April 22, 2025

Six graduation-related events on May 8 and 9 will celebrate the 1,055 Columbus State University students comprising its Spring 2025 graduating class. The festivities will include three college-specific ceremonies throughout the day on Friday, marking the university’s 129th commencement exercises.

These events, all hosted on the university’s Main Campus, include the following:

Thursday, May 8

• 10:30 a.m., School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 1:00 p.m., ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, University Hall Auditorium [map]
• 6:00 p.m., Graduate Hooding Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]

Friday, May 9

• 9:00 a.m., College of the Arts and D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 12:30 p.m., College of Letters & Sciences Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 4:00 p.m., College of Education & Health Professions Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]

Each ceremony will feature a different speaker, including Steve Têtte, a three-time Columbus State art education graduate and internationally recognized artist, at 9 a.m.; Calvin Smyre, Georgia’s longest-serving state legislator, at 12:30 p.m.; and Dr. Ellen Roberts, retired Columbus State educator and administrator, at 4 p.m.

Additionally, Smyre and arts patron Ann Strub will receive honorary degrees—Strub at the 9 a.m. ceremony and Smyre at the 12:30 p.m. ceremony.

Columbus State conducts commencement exercises and related events at the end of each fall and spring semester. Since its founding as Columbus College in 1958, the university has bestowed degrees and certificates on more than 42,000 students. As alumni, they become automatic members of the CSU Alumni Association upon graduation.

The graduation website provides additional information for graduates and guests attending these events. The website will also provide links to the live streams of the May 8 Graduate Hooding Ceremony and each of the May 9 commencement ceremonies and a downloadable PDF of the commencement program. The recorded live streams will be archived on the site for future viewing.

EVENT LOGISTICS

All commencement events are open to the public and do not require tickets to attend. Graduates are not limited in the number of guests who can attend. Those who do attend are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the Lumpkin Center, including the university’s clear-bag and bag-check policies. Balloons are not allowed in the Lumpkin Center, and guests should refrain from bringing other items such as confetti, posters or signs, and noisemakers that would disrupt the ceremonies inside the facility.

Free parking for the ceremonies is available throughout Main Campus, with limited accessible parking located in the parking lots nearest to the Lumpkin Center. Parking attendants will direct guests to available parking locations, and shuttles will also move through campus parking lots to assist guests with limited mobility.

COMMENCEMENT FACTS & FIGURES

Ceremony Firsts

This spring’s ceremonies will be Dr. Shannon Campbell’s first in her role as provost and chief academic officer.

Distribution of Graduates by College

This spring’s 1,055 graduates include 158 students representing the College of the Arts, 259 from the D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology, 340 from the College of Education & Health Professions, and 298 from the College of Letters & Sciences.

Most Popular Areas of Study

When grouping all undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates into their respective areas of study, the top five areas of study are nursing, education, business, public safety and communication.

Academic Honors

Honors status is bestowed on baccalaureate degree-earners based on their final grade point average. Among this spring’s graduates, 71 will graduate summa cum laude with GPAs ranging between 3.8 and 4.0; 75 as magna cum laude with GPAs between 3.6 and 3.79; and 87 as cum laude with GPAs ranging between 3.4 and 3.59. Baccalaureate honors graduates will be denoted by wearing gold, silver or bronze medallions, depending on their level of academic honor, as part of their regalia.

In addition, four associate degree graduates will graduate with high honors for having GPAs ranging between 3.8 and 4.0, and four with honors for having GPAs between 3.5 and 3.79.

Athletics

This spring’s graduates include 14 student-athletes representing Columbus State’s 13 NCAA Division II sports teams. During the ceremony, they will be indicated by wearing student-athlete stoles as part of their regalia.

First-Generation College Student Representation

As many as 52% of this spring’s graduating class identify as first-generation college students.

Graduates’ Age Range

The average age of the Spring 2025 class is 28.75 years. Its “most senior” graduate is 67, receiving a bachelor’s in sociology. Its youngest is 19, receiving a nexus degree in cybersecurity.

Geographic Representation

More than 83% of the spring class hail from Georgia—representing 98 of Georgia’s 159 counties. After Muscogee County, the top five Georgia counties with the greatest number of graduates are, in order of total graduates, Harris, Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb and Troup counties. The reamining graduates represents 20 other U.S. states and territories, with Alabama topping that list based on the total graduates hailing from those states.

Honors College

Nine students who completed the Honors College curriculum are among this spring's graduates. During the ceremony, they will be indicated by wearing shoulder cords with the Honors College seal as part of their regalia.

International Student Representation

More than 3% of this spring’s graduation class hails from outside the United States.

Marshals

Faculty marshals serving during their respective May 9 commencement ceremonies will include:

• Dr. Guihong Fan, professor, Department of Mathematics (12:30 p.m., College of Letters & Sciences)
• Dr. Ellen Martin, professor, Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences (4 p.m. College of Education & Health Professions ceremony)
• Dr. Reba A. Wissner, associate professor, Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music (9 a.m., College of the Arts and Turner College of Business & Technology ceremony)

Military-Connected Graduates

Active-duty soldiers and veterans comprise more than 15% of the spring graduating class.

ROTC

The spring class includes 18 ROTC “Cougar Battalion” cadets commissioning as second lieutenants. They will be commissioned separately on May 8 and participate in their college’s ceremony on May 9.

Scholarship Beneficiaries

More than 27% of this spring’s class of graduates benefited from institutional scholarships.

Servant Leadership Program

Eight students who participated in the William B. Turner Center for Servant Leadership program are among this spring's graduates. During the ceremony, they will be indicated by wearing blue and white cords as part of their regalia.

Teaching Contract Guarantee

As many as six of this spring’s graduates stand to benefit professionally from Columbus State’s partnership with the Muscogee County School District and its “CSU Teaching Contract Guarantee.” The guarantee ensures a Muscogee County School District teaching contract for any Columbus State teacher education graduate who passes the student teaching component of their degree, and who meets Georgia Professional Standards Commission induction certification requirements. Nearly half of the school system’s teachers, counselors and administrators are Columbus State alumni, with many holding two and three CSU degrees.

Tower Traditions

Twelve “Tradition Keepers” are among this spring's class and recognized for tracking their campus involvement in traditions that represent their student pride, spirit and engagement. Upon completing 45 of the 58 available Tower Traditions—ranging from taking photos with their orientation leader, Cody the Cougar and the university president, to attending specific activities and events—students receive a special “Tradition Keepers” medal they wear with their cap and gown at commencement.

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Note: data reflects the students eligible for graduation at the time of publication, pending final grades.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu