Graduation

Applying for Graduation

Download: Graduation Application

Commencement Ceremony Information

East Central College’s 55th Annual Commencement Ceremony will take place May 17th, 2025 at Noon at the Donald Shook Student Center on the Union campus. The ceremony will take place in the gymnasium located on the second floor of the Donald Shook Student Center (DSSC)

Rehearsal

Commencement Rehearsal will be Friday morning, May 16th at 11:00am. Check-in will take place in the Library/Learning Center in Buescher Hall in Union. Graduates will line up and run through the processional, abbreviated ceremony, and recessional. The rehearsal should take approximately 45 minutes. The commencement rehearsal is optional but recommended.

Graduate Check-In

Graduates will check in and line up in the Library/Learning Center in Buescher Hall by 11am on May 17th. Graduates will not be able to return to the Library after the ceremony. Valuables should be left with guests. Tickets should be given to guests prior to checking in.

Guests

Gymnasium Seating (Ticketed)

The 2025 Commencement Ceremony is anticipated to be the largest in ECC’s history. To ensure each graduate will have guests in the gym with them, tickets will be required for entry into the gym. Each graduate had the opportunity to request up to 6 tickets. Please check with your graduate regarding tickets prior to the ceremony. Due to the large number of participants, there will not be any additional tickets available beyond the initial tickets requested per graduate.

Doors will open to the gymnasium in the Donald Shook Student Center at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will last approximately 1.5 hours. Guests in the gym should be at their seats and keep the walkways clear during both the processional and recessional of graduates and faculty. Please be aware that there will be confetti cannons at the end of the ceremony to celebrate the graduates. These cannons will make noise which may startle some guests.

There are separate tickets for floor and bleacher seating. Floor seating is for guests who cannot sit in bleachers. Graduates indicated the need for this type of seating when submitting their RSVP. Please check with your graduate regarding tickets prior to the ceremony. Small children who will be sitting on the lap of a ticketed adult will not require a ticket.

Please prearrange a meeting location outside the building in order to find your graduate after the ceremony.

Overflow Seating (No Tickets Required)

Guests without tickets will be invited to overflow seating with live-streaming. There will be three overflow seating options on campus: the cafeteria on the first floor of the Donald Shook Student Center, the reception tent just outside the Donald Shook Student Center, and inside the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center (Theatre) located in Hansen Hall. All guests will be invited to celebrate with their graduate at the reception tent following the ceremony.

Guests Needing Accessibility Arrangements

Graduates alerted the Registrar’s Office of any guests needing special seating accommodations when they submitted their ticket request. Please contact your graduate prior to the ceremony about the floor seating guest tickets.

There will be golf carts shuttling guests from parking lots to the Donald Shook Student Center and Hansen Hall. Wheelchairs will also be available for use transporting guests within the Donald Shook Student Center. Guests in wheelchairs may want to enter the Donald Shook Student Center at the loading dock entrance. The elevator at the lower level can take them directly to the 2nd floor gymnasium.

Graduates Needing Accessibility Arrangements

Graduates should inform the Graduation office by calling 636-584-6579 no later than May 9th, to make any accommodations needed to fully participate in the commencement ceremony.

Caps and Gown Orders

Caps and gowns ordered through Herff Jones are now available for pick up! The Bookstore can be reached at 636-584-6737. Payment is due at pick up.

Rolla students can request to have their regalia sent to the Rolla site by contacting the Bookstore.

Tassels are to be worn on the right side of the cap. Caps are to be worn flat on the head and may be decorated as long as the decorations and messages are not distracting. As soon as you purchase regalia, take it out of the packaging, check the size, and hang it up to remove wrinkles. If you must iron the gown, be sure to use the lowest or cool setting, or it will melt the fabric.

Phi Theta Kappa Members

PTK members who would like to have a gold tassel and/or stole to wear at commencement, and have not completed the chapter’s 5-Star Member program requirements have 2 options:

  1. Order from PTK headquarters. PTK members will need their member ID number to order online. The PTK ID cards were sent with the membership certificate. (Debit or credit card will be required to order online.)
  2. You may also contact Kevin Dixon, chapter advisor, who has a limited supply of each available for purchase on a first-come/first-served basis.  You must contact Mr. Dixon at kevin.dixon@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6631 to reserve yours.

Service Members

Veterans and active duty/reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces will be presented with a red, white, and blue cord to wear if they attend the ceremony. The cords will be given to the graduate during the processional lineup just prior to the ceremony.

Graduation Photos

Professional photos will be taken at the ceremony and will be available for purchase through Grad Images.

Ceremony Questions

Email grad@eastcentral.edu or call 636-584-6579 regarding any ceremony questions you may have about the commencement ceremony.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a degree or certificate from East Central College, students must satisfactorily complete the prescribed course requirements for a degree or certificate program as specified in the catalog or other current, East Central College document. Students planning to graduate should:

  • Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on all college-level credit earned (Certain programs may require a higher GPA).
  • Complete at least 15  hours of college-level credit through East Central College.
  • Submit an Application for Graduation, available from the Office of the Registrar or the College website, or apply for graduation via MyECC > Self Service.
  • Complete an exit examination as specified by the College for the degree or certificate earned.
  • Settle all financial obligations to East Central College.
  • If not already on file, provide official high school transcript or G.E.D certificate.

Transcripts and Diplomas

Transcripts and Diplomas

Final grades will be posted the week following final exams. Graduates will be notified via email when degrees/certificates have been posted.

Transcripts

When requesting transcripts, be sure to select the option to have your transcript sent after your degree or certificate has been posted or wait until you receive your graduate notification email from the Registrar’s Office.

Diplomas

Graduates will be notified via email when their diploma is available for pick up. Diplomas that are not picked up will be mailed out after three weeks.

Questions?

Please contact the Graduation Office if you have any questions at 636-584-6579 or grad@eastcentral.edu.

Graduates will be notified via email when their degree is processed and transcripts are available. Diplomas will be available approximately 3-4 weeks after degrees and certificates are posted.

Transcripts can be ordered anytime online.

Please click on the Commencement Ceremony Information tab above for more information about the ceremony.