SOU COMMENCEMENT 2023
Location: SOU Raider Stadium
Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023
Time: 9 am (8:45 am processional)
Southern Oregon University Graduation Day!
*Important note on available captioning: Live transcription of the 2023 event will be provided from any web-enabled device.
Southern Oregon 2nd Annual Street Fair
Please Join SOU Dining in congratulating our graduating class of 2023 at our 2nd Annual Street Fair. The Fair will begin after the commencement ceremony and will feature global cuisine stations and a Beer Garden for those over 21.
This is a FREE event for all SOU students, not including the beer garden, and just $5 for friends & family. For those who are over 21 and would like to partake in the Beer Garden, beers are $5 each.
Parking Information and Shuttle Service
Free parking is available in all parking lots on the SOU campus on Commencement day. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests with a Disabled Parking Permit or Placard (officially issued by your state) will find disabled parking in lots near Raider Stadium, lots 41 and 1 on the map below. Additional disabled parking has been set aside in these lots, however, the spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
General Seating
Please advise your guests to arrive early! SOU Commencement is a well-attended event. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Accessible Seating Accommodations
There are two designated seating areas available for elderly guests or those with disabilities. One is located on the field and the second is inside The Hawk, right adjacent to the ceremony location.
Field seating, while closer to the graduates, is uncovered and exposed to the elements (including direct sun) for the duration of the ceremony. Guests opting to sit in this section are advised to plan and dress accordingly.
Subject to Change: Interior seating at The Hawk, while further away from the graduates, is inside and completely protected from the elements, and the ceremony can be viewed by simulcast on large screens at this location.
Seating for both locations is available on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to one escort per guest. We recommend that you arrive as early as possible if you wish to take advantage of these designated seating areas.
If you require accommodations for the event due to a disability, please contact Leandra Figueroa-Pagan at figueroal@sou.edu or 541.552.8449 .
Parking Maps & Directions
On Commencement day, free parking is available in all parking lots on the SOU campus. There will be free shuttle service from the Mountain Avenue parking lot to Raider Stadium (see map) approximately every 15 minutes.
Goods and Services
Grad Fair
The SOU Bookstore will have a Grad Fair on April 26th-27th from 10am to 3pm. Regalia is available for purchase through the Bookstore starting the first day of spring term (please reference the academic calendar for spring term start date).
Commencement Regalia
To walk in the Commencement ceremony graduates receiving a Bachelors degree are required to wear a black Bachelor’s gown, cap and tassel. Graduates receiving a Masters degree are required to wear a black Master’s gown, cap, tassel, and hood. The stole of gratitude is optional for both the Bachelors and Masters. You may purchase your cap, gown, tassel, master’s hood, diploma frame, and other graduation accessories from the SOU Bookstore. Contact them directly OR view regalia options online.
Feel free to decorate your graduation cap!
Graduation Announcements and Class Rings
Jostens is SOU’s official vendor for personalized graduation announcements and class rings. Place your order online at the Jostens website, or by phone at 1.800.854.7464 . Blank graduation announcements and thank you cards can be purchased anytime at the SOU Bookstore.
Graduation Photographs
The official vendor for SOU graduation photographs is The Grad Team. Visit them online at https://thegradteam.com/events/sou/ . Photos are taken of all graduates. Proofs will be emailed out one week after the ceremony and will also be available at https://thegradteam.com/events/sou/ . There is no obligation to purchase any photo package.
Food/Beverage Options at Commencement
Graduating students and guests are highly encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle. Drinking water will be available before and during the Commencement ceremony at a number of water stations.
Subject to Change: For all other food and beverage needs, please visit the convenience store located inside of The Hawk. Some snacks and beverages will also be available for purchase at various outdoor stands around Raider Stadium.
Honors & Commencement
Are you an undergraduate student who earned at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA in all SOU courses by the end of winter term? If so, then you qualify for SOU institutional honors at the June 2023 Commencement ceremony.
Honors cords will be distributed by Raider Student Services starting in mid-May. Eligible students will be notified directly of dates and pick up options by the second week in May.
- One honors cord will be distributed at no charge to each student who has applied for graduation and qualifies for honors.
- In order to receive your honors cord, you must bring a photo ID with you and we will check your transcript to verify whether you have met the required GPA for each level of honors cord.
- When attending Commencement, the honors cord should be worn around the neck and over your gown.
The SOU Institutional GPA at the end of Winter term determines eligibility for honors cords and recognition in the program:
- Cum Laude – 3.50 to 3.74
- Magna Cum Laude – 3.75 to 3.89
- Summa Cum Laude – 3.90 to 4.00
Important Notes:
- Only one honors cord will be distributed to each student based on the level of honors.
- If the honors cord is lost by the student, it will not be replaced.
- You are responsible for keeping your honors cord and wearing it to Commencement.
- These honors are only applicable to undergraduate students seeking their first undergraduate degree.
- Masters and Post-Baccalaureate students are not eligible for these honors, including Post-Baccalaureate students seeking an undergraduate degree.
- If you are unable to pick up your cord, you may designate someone else to pick up your cord on your behalf by providing written authorization to graduation@sou.edu prior to June 09.
- Honors cords will not be available for distribution at the ceremony.
If you have any questions about honors cord distribution, please email graduation@sou.edu
Final Honors on Transcripts & Diploma
The Institutional GPA after the final term of courses determines the final and official GPA to appear on official transcripts and diploma.
Covid-19 Protocols/Potential for Event Alteration
Updates on protocols will be provided should anything change.
At the moment, the following protocols are in place for Commencement:
- Masking will be encouraged but not required
- Social distancing requirements will not be in effect
- Being fully-vaccinated will be encouraged but not required
Nobody can predict what Covid-related conditions will look like come June. SOU reserves the right to alter, or even cancel, this event should conditions require such changes.
Additional Information
Weather conditions for Commencement are usually significantly warm by afternoon. While graduates and guests will often be exposed to direct sun for the duration of the ceremony, Southern Oregon weather can be unpredictable. Commencement is held rain or shine, so please keep tabs on the local forecast and come prepared for inclement weather!
It is recommended that students and guests dress in layers to accommodate for weather conditions. In order to participate in the ceremony, students are required to wear the appropriate cap and gown. In addition, for personal safety and to avoid damage to the field, heels are not permitted on the athletic field. All students who wish to participate in the ceremony are required to wear safe and comfortable shoes.
Graduating students and guests are highly encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle. Drinking water will be available before and during the Commencement ceremony at a number of water stations.
We are expecting a large number of graduates and guests, so please plan accordingly. Graduates and guests are advised to arrive early!
As we approach Commencement, this site will be continually updated. Please be sure to check back often!
Updates and information will be sent to graduating students through email during spring term. Please remember to check it frequently! See you at Commencement!