Graduation Information

PARTICIPATION IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONY

Students who have completed their degree requirements before the graduation date and have fulfilled the graduation candidacy requirements may participate in the graduation ceremony.

• Undergraduate students who will complete their degree requirements during the summer session following spring graduation, should petition the Academic Affairs Committee at the beginning of their final academic year, for permission to participate in the spring graduation ceremony. They must also have a 2.5 GPA in their major and 2.25 cumulative GPA, with no incomplete courses that would be outstanding beyond summer session.
• The graduation ceremony distinguishes between those who have completed all degree requirements at the end of the spring semester and those who have some remaining coursework to be completed during the summer session. Those with remaining coursework to be completed in the summer session will be identified in the graduation ceremony as "summer graduates" and no recognition of academic honors will be noted.

GRADUATION SCHEDULE

Graduation ceremonies are intended to recognize and celebrate the achievement of students who have completed all their degree requirements. The responsibility for meeting the graduation requirements rests primarily with the student.

Conferral of degrees normally takes place once a year at the end of the spring semester. However, if students complete the graduation requirements at the end of either the fall semester or the summer session, they may be issued a diploma dated at that time. It is the responsibility of the graduates to have their diplomas equalized by their respective government(s).

UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Before participating in the graduation ceremony or receiving a diploma, each undergraduate candidate must:

• Fill and submit an 'Application for Graduation' form at the beginning of their last academic year.
• Pass all the required courses and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All students must main tain a minimum GPA of 2.25 with no grades lower than "C-" in their department (major) course requirements, cognates, and department electives.
• Fulfill the residency requirement of the University.

GRADUATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To become candidates for graduation, graduate students must:

• Complete all degree requirements and secure financial clearance from the Business Office.
• Achieve a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 with no more than two repeats and/or no more than two grades below "B-".
• Have no grades lower than "C".
• Defend the thesis and receive a grade of "B" or higher.
• Submit the final copy of the thesis through the dean to the librarian.
• Complete all requirements for graduation within six academic years of admission to the graduate program.
• Apply one semester before graduation by filling in the required form after the approval of the chairperson of the department has been secured.

GRADUATION IN ABSENTIA

Graduates are expected to participate in the graduation ceremony. However, for a legitimate reason only, graduates may request to absent themselves from the graduation ceremony, at least two weeks before graduation. In this case, they must fill out a form, and a written permission to graduate in absentia must be granted by the president of the University. A student graduating in absentia has to pay the full graduation fee. A student who is absent without notice may be subject to an additional fee.

GRADUATION WITH DISTINCTION To qualify

Undergraduate students who graduate with honors will have that status designated on their diploma.