Graduation

Graduates participating in the Fall Commencement Ceremony must fill out a Commencement Participation form and order their regalia through the IRSC River Shop bookstore. Students will receive a RiverMail and personal email with the application instructions. 

Deadline to apply—Friday, November 12, 2021.

Click for more information.

Approved regalia purchased through the IRSC River Shop bookstore is required for participation. The regalia packet (cap/gown/tassel) cost is $65. Orders are non-reimbursable and non-transferrable.  

Additonal or replacement cap or tassel may be purchased from the River Shop.

A Commencement fee is no longer charged to your student account.

No, students must purchase the current regalia through the IRSC River Shop bookstore to participate in the Fall Commencement Ceremony. Tickets for the Commencement Ceremony are included in the regalia packet.

Students who submit a Commencement Participation form after the November 12 deadline are not guaranteed their regalia size and their name will not be included in the Commencement program.

Ceremony Regalia will be available for pick up December 1-10 at the River Shop on Massey Campus or may be sent to any branch campus via C-Port if designated during the online order process. Only the participating graduate may pick up their regalia and tickets.

Orders not picked up by December 10 will be available for pick up beginning Monday, December 13 only at the River Shop bookstore on Massey Campus.

• Graduates must present a photo ID in order to pick up regalia and admission tickets.
• Members of U.S. Armed Forces* must present a military ID to receive military cords.

*Armed Forces (Veteran, Active Duty, Reserve)

Commencement announcements will be available for purchase at the River Shop bookstore on Massey Campus or online. Call 1-877-770-2665 for more information.

In addition to IRSC regalia (cap, gown, tassel), cords, stoles, medallions and/or pins from Academic Honor Society organizations recognized by the College can be worn during the Ceremony. These include:

• IRSC Honor, High Honors, Highest Honors
• All Florida Academic Team
• Alpha Phi Sigma/Criminal Justice
• Emerging Leaders
• Eta Sigma Delta/Culinary, Hospitality & Tourism
• Honor Society for Nursing
• Kappa Delta Pi/Education
• Lambda Nu/Radiologic & Imaging
• Legacy Leaders
• Military Distinction
• Phi Theta Kappa
• Sigma Alpha Pi
• Sigma Beta Delta/Business

Recipients will be acknowledged during the Ceremony.

Honor designations are based on overall cumulative college-credit plus transfer coursework attempted at IRSC from the previous academic term, as well as at other post-secondary institutions. Graduates will be notified of Honors status via their IRSC RiverMail email and a posting on this Graduation web page.

Check back here on December 15 to confirm if you are an Honors graduate.

The Honors designations are:

• Summa Cum Laude–Highest Honors (cumulative GPA of 3.85 to 4.0)
• Magna Cum Laude–High Honors (cumulative GPA of 3.7 to 3.84)
• Cum Laude–Honors (cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.69)

Honors recipients will wear gold cords and be acknowledged during the Ceremony.

Yes. Everyone entering Lawnwood Stadium needs a ticket, regardless of age.

Beginning December 6, additional Commencement tickets (2 per participating graduate with a valid Student ID) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis (while supplies last) at Student Affairs, KSU Room #112.

Men should wear a dress shirt, tie, dark slacks and dark dress shoes.  Women should wear a dark dress or dress slacks and dark dress shoes.  For your own safety and comfort, women should not wear high-heeled and/or open-toe dress shoes.  Closed-toe low heels and/or flats are strongly recommended.

If you are missing or lose part of your regalia before Thursday, December 16, visit the IRSC River Shop bookstore on Massey Campus to purchase a replacement.  Additional tassels or replacement tassels are $10. Additional or replacement caps are $12. Graduates must purchase a complete replacement packet if their gown is lost or damaged.

If you find that you are missing regalia at the Ceremony, speak to a faculty member at your check-in location.

No.  Leave your personal belongings in your car or with a family member.  The College and Lawnwood Stadium cannot be responsible for securing your valuables.

The two and a half hour Ceremony will begin promptly at its designated time. Graduates will be pre-seated.  Graduates arrive 45 minutes prior to their ceremony and remain for the entire event. Each graduate will receive a name card to hand to the presenter before crossing the stage to receive a diploma.  

Go directly to the Graduate Check-in area at the Lawnwood Stadium, and a faculty member will escort you to the reserved seating area.

Follow the signs to your check-in area, and check in with the faculty member in charge.  

View Programs of Study:

• Bachelor's of Science and Bachelor's of Applied Science
• Associate in Arts (Tracks)
• Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science

Printed diplomas will be mailed to all graduates approximately two to three weeks following the Ceremony from the vendor Parchment.

A free digital diploma will be available a few days after term completion. Students will receive a notification to their personal email and a text notification with instructions for electronically claiming their diploma.

Graduates and/or family members requiring special accommodations should contact Accessibility Services at least one (1) week prior to Commencement at accessibilityservices@irsc.edu or call 772-462-7809.

Family and guests should plan to arrive at least one (1) hour prior to the start of the Ceremony which begins PROMPTLY at the time noted above. They should expect a heavy volume of traffic and allow time to park and walk to the Ceremony site. 

Guests, family and friends use the main entrance.

Yes.  Guests, family and friends are allowed to bring water, cameras or video cameras.

Yes. A sign language interpreter will be visibly located and signing during the Ceremony. 

The Commencement Ceremony will last approximately two and a half hours. Guests and graduates are expected to remain for the entire Ceremony.

If you plan to make lunch or dinner reservations following the Commencement Ceremony, give yourself ample time as there will be traffic delays.

Professional photographers will take photographs of all graduates during the Commencement Ceremony. One photo will be taken as each graduate is congratulated by the President of Indian River State College, and a second photo is taken in front of the American Flag immediately after leaving the stage.

Check the Grad Images website for ordering information and pricing.  

All new IRSC graduates receive a complimentary one-year membership to the IRSC Alumni Association.  To activate your membership, send an email to irscalumni@irsc.edu.

Call the IRSC Student Communications Center at 1-866-792-4772.