Commencement Information for Graduating Students

Course completion and grade reporting deadlines that must be met in order to participate in commencement are as follows:

Independent Learning: All independent learning work (whether applied toward degree requirements or taken for personal interest) must be completed by April 1.

Transfer Work (residence or distance learning): All coursework taken in residence or by distance learning at another institution must be approved in advance by submitting a Transfer Work Request form at the Records Office.

Grades for any coursework taken from another institution must be reported to the Records Office by 5 p.m. on the Monday before commencement in order for the student to participate in the commencement procession. We will accept a phone call from the school indicating satisfactory completion of the course for the purpose of marching; however, an official transcript must be received before the diploma can be released. Note: Some institutions take 3 to 4 weeks to process and report grades.

Students who have an outstanding incomplete in any course, including independent learning courses in progress but not completed, will not be eligible to participate in the commencement procession.

BJU wants all students finishing degree requirements to have the opportunity to participate in commencement. To be considered for a procession concession, the student must meet the following academic criteria and be planning to complete all outstanding degree requirements prior to the August degree conferral date. Summer degrees are conferred the Friday prior to the official opening of school for the fall term.

Associate Degree Candidates

• Has a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Has completed applicable residency requirement or will complete it in the BJU summer session
• Lacks 6 or fewer hours scheduled through BJU Online classes or another approved institution

Baccalaureate Degree Candidates:

• Has a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Has completed applicable residence requirement or will complete it in the BJU summer session
• Lacks 11 or fewer hours scheduled through BJU Online classes or another approved institution
• May lack Praxis II

Master’s or Specialist’s Degree Candidates:

• Has a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (2.6 MDiv)
• Has completed applicable residency requirement
• Lacks hours scheduled through BJU or another approved institution in residence or via online class
• May lack Praxis II, MA Religion Comprehensive Exam or Portfolio (MDiv or Educational Leadership)

The following do not fulfill procession concession qualifications: independent study courses, readings courses, independent learning work (correspondence), language proficiencies or thesis/dissertation.

The rehearsal for commencement is Friday, May 3, at 9:45 a.m in the Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium. Eligible prospective graduates participating in commencement should plan to stay until dismissal before 11:30 a.m. We ask that they make arrangements for work, picking up relatives, etc., so that they can attend the entire rehearsal. Regular class attire is appropriate. All out-of-town prospective graduates participating in commencement should return to Greenville no later than the evening of Thursday, May 2.

Students in residence II Semester will receive assignments in their post office boxes early on the morning of Friday, May 3. Students should check their PO boxes before going to the University Awards Program. Students with CVA and distribution box numbers and those not in residence II Semester may pick up their assignments at the Programs & Productions box office in the lobby of the amphitorium beginning at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, May 3.

The commencement ceremony is Friday, May 3, at 2 p.m. in the Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium. Prospective graduates (already in academic regalia) should find their places by the Alumni building by 1:30 p.m.

For commencement, prospective graduates should arrive in academic regalia by 1:30 p.m. in front of the Alumni Building.

Prospective graduates who expect to complete all of their degree requirements by December 2012, May 2013 or August 2013 must fill out a diploma order card with the Records Office. Students must use their full legal name.

• Note: January 31 is the last day to cancel a diploma order without paying the graduation fee. Diploma changes must be made at the Records Office. Students whose conferral date is changed after February 1 will be charged a $35 reorder fee.
• Women Only: Any woman who is married before the end of the last semester (or summer session) of her coursework for degree conferral must use her married name on her diploma. Anyone who marries between the end of her last semester (or summer session) of enrollment and degree conferral may use either her maiden name or her married name. When the married name is used, the maiden name must also be included as part of the graduate’s complete name.

The University’s Campus Store is the source for official Bob Jones University graduation announcements/invitations. Prospective graduates who will participate in our annual commencement may order graduation announcements/invitations through the Campus Store during the Graduating Student Expo or online at www.herffjones.com.

Graduating Student Expo (Riley Reception Room, Campus Store)
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 — 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 — 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Prospective graduates who do not meet the deadline for placing orders may inform family and friends of graduation through one of the following means:

• Individual handwritten announcement/invitation.
• Individual computer-generated announcement/invitation—not mass-produced by a commercial supplier.

Note that only official announcements/invitations obtained through the Campus Store or the Herff Jones website may feature the university crest or logo or indicate that the request or announcement is from the president, faculty and/or graduating class of the University. These are not to be added to handwritten or computer-generated invitations/announcements. These announcements may include the name (and degree) of a prospective graduate; therefore, name cards are not necessary.

For commencement, the Administration does not have a special speaker but prefers to give members from the graduating class the opportunity to share with family and visitors how the Lord has worked in their hearts during their college years. Every prospective graduate is encouraged to submit a testimony (100 words) for selection by April 1 to the Records Office.

Degree recipients should turn testimonies in at the Records Office in the Administration Building by April 1.

Prospective graduates in the Greenville area: Regalia will be distributed on Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26, from 1:30 until 5:30 p.m. in the mezzanine of the amphitorium. (Enter through the Rupp Room tower entrance across from the Student Center.)

For prospective graduates out-of town, regalia will be distributed on Friday, May 3, from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. and immediately after the commencement rehearsal, in the mezzanine of the amphitorium.

To make sure they receive the correct gown length, women should wear the same dress shoes they will be wearing for commencement.

Degree Candidates:

• Men: Wear white dress shirts, dark (black, charcoal gray or navy) dress pants, dark ties, black socks and black dress shoes.
• Ladies: Wear white or dark (black or navy) dresses or dark skirts with white blouses and black dress shoes. Dresses are not to be longer than one’s gown (gown hems are eight inches off the floor). Please do not wear dangling earrings, bracelets or necklaces that call attention. Hair may be worn at shoulder length or somewhat longer if styled off the face.

Please plan ahead and make arrangements to borrow clothing or shoes, if necessary. The University reserves the right to restrict any prospective graduate from participation in commencement whose personal appearance or deportment does not uphold university standards.

The only other items to be worn with the regalia costume are:

• Medallions: Undergraduate candidates who receive a BJU award medallion or an alumni legatee medallion are to wear these medallions for commencement.
• Honors Ribbons: Honors Ribbons: Qualifying baccalaureate candidates will be notified about where to pick up honors ribbons on Friday afternoon. Students in residence II Semester will receive a notice via campus mail on Thursday afternoon, May 2. Others will be receiving information Friday morning, May 3, with their seat and marching line assignments.

Graduation fees will be billed to the student’s account and should be paid by April 15 in the Business Office, whether the candidate receives the degree in person or in absentia.

Associate Degrees — $100
Bachelor Degrees — $100
Master and Specialist Degrees — $100
Doctoral Degrees — $115

Following commencement, please return regalia (cap, gown and hood) to the amphitorium mezzanine. Enter the tower door directly across from the Student Center. After you turn in your regalia, continue through the line until you pick up your diploma release ticket (both May and August graduates); then proceed on to the diploma stations in the amphitorium lobby. All regalia must be returned by 6 p.m. on commencement day.

Diplomas for May degree candidates will be distributed in the lobby of the amphitorium after commencement until 6 p.m. once regalia has been returned.

Diplomas will be mailed to those graduating in absentia who are not living in the Greenville area. Absentia candidates living in the Greenville area may pick up their diplomas at the Records Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. any weekday after the following dates: May graduates, beginning Monday, May 6; August graduates, beginning Friday, August 23. Your account must be cleared by the Business Office in order for your diploma to be released.

Each prospective graduate participating in commencement will be given five complimentary tickets at the end of the commencement rehearsal. Additional tickets are available only from other students who do not need all of their tickets. Tickets are not to be sold.

Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium will open at 1 p.m. (main entrance and tower doors opposite the Student Center and Unusual Films). Guests should arrive on the campus in plenty of time to secure parking and to get to the amphitorium. Tickets are valid until 1:30 p.m. at the main entrance and guarantee seating on the main floor or reserved sections of the balcony. All guests and students without tickets will use the tower doors opposite the Student Center and Unusual Films for seating in the balcony. Individuals with children (infant to 5 years old) may view the closed-circuit program in Levinson Hall in the Student Center.

Visitors and students should be seated by 1:45 p.m. The academic procession will move into the amphitorium at 1:55 p.m. The program will last about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Once the program has begun, no one will be admitted or readmitted in the amphitorium. Those who must leave during the program will be admitted to Levinson Hall to view the remainder of the program.

Guests’ Arrival: Guests are encouraged to arrive on the campus in plenty of time to secure parking and get to the amphitorium.

BJU.edu is offering live coverage of commencement for friends and family that are unable to join us on campus at bju.edu/live. Learn more in April at go.bju.edu/bjugrad. The week following commencement, the program will be posted on bju.edu and YouTube.com.

Wheelchair Accommodations: Guests using a wheelchair may enter the tower doors at aisle 3 (opposite Student Center) or aisle 11 (opposite Unusual Films) and may be accompanied by another individual. No tickets will be needed for a person in a wheelchair or the one person who will be seated in a chair next to him. Tower doors will open at 12:50 p.m. for these individuals.

Hearing Impaired: Guests needing sign language interpretation may enter the tower door at aisle 3 (opposite Student Center) and will be seated on aisle 1 rows MM or NN. Another individual may accompany them. The prospective graduate must secure special tickets during the commencement rehearsal.

Prospective graduates who want to stay in a residence hall, should contact the Welcome Center between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays to make a reservation (864-370-1800, ext. 4208). The cost is $22 per day and includes three consecutive meals in the dining common. A person must supply his or her own linens.

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