Permission to Participate in Commencement
The University issues degrees in August, December, and May. All requirements must be completed and certified before a student will be issued a degree and/or can participate in the commencement exercises. Commencement is a celebration of graduation, but not required for graduation. Participation in commencement is at the discretion of the appropriate Dean. The University reserves the right to refuse participation in commencement in certain circumstances (e.g., unfulfilled sanctions for judicial or honor violations).
Under certain circumstances, students who are close to graduating can participate in the May commencement prior to their actual graduation. The petition process to request permission to participate in commencement is initiated in the Office of the University Registrar in March before the May ceremony. Students may petition for permission to participate in the commencement exercises if all three of the following conditions are met:
- The student will have completed at least 112 hours by the end of the spring semester preceding commencement.
- The student will have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major(s).
- The student has no outstanding judicial sanctions (unpaid fines, owed community service hours, etc.).