Graduation

The ceremony will be streamed live from these links:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• Twitch

Division of Arts & Sciences:
Graduates report to the Auditorium by 2:00 PM. Ceremony begins at 3:00 PM.

Division of Business, Engineering, & Industrial Technology AND Division of Health Technologies:
Graduates report to the Auditorium by 6:00 PM. Ceremony begins at 7:00 PM.

Please follow the guidelines for preparation for graduation, and complete the Graduation Application linked below.

Also, remember to complete the Graduation Survey. We value your feedback from your time at Southwest.

To prepare for graduation:

• Make sure that any financial obligations you have to the college are resolved, and all library materials are returned.*
• Have your program advisor check to ensure you have completed all program requirements.
• Verify your SIS mailing address is correct. Your diploma will be mailed to you within 45 days of the graduation date to the address you have listed in the student information system (MYSouthwest) as your permanent address.*
• See the Student Handbook for more information on graduation requirements and Graduation Honors awarded.

* You can find this information in your Student Center by logging into MYSouthwest (https://sw.my.vccs.edu ) and clicking the Student Information System (SIS) block.

Complete the Graduation Application

The admissions staff use this application to determine if you have completed the eligible requirements to graduate. The application is in MySouthwest. Once you sign into MySouthwest, click on SIS tile, click on Academic Records & Progress tile, click on Apply for Graduation link on the left-hand side.

Complete the Graduation Feedback Survey

Your feedback to us about our service to you while you were a Southwest student is invaluable to us in providing excellent service to our students.

Two Commencement Ceremonies will be held in the gymnasium of the Charles R. King Community Center on Friday, May 8, 2026.

3:00 PM Ceremony – Division of Arts & Sciences

• The gymnasium will open at 1:00 PM.
• Guests are highly encouraged to be seated no later than 2:45 PM.
• Guest access to the gymnasium will be cut off at 2:50 PM to facilitate graduate entrance.

7:00 PM Ceremony – Division of Business, Engineering, & Industrial Technology AND Division of Health Technologies

• The gymnasium will open at 5:00 PM.
• Guests are highly encouraged to be seated no later than 4:45 PM.
• Guest access to the gymnasium will be cut off at 4:50 PM to facilitate graduate entrance.

Our gymnasium has stadium seating. Reserved seating is available for those with accessibility needs.

All seating is on a first-come basis.

Guests are asked to remain in their seats until all graduates have exited.

GradImages will be at the Commencement Ceremony taking professional photographs. Learn more.

Proofs will be sent to you after graduation. Pictures can be ordered online, by phone, or by mail. GradImages can be contacted at 800-261-2576 or via email at www.gradimages.com. Graduates must contact GradImages directly with any questions or issues pertaining to commencement photos.

Campus Police and on-campus signage will guide you to the appropriate parking lot. Please refer to our Campus Map to navigate from the various parking lots to the King Community Center.