Graduation Information - Credit

All commencement ceremonies for Credit students will be held in the Gymnasium on the main (Amnicola Highway) campus.

Commencement Dates

Spring Credit 2024 graduates - Friday, May 3, 2024
Fall Credit 2024 graduates - Friday, December 13, 2024

Click here to view the online live stream of each ceremony.


Tickets, Guests, and Seating

Each participating graduate may receive up to six(6) guest tickets to their ceremony during the Grad Finale event.

Every guest, regardless of age, MUST have a ticket to enter the ceremony.

Tickets are issued for a specific ceremony time, not for a specific seat.  Ticketed guests may sit in any available seat.  We recommend and request that groups of guests arrive together, enter together, and sit together.  We expect that all seats will be used at each ceremony and we have not allocated "buffer seats" between groups of guests.

It is our goal to open the doors to ticketed guests 30 minutes before each scheduled ceremony.  This will depend on the actual duration of the preceding ceremony.

Location, Arrival Time, & Duration

All ceremonies will be in the Gymnasium (HPF Building) on the main (Amnicola Highway) campus. Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled ceremony time, and come dressed in your regalia (cap, gown, cords/medals, etc.). Ceremonies will start promptly at the published time and will likely last around 45 minutes. Graduates should line up in Gym lobby.

Photos

Professional photographs will be taken, and you will have the opportunity to order prints through the photography company. You will receive more details at the ceremony.

Parking & Accessing

Graduates and guests should park in Lot P1, the Visitor Parking Lot. All ceremonies will be held in the Gymnasium (HPF) building, which is number 4 on the campus map.

Accessibility & Accommodations

If you or any of your guests have accessibility needs or wish to request accommodations, please email Dr. Kristi Strode, the Director of the Center for Access and Disability Services. Her email is kristi.strode@chattanoogastate.edu. Typical requests might include that you or your guests cannot navigate stairs, or that your guests need to sit in a place where they can read the live captioning. The planned route for graduates includes a few stairs onto the stage, and a few stairs from the stage back down to the main floor.


Cap/Gown Pickup & Grad Finale

Please plan to pick up your cap, gown, and guest tickets at the Grad Finale event.

Designating Someone Else to Pick Up Your Regalia

If you choose to have someone else pick up your cap and gown, you must complete and submit the Cap & Gown Pick-up Permission Form: http://tiger.fyi/3rdpartypickup
The person you designate will need to know your A# and present a photo ID matching the name you provide on the online form.

Grad Finale Dates

  • Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm)
  • Wednesday, April 10, 2024 (8:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Exit Exam

If you are graduating with an Associate Degree, you will need to complete the Online College Exit Exam within your final semester.


Intent to Graduate Forms

Please note that it is the responsibility of each student, along with your advisor, to ensure all necessary requirements have been met for degree or certificate completion. Please closely review all Graduation Requirements before submitting an intent to graduate form. Each student must meet with an advisor to complete an Intent to Graduate form. Submission of the form will initiate posting your credential on your transcript and printing your diploma.


Required Exit Counseling for Student Loan Recipients

If you have received a student loan through Chattanooga State's Financial Aid Office, you must complete an on-line exit interview. Complete this requirement at student loans.gov. Your diploma will not be released if you have not completed the exit interview.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed each term approximately 6-8 weeks after final grades are posted for that term. They are mailed to the mailing address on file with the following schedule:

  • May (Spring) graduates: July 1- July 15
  • August (Summer) graduates: October 1 - October 15
  • December (Fall) graduates:   February 1 - February 15

Questions regarding diplomas can be sent to ruth.kirkendall@chattanoogastate.edu


Diploma Replacement from ChattState or Tennessee College of Applied Technology

A diploma replacement can be obtained free of charge if your year of graduation is from 2000 – present (diplomas earned before 2000 are not available). Requests should include the Student ID (if available), student’s complete name, address, phone number, and email address, along with the preferred delivery method (mail, pick up, etc.). Students can order their document, or direct any questions to ruth.kirkendall@chattanoogastate.edu, or call 423-697-2490.


Questions?

If you have questions or need additional information please email graduation@chattanoogastate.edu