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.

First Things First: Apply to Graduate

Congratulations! You’ve reached a noteworthy academic milestone that deserves to be celebrated. Although CSM is unable to host a traditional commencement event for our winter graduates due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are still planning to roll out the pomp and circumstance in your honor!

To graduate in Spring 2021, you must apply by the following revised deadlines:

  • March 15 to participate in the Spring Commencement Ceremony. All diplomas will be mailed after the ceremony. More details will be provided after you apply.
  • April 15 to receive your diploma by mail. More information will be coming regarding plans for Spring Commencement, pending COVID-19 restrictions.

Apply to Graduate

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.

IN-PERSON RECOGNITION EVENT

On May 18, CSM will host a series of Grad Walk Celebrations at the La Plata Campus to honor you and your fellow graduates and offer you the experience of a modified in-person ceremony. You’ll hear your name called and your academic achievements announced, you’ll cross the stage in your cap and gown, your photo will be taken, and you will be congratulated by CSM leadership.

Each celebration will honor 20 graduates at a time, and each graduate can bring four guests. Participation in a Grad Walk Celebration is entirely voluntary.

You will receive an e-mail next week with more details, including instructions on how to reserve your time slot.

 

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

  • April 8: Check your CSM e-mail for a message from MarchingOrder with login information.
  • April 21: Deadline to provide a phonetic spelling and pronunciation of your name through MarchingOrder.
  • April 27: Deadline to create your graduation slide with photo and quote through MarchingOrder.
  • May 14: Join the CSM community for our Spring 2021 Commencement watch party at 1 p.m. on the CSM Facebook page!
  • May 18: In-person Grad Walk Celebrations at the La Plata Campus. Pre-Registration is required.
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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