The Citadel Class Ring Policy
The right to wear The Citadel class ring (“The Ring”) must be earned by study, great sacrifice and loyal service. Closely guarding this right is necessary and reasonable. In the eyes of Citadel Alumni, the standard is exceptionally high and must be rigorously imposed. Nothing in this policy is intended to infer otherwise. Extremely strong justification is required to authorize anyone, other than an eligible alumnus, to be awarded the ring.
- The Citadel Alumni Association (CAA), as holder of the trademark for Citadel class rings, by unanimous vote of The Citadel Alumni Association Board of Directors, on January 12, 2008, approved the following rules governing the purchase and wear of class rings:
- The following rules apply to Citadel class rings purchased for wear by those authorized by Office of the Registrar as “academically qualified”.
Any student that qualifies to wear a ring as a Cadet, will be eligible to purchase the Cadet ring. The class appearing on this ring must be the year the individual graduated or the year of graduation of the class with which he/she entered as a freshman. If the Cadet graduates in less than four years, he/she may purchase a ring bearing the year of graduation and be eligible to have the ring remade when rings are issued to the class they entered with as a freshman. Any cost incurred in the remaking of the ring will be born by the individual. Individuals who leave The Citadel under other than honorable circumstances prior to graduating will return their ring to an administrator of the college and receive a full refund.a. Female Cadets academically qualified may purchase the “full size” Cadet ring or the female size Cadet ring. It should be noted that the “full size” ring may not be available in smaller sizes due to limitations in manufacturing.
b .All other graduates will be issued the Non-Cadet ring, and it will bear the year of their graduation.
c. All miniature rings and jewelry items bearing the image of The Citadel Class ring will display the same year as the purchaser’s class ring or that of an immediate relative.
d. Class rings will not be presented to any eligible cadet before his/her class receives their rings at the Ring Presentation.
- Should a cadet perish while he/she is enrolled as a cadet (member of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets) before he/she becomes "academically qualified" to be awarded a class ring, a written request may be submitted by the Class Ring Chairman to the Ring Program Coordinator to verify eligibility to award a posthumous ring to the deceased cadet's family. The Ring Program Coordinator will then determine whether or not the deceased cadet was an academic 2B and in "good standing," as defined by the college (registrar) at the time of death. If the deceased cadet was not a 2B or "in good standing" a ring will not be awarded.
- The Citadel Alumni Association does not allow for the purchase of Citadel class rings by anyone (eligible or not), for the purpose of presentation to someone not academically eligible to wear The Citadel class ring. All purchasers of The Citadel ring must be eligible to purchase the ring and sign a statement attesting that the ring is for their personal use.
- The Executive Committee of The Citadel Alumni Association will have authority to determine the disposition of any Citadel class rings that become property of the Association.