Graduation Information
Commencement Information
Spring 2023 Commencement is Friday, May 5, 2023.
Graduation Regalia
Please purchase your academic regalia through Herff Jones.
Apply to Graduate
Please complete the steps below to complete the application process.
3. RSVP to participate in graduation ceremony
You are required to complete the RSVP if you would like to participate in the graduation ceremony. This is separate from the application to graduate. Once you submit your RSVP, please save the entire confirmation PDF as documentation of your RSVP. The confirmation PDF should reflect time and date of submission, ceremony type selected, and student name. Students may be asked to provide this document to confirm the submission of their RSVP.
Additional details including ceremony times, parking locations, ticket information, and more will be provided to students later in the semester.
If you have any questions, please email Graduation@SCF.edu. “
- Your official name in the SCF Student Information System, Banner, will be noted in the Commencement Program; however, you may enter your Diploma Name during the application process.
Graduation Questions?
Email: Graduation@SCF.edu or call: 941.752.5060
Spring 2023 Important Dates
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Last day to submit an application for Spring 2023 graduation and guaranteed participation in the traditional commencement ceremony as well as name in the program. |
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Last day to submit an application for Spring 2023 graduation and guaranteed participation in the walk-through ceremony as well as name in the program. |
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Last day to submit an application for Spring 2023 graduation. Students will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony or name in the program. |
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When Do I Apply?
Apply after you have registered for your final semester and when the application for the term in which you are graduating is open (deadlines above). Be sure you apply for the term in which you are graduating. All summer graduates are invited to participate in the winter ceremony in December, since there is not a summer commencement ceremony.
*Only students who apply by the posted deadlines and will be successfully completing their degree/certificate by the end of the graduation term are guaranteed to be listed in the commencement program. Please refer to above referenced Spring 2023 Events for the appropriate deadlines to participate and have your name in the program.
How do I apply to Earn my Degree or Certificate?
- Complete the online graduation application. Dual Enrollment students must submit a paper application. This application may be obtained by emailing Graduation@scf.edu
- You must complete a graduation survey by clicking: Graduation Survey.
- If you are planning on participating in the commencement ceremony, please review the Graduation Ceremony Attendance Policy at the bottom of this page.
Disability Resource Center for Graduates and Guests
Graduates with special needs will be accommodated. Please contact the Disability Resource Center at least two weeks in advance of the ceremony at (941) 752-5295 or DRC@SCF.edu. All graduation ceremonies will have an American Sign Language interpreter in attendance. There is no preassigned seating for guests with disabilities. However, limited wheelchair seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Veterans
If you are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and you are planning to participate in the graduation ceremony, SCF would like to honor your service with patriotic cords to be worn as part of your official graduation regalia. Please contact Veteran Services to confirm your intent to participate in the ceremony.
Phi Theta Kappa and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members may visit the PTK website to purchase an optional honor cord, stole, and tassel. There is no added regalia for honors.
Diploma Mailings
SCF will be providing graduates a digital diploma. Students may opt-in to receive a paper diploma. You won't receive a paper diploma unless you opt-in for this program.
To promote student success, the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is committed to formally recognizing earned student accomplishments.
- Students may be automatically awarded any degrees or certificates that they qualify to receive.
- Students who apply and qualify to graduate in a program that is not currently listed as their program of study may automatically have that additional program added to their SCF records as an additional program.
- To guarantee graduation processing, students should always apply to graduation by the posted deadlines and should not rely on our systems to automatically award a degree or certificate.
FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if I am planning on continuing my studies at SCF after graduation?
- A: If you have not already done so, please submit a Change of Major form to the Office of the Registrar to declare your new program of study.
Q: Do I need to apply for graduation if I will not be walking in the ceremony?
- A: Yes. You must successfully submit all steps of the graduation application to be considered for a degree or certificate.
Q: Are the graduation application and ceremony attendance RSVP the same thing?
- A: No. If you plan on participating the graduation ceremony as a graduate, you must submit a graduation application and the RSVP.
Q: When will I receive my diploma?
- A: SCF will be providing graduates a digital diploma beginning Fall 2022. Students may opt-in to receive a paper diploma. You will receive an email later in the fall semester with instructions on how to opt-in for a paper diploma. You won't receive a paper diploma unless you opt-in for this program.
Q: Will my name be listed in the commencement program?
- Only students who apply by the posted deadlines and will be successfully completing their degree/certificate by the end of the graduation term are guaranteed to be listed in the commencement program.
Q: What is the dress code for the commencement ceremony?
- All graduates must be in the SCF approved and current regalia (cap and gown). This may be purchased at the SCF Bookstores in Venice and Bradenton approximately two weeks prior to commencement. Graduates should be in appropriate attire: dark shoes, dark dresses, dark slacks/trousers, white dress shirts, and/or neckties. Stairs may be difficult to navigate in heels. Tassels are worn on the right side of the cap. Caps may be decorated appropriately. SCF reserves the right to deny commencement participation based on inappropriate dress. The following cords are permissible: CROP, PTK, and Veterans cords. PTK cords, are optional, and must be purchased by the student. There are no cords for honors, as academic honors are listed in the program and on the diploma.
Q: Does my child need a ticket to attend as a guest for the Commencement ceremony?
- Participating graduates do not need a guest ticket for commencement, but do need to RSVP by the posted deadline. All guests, regardless of age, need a guest ticket to attend commencement. Infants and children guests sitting on the lap of an adult will also need a ticket. These tickets will be limited each semester based on graduate count. This number will be released after the graduation application deadline.
Q: Where do I complete the Graduation Survey?
- A: Please click on this link: Graduation Survey
Q: How do I order a transcript?
- A: If you need your transcript immediately after graduation, please order it here at this time. You will need to mark the transcript as "Hold for Degree," which will move you up in the final review list and your transcript will be sent quickly.
Graduation Ceremony Attendance Policy
Only students who successfully complete the following, by all posted deadlines, may participate in the graduation ceremony:
- Submit the online graduation application
- RSVP through your graduation application or update your RSVP through Graduation@SCF.edu
- Receive an initial approval email from the Office of the Registrar during the first review
- Purchase the correct graduation regalia from the SCF Store
Initial approval will be determined in the first round of the review process, and students will be informed that they are initially approved or are missing requirements to graduate via their SCF student email accounts. Students who are missing requirements might not be permitted to walk in the graduation ceremony.
Students who are missing requirements must register to fulfill the course requirements in the graduation semester and/or correct the issues, and email Graduation@SCF.edu to notify the Office of the Registrar that they are ready to be reviewed and considered for initial approval again.
Students graduating in the Spring semester are invited to the spring graduation ceremony. Students graduating in either the Summer semester or the Fall semester are invited to the winter graduation ceremony.
Replacement Diplomas
SCF partners with Parchment Exchange to fulfill replacement diploma requests. Order replacement diplomas via Parchment storefront.
Allow up to 8 weeks for processing and shipping. Electronic diplomas will be sent by email within 2-3 business days. SCF diplomas are unique documents to each graduate. The college does not retain copies. The replacement diploma fee is $15.00 plus a $2.40 Parchment administrative fee.
