Candidates For Graduation

February 12, 2023: Deadline to place cap and gown/regalia and LCU frame orders that are to be shipped at no additional cost to the LCU Bookstore

• Cap and gown/regalia orders and custom LCU frame orders must be placed online at this link: https://lachristian.shopoakhalli.com
• Orders placed before February 12, 2023, will ship for free to the LCU Bookstore and will be available for pickup at the Grad Fair. Graduates will not be charged when the order is placed but must make payment in full when items are picked up.
• Orders placed after February 12, 2023, will ship directly to your home and will incur an additional $15.95 shipping fee. These orders will ship approximately three weeks after the order date. Please allow standard transit time for delivery after shipment date.

March 22, 2023: Grad fair in the LCU Bookstore from 7:45-5:00

April 2, 2023: Deadline for all online cap and gown/regalia orders to allow adequate shipping time for receipt by Commencement.

April 30, 2023:  Commencement Fee Due. All candidates for graduation (undergraduate and graduate levels) that are eligible to participate in Commencement will be assessed a $75 Commencement Fee.

• All December 2022, May 2023, and Summer 2023 graduates must pay the fee, even if they do not plan to participate in the ceremony.
• This fee will be assessed to the student accounts of all students eligible to participate in the May 2023 Commencement Ceremony and must be paid prior to NOON on Tuesday, April 30, 2023, to receive a diploma at Commencement or process a transcript request.
• Students who have not paid this fee will not be able to receive their diploma or request transcripts until the Commencement fee is paid and the hold is removed.
• Please allow up to two business days after payment for the hold to be removed from your student account.
• To pay the fee log in to the MyLCU portal 

May 3, 2023, by noon:  All grades are due. This includes special credit information, substitution information, transfer work based on official transcripts from any other college or university, and removal of all incomplete grades - ALL GRADES. See that your work is complete so that you professors can turn in your grades on time to the Registrar's Office. If you find that you cannot complete your work, notify the Registrar's Office immediately.

May 5, 2023, by noon: All Business, Financial Aid, Registrar, Spiritual/Cultural, and Library holds must be resolved no later than NOON on Friday, May 5, 2023, or graduates will neither be able receive their diploma at the Commencement Ceremony nor request an official transcript. This includes any hold associated with the Commencement fee.

• Spiritual/Cultural Holds: (Undergraduate Students Only) Visit the Office of Student Support Services for completion status of SCE (Spiritual/Cultural Enrichment) requirements. Students who have not satisfied SCE requirements will have an SC Hold placed on their student account. Check with Melinda Draper in the Office of Student Support Services (melinda.draper@lcuniversity.edu)
• Business Office Holds: (Undergraduate & Graduate Level Students) Persons with any outstanding charges (fees, fines, tickets, balances due, etc.) will have a Business Office hold placed on their student account. This includes the Commencement Fee that is assessed to the account of all graduating students. Check with the Business Office. (pamela.erwin@lcuniversity.edu or 318-487-7452)
• Financial Aid Holds: (Undergraduate & Graduate Level Students) Students who received Financial Aid must check with the Financial Aid office to determine whether they need to complete the federally-required Federal Financial Aid Exit Survey or a Financial Aid hold will be placed on the student account. (financial_aid@lcuniversity.edu or 318-487-7386)
• Library Holds: (Undergraduate & Graduate Level Students) Check with the library to make sure you have no outstanding balance or books. Persons with outstanding library fines will have a Library hold placed on their student account. (318-487-7201)
• Athletic Holds and Graduating Senior Holds do not affect graduation status and will therefore not prevent a student from receiving a transcript/diploma. 
• Handling Fee: (Graduate Level Students) All students who meet graduation requirements are expected to participate in Commencement, including those at the graduate level. Graduate level students who do not participate in Commencement will be assessed an additional handling fee of $100 and a hold will be placed on their account. The complete policy may be found under the General Graduation Requirements section of the most recent Graduate Catalog.
• Completion of the Graduate Exit Survey is REQUIRED for all graduates and may be accessed at this link:  LINK COMING SOON

May 6, 2023, at 9:15 am: Graduates line up for Commencement in the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Commencement Exercises - ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES.  All candidates for graduation are expected to attend the Commencement exercises. Exceptions will be made only for extenuating and unavoidable circumstances, and then only by special permission from the Provost/VPAA PRIOR to graduation. Excusal from Commencement exercises does not negate the responsibility of the graduate to pay the Commencement Fee.

• Attire:  All candidates are required to be present in academic attire (cap & gown). The tassel should be worn on the left side at all times for undergraduate students. Men should remove their caps for prayer times during the ceremony. Men are strongly encouraged to wear dark pants, socks, and dress shoes, and a simple dress shirt with a tie. Women are encouraged to wear simple, modest dresses with dress shoes. Ladies, when selecting shoes please keep in mind that you will be ascending and descending stairs to cross the platform.
• Cords & Honors: Cords are distributed by individual departments, clubs, and organizations, if and when applicable.  Students who earn an academic award based on cumulative GPA will receive the appropriate medal that is distributed the day of Commencement. Graduation stoles may ONLY bear the names or logos of entities (clubs, organizations, societies, fraternities, sororities, etc.) that are approved by and specifically associated with Louisiana Christian University. 

Special Notes:

• Any diplomas not distributed at Commencement will be available for pick up from the Office of the Registrar during standard operating hours AFTER May 13, 2023. 
  • All holds must be resolved on the student's account before he or she can pick up a diploma or transcript.
  • A government-issued ID matching the name of the graduate and the likeness of the person picking up the diploma must be presented at pickup.
  • Persons with extenuating circumstances may request their diploma be mailed by sending an email to judy.boles@lcuniversity.edu. Approved requests result in the diploma being sent via USPS Certified mail. Note that a representative must be present to sign for the diploma at delivery. Returned mail is subject to a handling fee.
• Tickets to Commencement are not required and will therefore not be issued for graduates or attendees. Be sure to familiarize yourself and your guests with the Coliseum's clear bag policy for attendees.
• When the ceremony is complete graduates will file off of the Coliseum main floor, through the hallway, and to the area behind the stage where they can collect their diploma (if applicable). Please have any family and friends who are in attendance plan to greet you on the main floor you once you exit the area behind the stage. Be mindful of the exit areas and needs of your fellow graduates.