Below you'll find information regarding the your graduation from LSU Shreveport. If you have any additional questions not covered by the information below, please contact the Registrar's Office at 318-797-5140. 

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LSUS considers all graduates whose parents did not receive a four-year college degree to be first-generation college students. First-generation graduates receive a teal cord to wear at the commencement ceremony.

We will contact you via your student e-mail as soon as your department notifies us that you are graduating this term.

We will then send you periodic updates via your student e-mail account as various deadlines draw near.

1. Log into myLSUS to fill out and submit the Graduation Application, available in the Quick Links. The application will only be available during the semester in which you are graduating.

 mylsus interface instructions for graduation

mylsus interface instructions for graduation 2

2. Download the Graduation Checklist from the graduation web page. The checklist serves as a reminder of the different graduation requirements.

3. Pay the $50 graduation fee via myLSUS.

Please note that the graduation fee will not appear on your myLSUS account until one of the following occurs: you have submitted your Graduation Application online through myLSUS or the Records Office receives the signed degree checkout from your department. 

You may pay the graduation fee online through myLSUS. Other payment options include mailing a check or money order (mail to the Department of Accounting Services, One University Place, Shreveport, LA 71115) or paying in person with cash, check, or money order at the cashier’s desk in the Administration Building, room 129. The graduation application fee is non-refundable. 

4. Order your graduation regalia (cap, gown, hood, etc.) from campus bookstore by established deadline. 

Purchase your announcements, caps, gowns, master’s hoods, invitations, diploma frames, and school rings from the campus bookstore. 

Late orders may be subject to additional charges. Special size gowns are available by special order (check with the Bookstore for details).

If you need additional information, please contact the LSU Shreveport Bookstore at (318) 797-5212 or via e-mail at bookstore@lsus.edu. 

During specific timeframes, students can purchase caps and gowns online at:

https://lsus.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome 

Click here to purchase a diploma frame:  https://bit.ly/2A6nD2E

The wearing of full regalia (gown, mortarboard (cap), master’s or doctoral hood (if receiving master’s or doctorate degree) is required to participate in the commencement ceremony.

5. Successfully complete remaining coursework

6. Celebrate your accomplishment at the commencement ceremony!

Yes, a $50 graduation fee is assessed for each degree earned at LSUS.

A conferral date refers to the date your degree posts to your LSUS transcript.

A ceremony date refers to the date you attend the ceremony to celebrate your awesome accomplishment.

Depending on when your degree is conferred, the conferral and ceremony dates may be the same.

The conferral date is the day we officially post your degree to your transcript. This date will also appear on your diploma.

October 22, 2024 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of fall sessions AP1 or 1C. There is no commencement ceremony in October. All October graduates are encouraged to participate in our December fall commencement ceremony.

December 13, 2024 - applies to students who will complete degree requirements by the end of fall sessions 1, AP2 or 1D. This includes students on a traditional or accelerated schedule.

March 18, 2025 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of spring session AP1. There is no commencement ceremony in March. All March graduates are encouraged to participate in our May spring commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025.

May 16, 2025 - applies to students who will complete degree requirements by the end of spring sessions 1, AP2 or 1D. This includes students on a traditional or accelerated schedule.

July 8, 2025 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of summer session AP1. There is no commencement ceremony in July. All July graduates are encouraged to participate in our September summer commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, September 5, 2025.

September 2, 2025 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of summer session AP2. All September graduates are encouraged to participate in our September summer commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, September 5, 2025.

The commencement ceremony will be held at Brookshire Grocery Arena, 2000 Brookshire Arena Drive, Bossier City, LA 71112. For more information about the arena, go to https://brookshiregroceryarena.com/

There is no rehearsal for the commencement ceremony. Faculty marshals and staff will be on hand to assist with all aspects of the ceremony. It is important that you follow the instructions of the marshals as they guide you through the ceremony.

No. You are to wear the LSUS regalia that matches the degree you will be receiving.

For assistance with the proper wear of your graduation regalia, click here: https://vimeo.com/652988995.

Appropriate dress is required to maintain the dignity of this special occasion. For the best appearance, hang your gown overnight or press it with a cool iron and pressing cloth.

The tassel on the cap is worn suspended over the right front of the cap.

Women: Dresses or slacks may be worn under your robe. Please keep in mind that the garment should not detract from the dignity of the academic costume. Dark shoes look best. You should wear comfortable walking shoes, because you will be standing for long periods of time. 

Please do not carry a purse. If you must have a purse, arrange for a friend or family member to hold it for you. 

Men: Under your robe, wear long trousers, dark socks, dark shoes and a shirt with a tie. Remove your cap during the National Anthem, invocation and benediction.

Please arrive two hours prior to the ceremony wearing your full regalia. Ushers and signs will direct you to the line-up area. When you enter the line-up area, we will give you two cards with your name on them. Do not lose these cards. You will present one to the photographer, and the other to the announcer.

Note that traffic approaching the arena can become very congested, so be sure to allow yourself enough time to account for traffic delays.

The arena has adequate seating for all guests. Tickets are not required, and there is no limit to the number of guests you may invite to the ceremony.

Graduates who need special accommodations for the commencement ceremony should contact the Records Office at (318) 797-5063 so that appropriate arrangements can be made. 

Guests who require seating accommodations should enter the arena through the main entrance. The arena is handicap accessible.

Graduate students are seated as one group; undergraduate students as another. Students are not required to sit together alphabetically or according to college or degree, but may do so if they wish.

Although the length of each ceremony varies with the number of graduates, it is best to plan for up to two-three hours. Graduating students are asked to respect the other graduates by staying for the entire ceremony.

If you and your guests are traveling from out of state, please check out https://www.shreveport-bossier.org for suggestions about accommodations and local attractions.

Yes. Please refer to the LSU Shreveport Facebook page Events tab no earlier than one week prior to the commencement ceremony.

A professional photographer will be taking pictures of graduates at the ceremony. Graduates will be contacted by the photographer with information regarding the purchase of pictures at the mailing address that is on file with the Records Office within 4-6 weeks after the event. You may also view pictures following the commencement ceremony at the following website: http://www.gradphotonetwork.com?QPPlus.

All diplomas are mailed to the address provided on your graduation application. Jostens will notify you with tracking information via your student e-mail account once your diploma has shipped. Look for an e-mail from donotreply@jostens.com. Please note that some students located the email in their junk or spam inbox. Expect to receive your diploma approximately one month following your conferral date. 

Students who reside outside the United States and who wish to have their diploma mailed to an international address should contact the Records Office at registrar@lsus.edu. Diplomas sent outside the continental United States are set up to ship with the duties and taxes unpaid and are covered by the student.

If a graduation application is not submitted by the deadline, diplomas will be mailed to the address as it appears on record. It is important to submit a graduation application and update your address in myLSUS to avoid the misplacement of your diploma.

Note: The name on your diploma will appear EXACTLY how you input it when completing the application for graduation. Students who input their name incorrectly will need to order a replacement diploma at a cost of $25.

No. Diploma covers are issued at the ceremony. If you are unable to attend the ceremony, we do mail covers separately by special request. Submit your requests to registrar@lsus.edu. An additional cost of $15 will be charged to cover the cost of shipping the cover to you.

One diploma is included in the graduation fee. Additional copies of your diploma may be ordered after the conferral date via myLSUS for a fee of $25 each.

Diploma covers are provided to graduating students at the commencement ceremony. If you do not attend the ceremony, you may request that your diploma cover be mailed to you after the ceremony date. E-mail registrar@lsus.edu to make your request. There is a $15 fee for shipping/handling.

All university-issued cords are provided to graduating students at the commencement ceremony. If you do not attend the ceremony, you may request the appropriate cord be mailed to you after the ceremony date. E-mail registrar@lsus.edu to make your request. There is a $5 fee for shipping/handling.

Note: Honor cords are only distributed to undergraduate students with a LSUS and cumulative GPA of at least 3.5. Student must have previously submitted proof they are a veteran to the Records Office to receive a veteran cord. First-generation cords are only issued to students whose parents did not earn a degree from a four-year degree granting institution.

Please note, honors designations are awarded to undergraduate students only. Graduate students are not eligible to earn a degree with honors but are welcome to wear any honors regalia they receive through departmental or national honor societies.

A baccalaureate degree is awarded with honors to students who earn a minimum of 30 term hours of credit at LSU Shreveport and who maintain a high grade point average. To be eligible for honors, students must have a grade point average, including course grades eliminated through the Repeat/Delete option and the Bankruptcy Policy, that falls within the ranges shown below, both for courses taken at LSU Shreveport and for all courses. Both the LSU Shreveport and Cumulative GPAs must be 3.50 or above to be awarded a degree with honors.

Undergraduate students will receive honors cords upon checking in at Commencement.

Honors candidates: If you have not sent all your transcripts to LSUS, request electronic copies from each school immediately, as they must be received by LSUS by close of business on the Monday prior to your conferral date. Failure to meet this deadline can result in your being omitted from the honors insert of our Commencement Program. Diplomas and honors cords are not released to students who are missing paperwork such as an official transcript.

Honor                       Grade Point Average

summa cum laude

3.90 to 4.00

magna cum laude

3.70 to 3.89

cum laude

3.50 to 3.69

Honors candidates who have outstanding transcripts should send all official transcripts to our office by COB on the Monday prior to your conferral date. Failure to meet this deadline can result in your being omitted from the honors insert in our Commencement Program. Diplomas and honors cords are not released to students who are missing paperwork such as an official transcript.