Graduates

Academic Eligibility

PC grants degrees three times a year: May, August, and December.

PC encourages candidates who receive their degrees in August or December to participate in the following year’s ceremony because Commencement only takes place in May. Candidates who wish to participate in the ceremony must notify the Registrar’s Office at least one month prior to commencement.

Requirements for graduation:

• A minimum 2.00 GPA, both cumulatively and in general education courses, and in the major/minor areas of study
• A minimum of 122 semester hours earned
• Successful completion of the General Education Requirements
• Successful completion of an approved major program of study
• No more than one grade of “D” in each of the required major/minor courses
• Completion of at least one-half of the requirements of the major and minor programs of study at Presbyterian College
• At least 48 semester hours must be completed at PC, including the last 24 credit hours

Anticipated graduates are candidates who meet all academic requirements within two courses (maximum 8 hours). These students take their expected place in the commencement lineup with all other candidates and walk across the stage to shake hands with the president. A symbol in the commencement program identifies them as anticipated graduates. They will receive a certificate. Candidates who wish to walk in anticipation of graduation must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing before April 1, 2024.

Tickets

Tickets will be distributed to students who have met academic eligibility and followed the necessary procedures to register for Commencement. These tickets will be distributed on April 17, 2024 in the lobby of Springs Student Center. Each graduate will receive:

• Three (3) tickets for family and friends to attend the Baccalaureate Service on the West Plaza.
• Seven (7) tickets for family and friends to attend the Commencement Ceremony. These tickets will be required only in the case of inclement weather.

LOST TICKETS CANNOT BE REPLACED

Attire/Dress Code

Candidates typically order academic regalia at the end of their junior year to use throughout their senior year. All participants wear caps and gowns to the baccalaureate service and the commencement ceremony. We suggest that candidates wear nice clothing underneath the gown for the reception following commencement. Candidates may wear as many cords or stoles as are appropriate based on your honors, organizations, and activities at PC.

College Honors & Honor Cords

During the commencement ceremony, Presbyterian College recognizes members of the graduating class who have excelled academically. Eligibility requirements:

• Students who earn a certain cumulative GPA on all courses taken from PC and from other institutions receive Latin honors as follows:
  • 3.75 or higher — summa cum laude
  • 3.60-3.74 — magna cum laude
  • 3.30-3.59 — cum laude
• Students entering PC with transferred credit hours must meet the cumulative GPA standard for honors in all semester hours completed—that is, hours transferred in and hours earned at PC.
• The cumulative GPA of all PC coursework must be of honors quality.
• Students must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours at PC to be eligible for honors.

PC’s honor societies provide gold honor cords to candidates, and the administration provides cords to those with Latin honors. Although departmental honors are quite noteworthy, we give no cords for these honors. Candidates with honors may wear as many cords or stoles as are appropriate based on your honors, organizations, and activities at PC. Upon receiving the diploma from President vandenBerg, graduates advance to the bottom of the ramp, where the Board of Trustees Chairman presents a gold cord signifying these academic accomplishments. The commencement program lists academic honors as well as departmental honors.

Commencement Practice

Commencement practice is at 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2024, on the West Plaza (or Belk Auditorium in case of inclement weather). Students should arrive promptly and fill in the front seats to the right of the platform.

Arts & Science Baccalaureate Service & Commencement Ceremony Lineup Procedures

Arts & Science Baccalaureate Service lineup on the sidewalk between the Georgia Hall and Neville Hall no later than 5:30 p.m. Students will not assemble in a particular order but will be counted off to calculate an accurate number of rows needed for seating. In the case of inclement weather, the lineup will convene on the left side of the Belk Auditorium loggia.

Commencement Ceremony lineup begins promptly at 9:15 a.m. on the sidewalk between Neville Hall and Georgia Hall. The precise ordering requires punctuality and attentiveness, which is vital to a successful lineup. If you are not in line at 9:15 a.m. when names are checked, you will not be allowed to walk. In the case of inclement weather, the lineup will convene in Mabry-Smith-Yonce Center.