Graduation Information

Twice a year (May and December), SOWELA holds a commencement ceremony to recognize the students who have completed either an Associate's Degree or Technical Diploma during the previous summer, fall, and spring semesters.

Fall 2026 Commencement

SOWELA will be hosting the Fall 2026 Commencement at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, at the Lake Charles Event Center.

Any money owed to the College must be paid before students can receive their diplomas and transcripts verifying graduation. Also, students who have holds on their accounts must have these cleared in order to receive diplomas and transcripts.

Graduation Regalia & Dress Code

**Only official graduation regalia received from the SOWELA Bookstore may be worn at the ceremony. The regalia packet includes a mortarboard (cap) with tassel, a gown, and a SOWELA stole. SOWELA related academic sashes and cords may be worn and are typically handed out at graduation rehearsal or by the academic department prior to graduation. No other medal, cord, sash, etc. may be worn.

**To support an environment free from distraction and so that all graduates can be given their proper recognition, mortarboards (caps), gowns, and any other regalia must remain formal and unmodified with no personal embellishments. We recognize that graduation is a time of celebration and students may want to decorate their cap or gown for private photo sessions or other purposes outside of the SOWELA commencement ceremony. Students who decorate any item received in the regalia packet will need to purchase replacement items at the SOWELA Bookstore at their own expense. Any graduate who arrives at graduation with embellished regalia will be required to purchase replacement items in order to participate in the ceremony.

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How to Apply for Graduation

Students should apply for graduation no later than the following deadline.

• Fall 2026 - Tuesday, December 1, 2026

To submit a graduation application, please follow the steps below.

1. Complete Degree Review with Program Coordinator or Dean and Apply to Graduate
   • Schedule an appointment with your Program Coordinator or Dean prior to the close of Add/Drop of your last semester at SOWELA to verify that you meet the degree requirements. Eligible candidates should then go to their LoLA account under Student, Academic Profile, Apply to Graduate and complete the application for graduation.
   • If you applied in a previous term but did not graduate, you must apply again for this term.
2. Cap, Gown and other Graduation Memorabilia
   • Caps, gowns and memorabilia will be available at Grad Fest on TBA in the Sycamore Student Center-Multipurpose Room.
   • Caps and gowns may be purchased through the SOWELA Bookstore after Grad Fest by students who are unable to participate in Grad Fest. The pickup deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2026. If you pick up your cap and gown after Tuesday, December 1, 2026, you may be placed at the back of the line to march in and may not be seated with your group at graduation. Please make every effort to pick up your cap and gown prior to that date.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding either your candidacy for graduation or the commencement ceremony, please contact the Graduation Committee at graduationinfo@sowela.edu.