Commencement at Campbellsville University

Commencement is a day of celebration for the university. As a student, it's your next step in life. As a faculty and staff member, we're sad to see you go, but can't wait to hear what you do next. Graduation marks a momentous occasion in the lives of our graduates and the entire university family. Due to limited space, seating is not guaranteed; unless otherwise stated, seating is first-come, first-served. Live video overflow is made available. The university holds two commencement ceremonies annually: Fall (December) and Spring (May).

 

How to Apply:

Campbellsville University has official graduation dates in May, August, and December. You are completing an application for program completion/graduation based on when you’ll finish all of your requirements for graduation (NOT on a graduation ceremony!)  If you plan on finishing up your requirements in the summer, then you will apply for the summer semester, and be invited to attend the previous spring ceremony. For example, if you finish in August 2026, you will apply for Summer 2026 – but you will be invited to participate in the May 2026 ceremony. Your degree will be conferred at the end of August and your diploma will be mailed afterwards.

A student can apply for program completion/graduation up to 2 semesters before completing all requirements. For example, at the start of fall 2025, students can apply for December 2025 or May 2026 only.  After the fall semester ends (December 13, 2025), students can apply for May 2026 and August 2026. 

Please check the expected completion date for your program of study. If It’s incorrect in Workday, please email us at registrar@campbellsville.edu and tell us what it should be, and we can make the adjustment for you. This will need to be completed first, before you apply for program completion and graduation.

Once a student applies for program completion, their academic plan can not be updated or changed.  Please make sure advisor and student have set the academic plan before a student applies!

Please complete the process on a desktop/laptop – and not on your phone.

To apply for program completion/graduation:

  1. Log into Workday
  2. Type in search bar - Apply for Program Completion
    1. Check the Apply button and the confirm button.
    2. Click Submit
    3. Click Done
  3. You should receive a Graduation Application Questionnaire in your inbox (top right side)
  4. Please complete the whole questionnaire and submit. Your application for graduation is not completed until you have successfully submitted the questionnaire.
  5. After you have submitted the questionnaire, you should see your answers by clicking on the Menu button (top left corner), Student, Academic, General Help – Graduation Application Answers.
  6. How to know if you’ve completed all the steps? Review the Overview tab and see that it has “Pending Completion” as the status for all your program(s) of study and you should find your questionnaire answers, as stated in #5.  If both are there… then you have successfully applied for graduation. Congratulations!
  7. If you need to make edits to your questionnaire, such as diploma address: type in “Edit My Program Completion Application”. You will receive another questionnaire, which will need to be fully completed again and submitted.

Your advisor can also see that you have completed both of these steps by noting the “Pending Completion” Status and reviewing your questionnaire.  Continue to work with your advisor, following your Academic Progress to make sure all the requirements for your program(s) of study will be shown as “Satisfied” by the end of your last semester.  You will not receive an “audit” from our office – as all the requirements are built out for full transparency in Workday. As always, continue to review your Academic Progress and compare your requirements as listed in the Academic Catalog, located on the website at https://catalog.campbellsville.edu/.

Thank you and congratulations on reaching this milestone!

Tip: Complete any course substitutions before applying to graduate so that they will be reflected on your Academic Progress. 

View Steps You Need to Complete Before Graduation

This is a graduation checklist provided to students outlining steps you need to complete before graduation. It is general and contains both academic and non-academic steps that is intended to serve as a guide for students. 

  • Students who plan to complete requirements for graduation in May, August, December, and January must complete and Application for Program Completion/Graduation through Workday. Please see instructions on how to apply on the previous tab "Apply for Program Completion/Graduation". 
  • Meet degree requirements as listed in the University Catalog - graduate with at least the minimum number of credit hours required by your program of study and have a 2.0 overall GPA.
  • Students who have taken courses at other institutions should confirm with the Registrar's Office that official transcripts have been received.
  • Pick up caps, gowns, robes, tassels, etc., no later than two weeks before Commencement from the CU Tiger Shop. Master's candidates will need to secure the appropriate hood as well.
  • EXIT EXAMS - Students in Teacher Education must take specific PRAXIS exams as prescribed for the area of study. Education advisors have more information.
  • EXIT INTERVIEWS (for LOANS) - Federal Direct loan recipients can complete the exit interview online at www.studentloans.gov website.
  • Pay all student accounts, including parking and library fines, and the graduation fee.
  • Return all library materials.
  • UNIVERSITY HOUSING - Be sure to take all of your possessions with you. Items left cannot be stored. If you paid a deposit, check with your residence director to arrange for a refund if you qualify.
  • For graduates or guests with disabilities - please email cugraduation@campbellsville.edu to discuss accommodations. 
  • Candidates are encouraged to review the requirements for graduation found in the Bulletin-Catalog.
Fall 2025 Commencement Schedule

2:00 PM (ET) - Graduate (Louisville Graduate Business Programs): Master of Information Technology Management (MSITM), Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS), Management and Leadership (MML), Master of Science in Cloud Computing (MSCC), Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MSDS), and Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA)

All ceremonies on December 11th, 2025, will be held in Ransdell Chapel on the Campbellsville campus.

1:00 PM (ET) – Bachelor of Science (BS)

3:00 PM (ET) – Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (BSMT), Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and all Associate Degrees

5:00 PM (ET) - Master’s and Doctoral degrees (Non-Louisville Graduate Business Programs)

All ceremonies on December 12th, 2025 will be held in Ransdell Chapel on the Campbellsville campus.

Additional Information:

Tickets are not required to attend the graduation ceremonies. Diplomas are not handed out at the ceremonies. Diplomas will be mailed to the address you requested on your application for graduation after all final grades have been posted and final degree audits approved.

Information will be coming soon about caps, gowns, and graduation regalia – keep checking your CU email for the latest graduation information.

Continue to check your Academic Progress on Workday, and discuss all questions with your academic advisors. As per the catalog, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure all requirements for graduation are met.

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Become Better Prepared for the Day of Your Ceremony

Academic regalia for all degree candidates will include a black academic gown and mortarboard/tam appropriate for the degree level. It is the responsibility of the degree candidate to secure academic regalia through the University-approved vendor before the ceremony and bring it to the ceremony. To participate in the ceremony, you must wear the required cap and gown as received from the CU Tiger Shop. No flags or ceremonial dress will be permitted. 

Mortarboards may only have decorations on the top and must not be distracting to the ceremony. In addition to the academic gown and mortarboard, any adornment must be provided and/or approved by the University. 

Undergraduate degree candidates who will graduate with honors will wear tassels and/or stoles provided by the University.

Cords, stoles, medallions, and pins representing University-recognized honor societies, athletic teams, academic units, military/veteran students, and students with international affiliation are allowed. The group issuing the item must apply and receive approval from the Academic Council.

The Office of the Registrar will maintain a list of approved regalia adornments. 

Also, as a reminder, only the graduating student is allowed to cross the stage to receive the diploma. No additional family members or friends will be allowed to walk across the stage. Violation of these procedures will result in the student not participating in the ceremony. If you have any questions regarding graduation policy and procedures, please feel free to contact the Office of Academic Affairs. 

Before processing for the commencement ceremony, graduates will be asked to remove any adornment that is offensive or does not comply with this policy.

When dressing for commencement, “business” or “business casual” is the order of the day. While men may opt for a suit/sport coat, it is optional, depending on how comfortable you will be in your gown.

TIP: Don't wait until Friday to unwrap your gown, or you'll look like you slept in it! Instead, open it as soon as you get it to let some of the wrinkles fall out. Iron or steam it for a neat look. Local dry cleaners can do this for you, too.

Caps, gowns, and tassels will be available for purchase through the Campbellsville University Tiger Shop and online through Herff Jones. All graduating students will receive information on how to order their regalia during their last semester. 

The Registrar's Office is required to verify that all degree requirements are met before posting degrees and issuing diplomas. This means your diploma will not be in your folder at commencement.

Degree verification is a lengthy process. If all requirements are met, you should receive your diploma in about eight weeks.

To order a transcript, please click here.