onto Mangum St SW.

From the West:

I-20 East. Use 2nd from the right lane to take exit 56B for Windsor St toward Turner Field/Spring St (.3mi). Use left 2 lanes to turn left onto Windsor St SW (.1mi). Continue onto Ted Turner Dr SW (.5mi). Turn left onto Mitchell St Sw (.2mi). Turn right onto Mangum St SW.

From the East:

I-20 West. Take exit 56B for Windsor St/Spring St (.6mi). Use left 2 lanes to turn left onto Ted Turner Dr SW (.6mi). Turn left onto Mitchell St Sw (.2mi). Turn right onto Mangum St SW.

• Yes, professional photographs will be taken during the commencement ceremony by an official vendor, GradImages. After the ceremony, photos will be made available to you to order online directly through GradImages.
• Photo and video consent will be part of the registration process. If you do not want to be photographed, please indicate when you register. A wrist band will be given at check-in to indicate your request.

Contact your Learner Support Advisor or email Commencement@calsouthern.edu.