The University of South Carolina will welcome thousands of new alumni from across the system in a series of commencement ceremonies beginning April 26, 2024. The three ceremonies recognizing bachelor’s, master’s and professional degree recipients begin on May 3, 2024 at the Colonial Life Arena. President Michael Amiridis will deliver remarks at all three.
At 3 p.m. Friday, May 3, USC will award 2,237 degrees to students from the College of Pharmacy, Arnold School of Public Health, College of Nursing and the Darla Moore School of Business. Honorary degrees will be presented to former university president Harris Pastides and former first lady Patricia Moore-Pastides.
A 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, May 4, will include 1,947 graduates of the South Carolina Honors College, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Information and Communications, who will be joined by honorary degree recipient Ainsley Earhardt, a prominent media personality and broadcast journalist.
The final ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday for 1,687 graduates of the College of Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Social Work, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, School of Music and Palmetto College. Solomon Jackson Jr., a veteran pastor and philanthropist, will receive an honorary degree, as will Harry McKinley Lightsey III, the secretary of commerce for South Carolina.
Other Columbia campus activities include:
- The Joseph F. Rice School of Law commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, May 3 at the historic Horseshoe. Law Dean William Hubbard will give remarks. Clifton Newman, retired S.C. Circuit Court judge, will receive an honorary degree and give a commencement address.
- The commencement ceremony for both Schools of Medicine at noon Friday, May 3 at the Koger Center. Dr. Willie Underwood III, physician and health policy expert, will receive an honorary degree and give a commencement address.
- The doctoral hooding ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the Koger Center. Arnold School of Public Health Dean Thomas Chandler will deliver remarks.
Other system commencements include:
- USC Salkehatchie: 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 26.
- USC Beaufort: 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 26. Richard (Dick) Stewart, an entrepreneur, environmentalist and philanthropist, will receive an honorary degree and give remarks.
- USC Lancaster: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27. Walter Collins, Palmetto College executive vice chancellor of academic and student affairs and associate provost, will give remarks.
- USC Union: 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Nancy Comer, USC Union advocate and nursing professional, will give remarks.
- USC Upstate: 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. Russell Booker, CEO of the Spartanburg Academic Movement, will receive an honorary degree and give remarks.
- USC Sumter: 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1. Melinda A. B. Carr, chair of the Palmetto College Board of Visitors, will give remarks.
- USC Aiken: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. S.C. Senator Shane Massey will give remarks.
Overall, more than 8,600 students will graduate from the University of South Carolina system. South Carolina graduates by the numbers:
- Columbia – 6,802
- Aiken – 416
- Beaufort – 313
- Upstate – 721
- Lancaster – 144
- Salkehatchie – 91
- Sumter – 99
- Union – 82
For more information, visit the university’s commencement website.