Commencement

For students who apply to graduate online, after your application has been submitted, you will receive a text reminder to return to the myEFSC Portal to RSVP for Commencement plus a pop-up Commencement Ceremony message on your myEFSC Portal screen.

You will need to return to the myEFSC Portal to view the Commencement Ceremony: Next Steps box that will appear on your portal once your application (online or PDF application) has been initially processed.

• In the Commencement Ceremony: Next Steps section of the Portal, click either Yes or No for whether you plan to attend the Commencement Ceremony during the term you applied to graduate. (Summer graduates may choose to attend a Fall Commencement ceremony).
  
  
• If you choose "No, I will not attend" then no further action is required.
  
  
• If you choose "Yes, I will attend. See guest ticket instructions below*" then you will need to follow the instructions sent to your Titan Student email at a later date closer to Commencement. During the specified dates in the email and listed below in Step 2 details, you will be able to use your custom link in that email to access the King Center Reservation system. In your King Center account, you will finalize your reservation by choosing a ceremony time and choosing up to four guest tickets for that time. Your RSVP process is NOT complete until you have successfully acted on the email that will be sent by the King Center.
  
  
• See the next step in the accordion for details on Choosing a Ceremony Time & Reserving Guest Tickets
  
  
• If you indicated you plan to take part in Commencement, you are required to wear the appropriate EFSC cap and gown for your degree or certificate program. Regalia can be ordered or purchased on site through the EFSC Bookstores.

This is the critical second step of the online Commencement RSVP process.

Please note the details below apply only to Spring Term 2024 Commencement ceremonies scheduled for 11 AM and 2 PM on Thursday, May 9th and are subject to change for future ceremonies

Ceremony times and up to three guest tickets per graduate are on a first-come, first-served basis. Each Commencement Ceremony has 425 slots for graduation candidates so the first 850 students who RSVPd "Yes, I will attend" as described in Step 1, will be able to access a custom King Center link when it is available via email based on when they RSVPd yes.

Key Dates & Actions Related to the King Center Ceremony Reservation & Guest Tickets Step

April 8 - April 23, 2024 - Initial Ceremony Choice Group: Students who RSVPd "Yes, I will attend" Commencement from January 14, 2024 through Sunday, March 31, 2024, will receive an email via their Titan Student email address. It will contain detailed instructions on how to log in to the King Center reservation system where the candidate will choose a ceremony time and up to three guest tickets during this April 8th through 23rd priority time frame. If one or both ceremonies fill up before April 23rd, Commencement will be considered full and there will be no additional candidates allowed to choose a time.

April 24, 2024 - Additional Candidates Can Reserve a Time IF Available: If space is available, students who RSVPd "Yes, I will attend" Commencement from April 1-23, will be added to the list of candidates eligible to choose a ceremony time and up to 3 guest tickets through a King Center account. The invitation with detailed instructions on how to log in to the King Center reservation system, will be emailed to the Titan Student email address.

April 30, 2024 - Additional Candidates Can Reserve a Time IF Available: If space is available, students who RSVPd "Yes, I will attend" Commencement from April 24 to the 29th at 11:59 PM, will be added to the list of candidates eligible to choose a ceremony time and up to 3 guest tickets through a King Center account. The invitation with detailed instructions on how to log in to the King Center reservation system, if space is available, will be emailed to the Titan Student email address.

May 6-7, 2024 - Extra Guest Ticket Available: An email with specific details was sent to all candidates with a reserved Ceremony time, allowing them to choose one extra guest ticket. This was on a first-come, first-serve basis, and access closed at 6 PM Tuesday, May 7.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - Guest Tickets Sent via Email (Date updated due to additional guest ticket option): The King Center will send reserved guest tickets electronically to the email address that the student used to create their King Center account after 6 PM on May 7. Tickets will be digital and can be shared with guests via your device.

• All guest tickets are first-come, first-served, until all seats have been reserved.
  
  
• Because of limited space at the King Center, tickets are required for each guest, including infants and toddlers, to attend the graduation ceremony and be seated inside the auditorium. The number of guest tickets is determined based on the number of confirmed candidates attending the commencement ceremony.
  
  
• Graduates should follow the steps that will be included in the email about online ticket access to request accessible seating for any guest tickets. Accessible seating is first-come, first-serve and will fill to maximum capacity through the advance reservations. For more information on accessibility accommodations, contact the King Center Ticket Office at 321-242-2219.
  
  
• Ticket distribution is based upon the actual number of candidates participating in the ceremony and the seating capacity of the King Center. Guests are assigned reserved seats at the time of the online order. Tickets are non-replaceable and do not have monetary value. The College does not support or condone the selling of guest tickets. EFSC is not responsible for lost, stolen, destroyed or deleted tickets. Guests will not be allowed in the King Center without a ticket. Each ceremony is also televised live on WEFS-TV and via webcast with a link posted on the website home page the morning of graduation.
  
  
• Electronic Delivery of Guest Tickets: Student’s confirmation and ticket email will come from the King Center to the student’s email address used in the King Center account. To avoid delays in receiving their guest tickets, students are asked to register this email address: KingCenter@mail.ASMMelbourne.com as a safe sender to ensure that the email address isn’t blocked or listed as spam. Tickets WILL NOT be sent immediately when reserved – Spring 2024 Tickets will be delivered electronically after 6 PM on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 (Updated date due to release of additional guest ticket).
  
  
• Additional Guest Tickets? If additional guest tickets are available, they will be released on May 6, 2024 on a first-come, first serve basis until space limitations are met. It will not be determined until that day how many additional tickets, if any, will be available to claim. Candidates will be emailed via their Titan Student email, ONLY if additional seats are available. We would like to stress that there is no guarantee that additional tickets will be available. Please note: existing guest ticket seat locations were automatically assigned at the time they were reserved. The additional guest ticket may not be adjacent to that existing reservation group and all guests must sit in their reserved seat.

PLEASE NOTE: The commencement ceremony is photographed and filmed for broadcasting on social media, WEFS-TV, and the college website.

By participating in commencement activities, you authorize EFSC to photograph, record, and/or broadcast your name, image, voice and/or likeness, and expressly grant EFSC the perpetual right to use your name, image, voice, and/or likeness without compensation for any purpose in any medium.

If you request that such information be confidential, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Report to the King Center Rotunda, Building 9 on the Melbourne Campus 1-1/2 hours prior to the ceremony. There you will be given a calling card and form the processional into the King Center's main auditorium. No walk-up registrations for the ceremonies are allowed; stuents must have a pre-reserved ceremony time.

Important Reminders

• The procession of graduates begins approximately 20 minutes before the start of your ceremony. To ensure you are able to walk in the procession to the King Center, we strongly encourage you to arrive for check in NO LATER THAN 45 minutes before your ceremony, as space may be limited. Please plan accordingly so you do not miss any part of your special day.

• 11 AM Ceremony: Check in as early as 9:30 AM, but no later than 10:15 AM to ensure your place in the processional line

  2 PM Ceremony:  Check in as early as 12:30 PM, but no later than 1:15 p.m. to ensure your place in the processional line.

• Child care is not provided and guests are asked to keep a close watch on children. Children may not accompany graduates in either the check-in area or during the ceremony. Infants and small children will need a guest ticket.
  
  
• Candidates should make arrangements to leave personal and valuable items (purses, phones, cameras, etc.) with family or friends. There is no secure area to store your belongings.
  
  

• The King Center has an updated bag policy and no large bags are allowed in the venue for graduates or their guests. Any bag or container not meeting the approved options will have to be returned to the vehicle. Approved bag options are as follows:

  1. A non-clear wristlet/wallet/clutch 4.5”x8.5”x2” or smaller
  2. Clear bag up to 12”x6”x12”
  3. Clear one gallon plastic resealable storage bag

Graduates are required to wear an Eastern Florida State College blue or green cap and gown, which includes a commemorative blue and green EFSC tassel.

EFSC's campus bookstores are your source to purchase your cap and gown and tassel. Robes are green for graduates receiving a bachelor's degree and blue for all others. To avoid a shipping fee, graduates can purchase caps and gowns in the EFSC Campus Bookstores.

The following items are available for purchase through the Campus stores:

• Cap, Gown & Tassel Set ($68.75 plus tax)
• Caps (Mortarboards - $12.40 plus tax)
  
• Gowns ($46 plus tax)
  
• EFSC Seal Tassels ($16.25 plus tax)
• Souvenir Year Tassels ($10.98 plus tax)
  
• Diploma Frame with EFSC Mat (Prices vary)
• Announcements (Box of 20 for $15 plus tax)

Online ordering for other commencement-related items, such as class rings and personalized announcements, is available during select dates each term, with some items also in stores. View the Herff Jones website.

Please note, the online ordering system includes the requirement to choose the date of your ceremony, with an "order by" date set each term by Herff Jones to ensure time to deliver the items.

Again, caps, gowns, and tassels are generally available in each EFSC Campus Bookstore up until and on the day of the commencement ceremony.

You will receive an empty diploma cover embossed with the college's name at the ceremony. All diplomas are mailed approximately 6 - 8 business weeks after the ceremony.  If you are unable to attend and would like a diploma cover, email graduation@easternflorida.edu to find out how to obtain one. 

A professional photographer from the company GradImages will take your picture while you are on the stage. The photographer will send you proof copies either by electronic or regular mail and you may purchase photos directly from the vendor.