Graduation

Graduates in their caps and gowns pose with the Hawk mascot We're committed to helping you reach your goals. This webpage is packed with all things graduation and commencement. Reach out to graduation@csmd.edu with any questions.

May 14, 2021, at 1 p.m.

Graduation is always an incredibly significant moment for our entire CSM community. It’s a chance to celebrate the effort and commitment that have brought you to this milestone and to rejoice as you take the next step in your life’s journey. It’s a momentous occasion, and we look forward to sharing it with you.

CSM’s Spring 2021 Commencement will combine a virtual ceremony with an optional in-person celebration. Read on for more information!

VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Join the CSM community on May 14 at 1 p.m. for the Facebook watch party of the virtual commencement ceremony. In addition to remarks by CSM leadership, a student speaker, and our commencement speaker, you and your fellow graduates will be recognized with digital slides to share with friends and family. Our partner for the virtual ceremony, MarchingOrder, will e-mail you with instructions on how to personalize your graduation slide with your photo and quote, so be sure to check your CSM e-mail.

GRAD WALK CELEBRATION

On May 18, CSM will host a series of in-person Grad Walk Celebrations at the La Plata Campus to offer you, your fellow graduates, and your loved ones the experience of a modified in-person ceremony.

  • To participate, you’ll need to pre-register for a time slot by filling out this form. Each celebration honors 20 graduates, and registration is first come, first served.
  • Each celebration is 30 minutes, with time slots available on May 18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Regalia—that is, cap, gown, and tassel—is required to participate in a Grad Walk Celebration. More information on purchasing your regalia is below.
  • You can bring up to four guests.
  • All attendees must wear masks and maintain physical distancing, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Participation in a Grad Walk Celebration is entirely voluntary.

 
ORDER YOUR GRADUATION REGALIA

Caps, gowns, and tassels are available for purchase through the CSM College Store. You can purchase:

  • Online - Order online through the CSM College Store website. You can have your order shipped or pick up at the La Plata Campus College Store. If you choose shipping, you must order by May 6.
  • In store - The CSM College Store at the La Plata Campus is open Tuesday – Thursday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You may purchase in store until May 13. Please note: all visitors coming to campus are required to complete a short self‑assessment for COVID-19 symptoms before they arrive. 


PERSONALIZE YOUR GRADUATION SLIDE

You should have received an email from MarchingOrder to your CSM email account with login information on April 8; you’ll use your MarchingOrder account to customize your graduation slide.

Please provide a phonetic spelling and pronunciation of your name by April 21, and create your graduation slide with your photo and quote by April 27.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Be sure to mark these items off your to-do list by their respective deadlines, so that you can get the most out of your commencement experience.

  • April 27: Deadline to create your graduation slide with photo and quote through MarchingOrder.
  • May 1: Deadline to sign up for an in-person Grad Walk Celebration.
  • May 6: Last date to order your cap and gown from the CSM College Store and have it shipped to you.
  • May 13: Last date to order your cap and gown in-store.

Please note that dates and plans are subject to change according to public health conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

No.  To graduate from CSM, you need to apply online through Online Services or meet with an academic advisor.

To qualify as a candidate for a degree or certificate, students must complete all courses required in the curriculum.  Unless required courses have been officially waived, all students must meet the course requirements of their program to graduate.

To graduate, students must pass all courses required in their curriculum and must have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 for all work at the college.  AAT students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a copy of their PRAXIS scores must be on file with CSM.

Students should apply for graduation when they are in their last semester of classes.  Please refer to the Important Dates for deadlines.  All associate, certificate, and LOR candidates are eligible for graduation.  LOR (Letters of Recognition) recipients do not participate in the ceremony.

There is no fee to apply to graduate or attend the ceremony. The only fee involved will be the purchase of a cap and gown from the Bookstore.

There are three levels of honors awarded at the completion of degrees or certificates.

  • Highest honors – a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 to 4.
  • High honors – a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 to 3.89
  • Honors – a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 to 3.74

Students must have earned at least one-half of their degree or certificate credits at CSM in order to be eligible for honors. The honors designation is recorded on the transcript and eligible students will be given an honor cord to wear at the ceremony.

If you are a PTK member, you are eligible to purchase any or all of the following to wear at graduation: Honors stole, Gold Honors Tassel, or Double Honors Cord.  If you choose to do so, these items must be ordered directly from PTK International Headquarters.  Please visit their website at www.ptk.org

For additional information regarding PTK, please contact Mike Green at 301-934-7598 or email mikeg@csmd.edu.

You will be notified after the ceremony that you did not satisfy your requirements and you may apply again as soon as you register for your remaining classes.

No. While we encourage you to participate in this event, you do not have to participate in order to receive your diploma.  In fact, all diplomas are mailed within four weeks of the actual ceremony.

While we encourage positive self-expression, CSM will not approve slides that go against the student code of conduct or contain inappropriate content. Inappropriate content is defined as profanity, vulgarity, negative images, political statements and/or references, criticism of other persons or groups, etc. 

Photos must be the student's original photo (or a photo they have the photographer's permission to use).

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