Graduation Info & FAQ

We will contact you via your student e-mail as soon as your department notifies us that you are graduating this term.

We will then send you periodic updates via your student e-mail account as various deadlines draw near.

1. Fill out and submit the Graduation Application in myLSUS.

• Log into myLSUS and click on Graduation Application, available in the Quick Links. The application will only be available during the semester in which you are graduating. 
• Fill out the entire Graduation Application form and submit it no later than one month prior to your conferral date. 
• Please note that your name will be printed on your diploma exactly how you input it into the form, including capitalization, spaces, commas, etc. Double-check the "First/Middle name" and "Last name" form fields before you submit your application. Graduation candidates who submit their documents after the deadline will have their diplomas ordered with the name that appears on record.

2. Pay the $50 graduation fee.

• You may pay the graduation fee online through myLSUS. Other payment options include mailing a check or money order (mail to the Department of Accounting Services, One University Place, Shreveport, LA 71115) or paying in person with cash, check, or money order at the cashier's desk in the Administration Building, room 129.
• Please note that the graduation fee will not appear on your myLSUS account until one of the following occurs:
  • You have submitted your Graduation Application online through myLSUS; or
  • The Office of Records and Registration receives the signed degree checkout from your department.
• The graduation application fee is non-refundable.

3. Order your graduation regalia (cap, gown, hood, etc.) by the established deadline.

• You can purchase your cap, gown, and master’s or doctoral hood (if receiving master's or doctorate degree) from the LSUS Bookstore. Late orders may be subject to additional charges. Special size gowns may be available by special order. For additional information, please contact the LSUS Bookstore at (318) 797-5212 or via e-mail at bookstore@lsus.edu.
• During specific timeframes, you can also purchase your cap and gown online from the Oak Hall LSUS graduation regalia portal.
• The wearing of full LSUS regalia, including gown, mortarboard (cap), and master's or doctoral hood (if receiving master's or doctorate degree), is required to participate in the commencement ceremony. Regalia must be specific to LSUS with "LSUS" embroidered on the lapels and must be ordered through the LSUS Bookstore or the Oak Hall LSUS graduation regalia portal.
• You can also purchase additional graduation items, like announcements, invitations, diploma frames, and school rings from the LSUS Bookstore or from the Jostens website.

4. Successfully complete remaining coursework. 

5. Celebrate your accomplishment at the commencement ceremony!

Yes, a $50 graduation fee is assessed for each degree earned at LSUS.

A conferral date refers to the date your degree posts to your LSUS transcript.

A ceremony date refers to the date you attend the ceremony to celebrate your awesome accomplishment.

Depending on when your degree is conferred, the conferral and ceremony dates may be the same.

The conferral date is the day we officially post your degree to your transcript. This date will also appear on your diploma.

March 17, 2026 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of spring session AP1. There is no commencement ceremony in March. All March graduates are encouraged to participate in our May spring commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026.

May 15, 2026 - applies to students who will complete degree requirements by the end of spring sessions 1, AP2 or 1D. This includes students on a traditional or accelerated schedule.

July 7, 2026 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of summer session AP1. There is no commencement ceremony in July. All July graduates are encouraged to participate in our September summer commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2026.

August 5, 2026 - applies to students who complete degree requirements by the end of summer session 1. There is no commencement ceremony in August. All August graduates are encouraged to participate in our September summer commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2026.

September 1, 2026 - applies to students enrolled in an online, accelerated program who complete degree requirements by the end of summer session AP2. All September graduates are encouraged to participate in our September summer commencement ceremonies scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2026.

December 18, 2026 - applies to students who will complete degree requirements by the end of fall sessions 1, AP2 or 1D. This includes students on a traditional or accelerated schedule.

The commencement ceremony will be held at Brookshire Grocery Arena, 2000 Brookshire Arena Drive, Bossier City, LA 71112. For more information about the arena, go to the Brookshire Grocery Arena website

There is no rehearsal for the commencement ceremony. Faculty marshals and staff will be on hand to assist with all aspects of the ceremony. It is important that you follow the instructions of the marshals as they guide you through the ceremony.

No. You are to wear the LSUS regalia that matches the degree you will be receiving.

Graduates must be in full regalia for their respective degrees to participate in commencement ceremonies.

If you plan to graduate in the Spring 2026 semester, you must order your regalia (cap, gown, hood, tassel, etc.) no later than COB Friday, April 3, 2026, on the Oak Hall LSUS graduation regalia portal.

Graduation regalia is also available for purchase at the campus bookstore during hours of operation, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For assistance with the proper wear of your graduation regalia, watch our Regalia 101 video.

Appropriate dress is required to maintain the dignity of this special occasion. For the best appearance, hang your gown overnight, gently steam it with a garment steamer, or press it with a cool iron and pressing cloth.

The tassel on the cap is worn suspended over the right front of the cap.

Women: Dresses or slacks may be worn under your robe. Please keep in mind that the garment should not detract from the dignity of the academic costume. Dark shoes look best. You should wear comfortable walking shoes, because you will be standing for long periods of time. Please do not carry a purse. If you must have a purse, arrange for a friend or family member to hold it for you.

Men: Under your robe, wear long trousers, dark socks, dark shoes and a shirt with a tie. Remove your cap during the National Anthem, invocation and benediction.

Please arrive two hours prior to the ceremony wearing your full regalia. Ushers and signs will direct you to the line-up area. When you enter the line-up area, we will give you two cards with your name on them. Do not lose these cards. You will present one to the photographer, and the other to the announcer.

Note that traffic approaching the arena can become very congested, so be sure to allow yourself enough time to account for traffic delays.

The arena has adequate seating for all guests. Tickets are not required, and there is no limit to the number of guests you may invite to the ceremony.

Graduates who need special accommodations for the commencement ceremony should contact the Office of Records and Registration at (318) 797-5063 so that appropriate arrangements can be made. 

Guests who require seating accommodations should enter the arena through the main entrance. The arena is handicap accessible.

Graduate students are seated as one group; undergraduate students as another. Students are not required to sit together alphabetically or according to college or degree, but may do so if they wish.

Although the length of each ceremony varies with the number of graduates, it is best to plan for up to two-three hours. Graduating students are asked to respect the other graduates by staying for the entire ceremony.

If you and your guests are traveling from out of state, please check out the Visit Shreveport Bossier website for suggestions about accommodations and local attractions.

Yes. Please refer to the LSU Shreveport Facebook page Events tab no earlier than one week prior to the commencement ceremony.

A professional photographer will be taking pictures of graduates at the ceremony. Graduates will be contacted by the photographer with information regarding the purchase of pictures at the mailing address that is on file with the Office of Records and Registration within 4-6 weeks after the event. You may also view pictures following the commencement ceremony on the Grad Photo Network website.

No. Diploma covers are issued at the ceremony. If you are unable to attend the ceremony, we do mail covers separately by special request. Submit your requests to registrar@lsus.edu. An additional cost of $15 will be charged to cover the cost of shipping the cover to you.

One printed diploma is included in the graduation fee. Additional copies of your diploma may be ordered after the conferral date via the Parchment LSUS portal for a fee of $25 each per printed diploma or $10 each per digital diploma.

Diploma covers are provided to graduating students at the commencement ceremony. If you do not attend the ceremony, you may request that your diploma cover be mailed to you after the ceremony date. E-mail registrar@lsus.edu to make your request. There is a $15 fee for shipping/handling.

All university-issued cords are provided to graduating students at the commencement ceremony. If you do not attend the ceremony, you may request the appropriate cord be mailed to you after the ceremony date. E-mail registrar@lsus.edu to make your request. There is a $5 fee for shipping/handling.

Note: Honor cords are only distributed to undergraduate students with a LSUS and cumulative GPA of at least 3.5. Student must have previously submitted proof they are a veteran to the Office of Records and Registration to receive a veteran cord. First-generation cords are only issued to students whose parents did not earn a degree from a four-year degree granting institution.

Please note, honors designations are awarded to undergraduate students only. Graduate students are not eligible to earn a degree with honors but are welcome to wear any honors regalia they receive through departmental or national honor societies.

A baccalaureate degree is awarded with honors to students who earn a minimum of 30 term hours of credit at LSU Shreveport and who maintain a high grade point average. To be eligible for honors, students must have a grade point average, including course grades eliminated through the Repeat/Delete option and the Bankruptcy Policy, that falls within the ranges shown below, both for courses taken at LSU Shreveport and for all courses. Both the LSU Shreveport and Cumulative GPAs must be 3.50 or above to be awarded a degree with honors.

Undergraduate students will receive honors cords upon checking in at Commencement.

Honors candidates: If you have not sent all your transcripts to LSUS, request electronic copies from each school immediately, as they must be received by LSUS by close of business on the Monday prior to your conferral date. Failure to meet this deadline can result in your being omitted from the honors insert of our Commencement Program. Diplomas and honors cords are not released to students who are missing paperwork such as an official transcript.

Honors candidates who have outstanding transcripts should send all official transcripts to our office by COB on the Monday prior to your conferral date. Failure to meet this deadline can result in your being omitted from the honors insert in our Commencement Program. Diplomas and honors cords are not released to students who are missing paperwork such as an official transcript.