The 2026 Commencement Ceremony
will be May 7, 2026
Q: What is the difference between “graduation” and “Commencement?”
A: Commencement is a ceremony, traditionally held at the end of Spring Term every year to recognize your academic accomplishments. This is the ceremony during which you cross the stage in your cap and gown.
Graduation is a records process, completed by college staff members, that officially awards degrees and certificates to students who meet all graduation requirements. At the end of each term, students that meet all requirements will automatically be awarded their degree or certificate in the graduation process.
Q: What does Commencement 2026 include?
A: This year’s Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 4 p.m. at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. In addition to the Ceremony, we will host a Grad Bash event at our Deerwood Center on May 2 where family and friends are invited to share in the celebration with you.
Q: When will my transcripts reflect my graduation status?
A: Dates:
- The degree message will be reflected on students’ transcripts on May 21, 2026.
- Diplomas will be mailed to graduates within six to eight weeks of May 21, 2026.
Q: Who can participate in Commencement?
A: To participate in the 2026 Commencement Ceremony, students must have earned an associate or baccalaureate degree or high school diploma through FSCJ Adult Education in the summer or fall of 2025, or the spring of 2026.
Q: How do I request accommodations to participate in the Commencement Ceremony under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
A: FSCJ encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Graduates requiring accommodation can make their request when completing the online registration to attend the Commencement Ceremony or via this form. Family members who require ADA accommodation to attend Commencement can make their request by emailing accommodateme@fscj.edu.
Q: What are the important dates I need to know?
A: February 2 – Commencement registration opens. Students must register in myFSCJ by updating their RSVP to Yes or No for participating in the in-person Ceremony at the Arena and/or Grad Bash.
March 27 – Last day to register in myFSCJ to participate in Grad Bash or the Commencement Ceremony and have your name included in the official Commencement program.
Q: What is Grad Bash?
A: Grad Bash is an in-person celebration at Deerwood Center where graduates and their families can enjoy a special event with giveaways, graduate activities and an opportunity for group pictures. Graduates can decorate their caps, connect with our Alumni Association, meet with bachelor’s and workforce program representatives, receive Honors/Military cords and complete early check in with Student Records.
Q: When is Grad Bash?
A: Grad Bash will be held on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at FSCJ Deerwood Center.
Q: What are the exact steps I need to follow to register (After February 2)?
A:
- Log in to your myFSCJ account.
- On the Student Center page, click the ‘Academic Progress & My Advisor” tile.
- Click on ‘Commencement RSVP Status’ on the left-hand side of the page.
- Click ‘Update Commencement RSVP.’
- Select “Yes” or “No” to confirm your participation in the ceremony at the Arena.
- Next, either confirm your attendance at Grad Bash, or confirm you will not participate in Grad Bash and will attend only the ceremony.
- After you make your selections, be sure to hit “OK” to submit your registration. If you don’t hit “submit,” you will not be included in the ceremony. You will receive an automated email confirming your registration.
Q: When can I purchase my cap and gown?
A: Caps and gowns will be available for purchase to those who register to participate in Commencement 2026 by March 27. The color of the cap and gown has changed for this year, so you will need to follow the steps below to complete your order. Be sure you carefully fill out the information so you will receive your regalia in time.
- Go to https://collegegrad.herffjones.com/. Type Florida State College at Jacksonville in the “Search your school” box.
- For the next dropdown box, select which degree or diploma you are receiving.
- The ceremony date is already included for you.
- Select which degree type you will be receiving at Commencement. Then click Shop.
- On the next page, click on the Cap & Gown tab. Enter your first and last name.
- Under Area of Study, select Associate-All Subjects if you are receiving your associate degree (your cap and gown will be turquois), Bachelor-All Subjects if you are receiving your bachelor’s degree (your cap and gown will be navy blue), or Adult Education if you are receiving your adult education diploma (your cap and gown will also be turquois).
- Select your height and weight range and click Add to Cart.
- Once you are in the Cart, click checkout.
- Enter payment information
- Under Billing Information, enter the address where you wish to have your regalia shipped. Under Shipping Information, select the box that says “Billing information is the same as Shipping.”
- Hit Continue, confirm the address is correct, select the circle button and hit continue again.
- Review your order and then select Complete Order.
- All regalia must be ordered by Friday, March 27.
Q: What is Commencement etiquette?
A: Participants should arrive at the Arena at 2 p.m. for check-in. Friends and family may enter the Arena at 2:30 p.m. The Ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. and is expected to end at approximately 6:30 p.m.
The Ceremony is important to all participants. Participants are expected to stay for the duration of the event. If you are unable to stay for the full event, including the Ceremony, and remain with the graduates through the recessional, you are asked not to attend the Ceremony. Family and friends are requested to stay for the entire Ceremony as well.
Q: What stoles or cords are permitted to be worn at Commencement?
A: Stoles are typically associated with specific academic groups represented within the College such as Mu Alpha Theta, Phi Theta Kappa, and various other groups. Cords represent honors, military affiliation, dual enrollment, etc. If you are a member of these organizations and/or qualify for any of the cords mentioned, then you may wear those at Commencement. Please check with the FSCJ representative/liaison for the group to which you belong for guidance. Personal stoles or cords are not allowed.
Q: If I need assistance registering for Commencement in myFSCJ, what do I do?
A: Open a Help Desk ticket at help.fscj.edu for online assistance using these fields – Category: myFSCJ- Student, Subcategory: Student Records.
Q: Can my friends and family come to the Ceremony?
A: Yes, this is not a ticketed event and admission is free; however, there are no reserved or saved seats and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Please keep in mind that there is a fee for parking in the lots surrounding the Arena. Carpooling is recommended.
Q: Are children allowed at the Ceremony?
A: Yes, children of all ages are allowed to attend Commencement, but must be supervised at all times by an adult and seated in the audience. Children are not permitted to accompany the graduate during the commencement ceremony.
Q: Is there a rehearsal?
A: No.
Q: How are participants seated?
A: Participants will be seated by event staff after check-in. Participants will be seated based on their degree type. Participants are expected to remain for the duration of the Ceremony.
Q: How will they know when to say my name?
A: Your name will be called as you present your name card to the reader before you cross the stage. Graduates who believe that the readers may have trouble pronouncing their names can spell their names phonetically on the card.
Q: Will my name appear in the Commencement program?
A: Only students who have registered to participate in the Commencement Ceremony by March 27 will be included in the Commencement program.
Q: Will I be listed as honors in the program?
A: The Commencement program will recognize students who register for the Ceremony and are graduating with honors. Since the Commencement program is printed before Spring Term grades are recorded, honors designations for Spring Term ceremony participants are identified based on their cumulative GPA as of March 27, 2026. Summer and Fall 2025 Term participants are identified based on their cumulative GPA at the time of their graduation.
If your spring 2026 grades drop your GPA below the requirements for honors designation, honors status will not be reflected on your final diploma or transcript.
Q: Do honors students get cords for graduation?
A: Honors cords will be distributed at Grad Bash and/or when you check-in at the Arena on May 7.
Q: Is there an official photographer at Commencement?
A: Official photographers will take your picture as you approach the stage and as you make your way back to your seat. Proofs will be emailed and/or mailed to you. The information you provide on your name card is where you will receive your proofs. Purchasing information will be included with the proof that will be emailed and/or mailed to your listed address.
Q: What time should I arrive at the Arena?
A: Doors open at 2 p.m. for participants to begin check-in. Check-in closes at 3:05 p.m., so participants should arrive no later than 2:45 p.m. Doors open for friends and family at 2:30 p.m.
Q: Approximately how long will the Ceremony last?
A: The length of the Ceremony varies based on the number of participants, but should be completed by 6:30 p.m. All participants are expected to remain for the duration of the Ceremony and will not be permitted to exit the floor early.
Q: Where can I purchase graduation announcements?
A: Announcements can be ordered online from the FSCJ Bookstore website or are available in-store from the campus/center bookstores. Neither announcements nor tickets are required for admission to the Arena.
Q: What is recommended attire and footwear?
A: Attire for participants should reflect the formal nature of the Commencement Ceremony.
Shoes for both men and women should be dressy, but comfortable. Please note that you will be walking up and down stairs at the stage, and you will be walking or standing during the procession and recession. Make sure your shoes allow you to walk quickly, stand comfortably and navigate stairs easily!
Purses along with other personal items should not be brought as there is no location to secure these items during the Ceremony. Leave them with family members or in your vehicle. Participants will need to have their hands free for moving their tassel when directed, shaking hands as they cross the stage and holding their diploma cover.
Mortarboards (caps) should sit squarely on top of the head with the point falling in the midpoint of the forehead. Do not tilt the cap at a jaunty angle. Bobby pins can be used to secure the cap.
Phones are welcome, but should be kept on silent. Printed programs will only be available to spectators, so you’ll need to take a photo of the Commencement program (posted throughout the Arena) to follow along with the order of events. Also, we encourage you to post your Commencement photos to social media using #fscjgrad2026.
Q: Can I decorate my cap?
A: Yes. This is a great way to share your excitement about this momentous occasion. Have fun with it! Remember, you can also decorate your cap at Grad Bash.
Q: Will the Ceremony be available online?
A: Yes. The Ceremony will be streamed live at live.fscj.edu beginning at 4 p.m. Your friends and family can also follow along on social media by using the hashtag #fscjgrad2026.
Regalia
Regalia refers to the special, formal clothing, symbols or emblems worn during official or ceremonial occasions. For the FSCJ Commencement Ceremony, regalia may refer to caps, gowns, tassels, cords and stoles worn by students, faculty and the platform party.
Cap, Gown and Tassel
The caps, gowns and tassels worn by graduates and faculty are based on academic costumes used in 14th and 15th century English universities.
FSCJ graduates and candidates for bachelor’s degrees wear navy blue regalia, while FSCJ graduates and candidates for adult education and associate degrees wear turquoise regalia.
At FSCJ, students may decorate their cap if the content adheres to the FSCJ Expectations of Student Conduct found in the College Catalog.
Prior to graduation, all students should wear tassels on the right side of their cap and shift their tassel to the left side of their cap after their degree is officially conferred.
Cords and Stoles
The tradition of cords and stoles in American graduation and commencement ceremonies date back to practices of distinguishing clergymen’s status in Anglican and Catholic churches. As many of the early universities in the United States were founded by clergymen, those traditions carried forward. Today, the different color cords and stoles worn by FSCJ students represent their participation in various honor societies, professional organizations, student organizations and specialized scholarship programs. The description of the different colored cords and stoles can be found in the FSCJ Commencement Program.
Presidential Insignia of Office
College presidents or chief executive officers often wear a badge of office during ceremonial occasions such as commencement or inauguration ceremonies. The FSCJ Presidential Insignia of Office was created as part of the College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. FSCJ District Board of Trustees Chair Tom Majdanics and FSCJ Vice President and Provost Dr. Judith Bilsky presented the Insignia of Office to Dr. Cynthia Bioteau during her Presidential Investiture in 2016. The Insignia of Office has been worn by the FSCJ President during commencement ceremonies and inaugurations since then.
The current Insignia of Office is brass die struck with an antique finish and weighs 8.9 ounces. The insignia features the College Seal, adopted during the College’s first academic year, which shows a lamp with a flame at the center of a large five-pointed star and five smaller stars beneath it.
The five points of the star represent the College’s constant concern for the development of its students; an insistence on master teaching; the drive for achievement of College goals in the community, state and nation; being a college of renown, known for its successes, leadership and services to its students, community and the education professions; and a college of service to the community, the state and the nation.
The word “Libertas” at the top of the seal represents the freedom to learn, to search for new knowledge and to grow toward the positive fulfillment of individual freedom. The year 1965 on the seal indicates when the College was established.
In 2025, a second FSCJ Presidential Insignia of Office was purchased to coincide with the unveiling of FSCJ’s new official mascot, the Manta Ray, and features the College branded colors of turquoise and navy blue.
FSCJ Ceremonial Mace
The use of ceremonial maces in higher education dates to 15th century Scotland and now symbolizes the search for knowledge as well as an institution’s authority to award academic degrees to graduates.
Used during ceremonies such as commencement and presidential inaugurations, the FSCJ Ceremonial Mace is carried by the Faculty Senate President in the ceremony processional and placed at the front of the stage in full view of all. The mace is removed at the end of the ceremony and carried out during the recessional to symbolize the end of the proceedings.
In 2000, the idea of having a ceremonial mace was introduced during a Faculty Senate Meeting, as the College, then known as Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), was moving toward becoming a four-year institution with separate colleges. The mace would be a way to recognize FCCJ faculty in the same professional manner universities recognize their faculty. FCCJ Faculty Senate President Teresita (Tessie) Bond approached College leadership about creating a ceremonial mace.
South Campus Trades Worker and amateur woodworker Eugene Clyde Gray was tasked with the job. Gray spent four months designing, building and finishing the mace, which was crafted from a solid piece of dried white oak lumber turned on a wood lathe and adorned with brass fittings. With the brass fittings, the mace is 3 feet, 6 inches long, and a medallion with the College Seal is attached with turquoise ribbon. Professor Bond saw the finished mace for the first time during the 2000 Commencement rehearsal. As it was very heavy (the mace weighs 6 pounds 16 ounces), it was suggested that she carry it on her shoulder, which she proudly did. Since then, the mace has been carried at every Commencement Ceremony by the following Faculty Senate Presidents:
- Professor Tessie Bond – 2000-02
- Professor Roger Breen – 2003-04
- Professor Wayne Bailey – 2005-06
- Professor David Bowen – 2007-08
- Dr. Nancy Mullins – 2009-10
- Professor Rachelle Wadsworth – 2011-12
- Dr. Jason Gibson – 2013-14
- Dr. John Woodward – 2015-Current
Processional
The processional signifies the start of the commencement ceremony and often is accompanied by “Pomp and Circumstance” music. The graduates are the first group to walk onto the floor, followed by the faculty and then the platform party. If able to do so, all guests, graduates and faculty should remain standing until the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and FSCJ Alma Mater are complete.
FSCJ Alma Mater
The FSCJ Alma Mater is a song to foster school spirit. The lyrics of the original alma mater were written in 1991 by Carol Varney, a project coordinator at Deerwood Campus, as part of a Collegewide contest to create an alma mater and fight song for the College’s 25th anniversary. Set to the tune of “Ode to Joy,” the alma mater debuted at a Founder’s Day celebration at North Campus in April 1992 and was first performed at Commencement the following month. The new FSCJ Alma Mater was written by Professor Edith Moore Hubert’s Theory IV class in Spring 2026. It debuted at the Chorale concert in April before going on to be performed at that year’s Commencement Ceremony. The lyrics to the new FSCJ Alma Mater are as follows:
FSCJ Alma Mater, soaring high near ocean shores,
Navigating unsure currents, moving onward ever more!
Guided by the light of learning, pathways wide for every dream!
Veering, rising, to new waters, growth for seasons yet unseen.
Recessional
The recessional signifies the end of the commencement ceremony. The platform party is the first group to exit the floor, followed by the faculty and then the graduates.