December 2, 2022

Four graduation-related events on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 will celebrate the 870 Columbus State University students who comprise the university’s Fall 2022 graduates. These events will include three ceremonies throughout the day on Friday marking the university’s 124th commencement exercises.

These events include the following—all of which will take place in the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center on the university’s Main Campus:

• Graduate Hooding Ceremony: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m.
• College of the Arts and D. Abbott Turner College of Business Commencement Ceremony: Friday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.
• College of Letters & Sciences Commencement Ceremony: Friday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m.
• College of Education & Health Professions Commencement Ceremony: Friday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.

During these ceremonies, Columbus State anticipates conferring 1,420 degrees and certificates, representing opportunities for students to earn dual degrees or certificates along with their degree. These include 42 doctoral degrees, 26 education specialist degrees, 526 master’s degrees, 639 bachelor’s degrees, 21 associate degrees, 22 nexus degrees, and 144 certificates. These also include students who completed their degrees at the end of the Summer 2022 term.

Each of Friday’s commencement ceremonies will feature GwenDolyn H. Ruff as the university’s commencement speaker. Ruff, who earned a master of science degree in administration from Columbus State in 1988, is well-known locally as a 26-year executive with Columbus Water Works; an active civic volunteer; a retired U.S. Army veteran; and a leader within the CSU Foundation, CSU Alumni Association and CSU Black Alumni Association.

The 10 a.m. ceremony will also include the conferral of Columbus State’s 36th honorary degree to Barbara “Bobsie” Carlton Swift.

Graduates and guests are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the Lumpkin Center, including the university’s clear-bag policy. The university requests that guests refrain from bringing items such as balloons, confetti, posters or signs, and noisemakers inside the facility.

Free parking for the ceremonies is available throughout Main Campus, with limited accessible parking located in the parking deck next to the Lumpkin Center. Shuttles will also be moving through campus to assist any guests with limited mobility.

Additional information for graduates and guests attending these events is online at columbusstate.edu/graduation, where links to the live streams of the Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 commencement ceremonies will also be available.

Other commencement facts and figures:

Ceremony Firsts: This fall’s ceremonies will mark the first over which Dr. John M. Fuchko III will preside as interim president.

Distribution of Graduates by College: This fall’s 870 graduates include 84 students representing the College of the Arts; 194 from the D. Abbott Turner College of Business; 324 from the College of Education & Health Professions; and 268 from the College of Letters & Sciences.

Top Academic Disciplines: Among both undergraduate and graduate programs, the top five academic disciplines—in order of total number of degrees and certificates awarded—are public safety, family nurse practitioner, health science, RN to BSN, and biology.

Scholarship Representation: Of this fall’s graduating class, 19% (169 students) benefited from merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, or a combination of the two.

First-Generation Representation: As many as 60% (520 students) in this fall’s graduating class identified themselves as first-generation college students.

Graduates’ Age Range: This fall’s graduating class ranges in age from 19 years old to 65 years old.

Geographic Representation: More than 83% (725 students) of the fall class hails from Georgia. After Muscogee County, Georgia counties with the greatest number of graduates are, in order of total graduates, Harris, Gwinnett, Fulton, Troup, and (tied) Fayette, Coweta and Dekalb counties. In addition to Georgia, 18% (158 students) of this fall’s graduates represent 22 different states and territories (with Alabama, Florida, New York, Virginia and Ohio topping the list in order of number of total graduates).

International Representation: Nearly 8% (51 students) of the fall class represents 24 different countries.

Military Representation: This fall’s graduating class includes 22 active-duty servicemen and servicewomen (3% of all graduates), and 115 military veterans (13% of all graduates).

Academic Honors: Honor status is bestowed on baccalaureate degree earners based on their final grade point average. Among this fall’s graduates, 59 will graduate summa cum laude with GPAs ranging between 3.8 and 4.0; 44 as magna cum laude with GPAs between 3.6 and 3.79; and 33 as cum laude with GPAs ranging between 3.4 and 3.59. In addition, one associate degree graduate will graduate with high honors for having GPAs ranging between 3.8 and 4.0, and one with honors for having GPAs between 3.5 and 3.79.

Honors College Participation: This fall’s graduates include eight students who participated in the Honors College curriculum.

Servant Leadership Program Participation: This fall’s graduates include six students who participated in the William B. Turner Center for Servant Leadership program.

Student-Athlete Representation: This fall’s graduates include 13 student-athletes.