Commencement Information for Graduating Students

In order to participate in Commencement, course completion and grade reporting deadlines to the Records Office are as follows:

Independent Learning Work (Center for Distance Learning): February 1 is the last day that prospective graduates may register for a correspondence course through our Center for Extended Education. All independent learning, whether applied toward degree requirements or for personal interest, must be completed by April 1.

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

Grades for any course work taken from another institution must be reported to the Records Office by 5 p.m. the Monday prior to 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 3-4 weeks to process and report distance learning grades.

BJU wants all students finishing degree requirements to have the opportunity to participate in Commencement. Since the University conducts only one Commencement each year (May), some students may not have completed all of their requirements by the deadline for participation in this program. Many students finishing requirements for their degree in residence in summer sessions will qualify to participate before completing all degree requirements. To be considered for a Procession Concession, the student must meet the following conditions for his degree program and be planning to complete all requirements for the degree prior to the summer degree conferral date. Summer degrees are conferred the Friday prior to the official opening of school for the fall term.

NOTE: Independent learning work does not fulfill these requirements.

Associate Degree Candidates: To be considered for a Procession Concession, the student must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and lack no more than six semester hours of course work. The student must meet the following conditions:

1. If the student lacks more than one course, he must complete the work in the BJU Summer Sessions. The course work must be selected from courses normally available to SAS students.
2. If the student lacks one course, permission may be given to take the remaining course in residence at another approved institution provided a Permission for Transfer Work form is completed and approved in the Records Office. No religion courses may be taken at another institution. A grade of C or better must be earned in order for the work to transfer.

Baccalaureate Degree Candidates: To be considered for a Procession Concession, the student must have at least a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and must meet the following conditions:

1. If the student lacks more than one course, the work to complete the degree must be available to undergraduate students in the BJU summer sessions.
2. If the student lacks one course, permission may be given to take the remaining course in residence at another approved institution provided a Permission for Transfer Work form is completed and approved in the Records Office. No religion courses may be taken at another institution. A grade of C or better must be earned in order for the work to transfer.
3. If the student lacks Praxis II scores, he must register to take the examinations during the summer.

Master’s or Specialist’s Degree Candidates: The student must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and must meet the following conditions:

1. If the student lacks more than one course to complete the degree, the work must be available to graduate students in the BJU summer sessions.
2. If the student lacks one course, permission may be given to take the remaining course in residence at another approved institution provided a Permission for Transfer Work form is completed and approved in the Records Office. No religion courses may be taken at another institution.

A student lacking language proficiencies or theses to complete degree requirements will not be granted a Procession Concession.

The rehearsal for Commencement is Friday, May 7, 2010, at 9:45 a.m. and Commencement is Saturday, May 8, 2010, at 9 a.m. in the Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium. Eligible prospective graduates participating in the Commencement program are required to be present and in regular school dress attire at the rehearsal in order to participate in Commencement. Prospective graduates must make arrangements for work, picking up relatives, etc., in order to be present for the entire rehearsal. The rehearsal will be over about noon.

Prospective graduates who are cleared for graduation will receive their seat/marching assignment the morning of the rehearsal. Students should check their post office boxes for their assignments before going to the University Awards Program. Students with CVA and distribution box numbers may pick up their assignments by the Programs & Productions Box Office in the lobby of the Amphitorium beginning at 9:15 a.m. that morning. Everyone should be seated in his or her assigned seat no later than 9:30 a.m. Prospective graduates who have any questions concerning their eligibility for Commencement should address these to the checksheet clerks in the Records Office or to the registrar.

On Commencement morning, prospective degree candidates should be in line in front of the Alumni Building by 8:45 a.m.

Prospective graduates who expect to complete all of their degree requirements by December 2009, May 2010, or August 2010 must fill out a Diploma Order card at the Graduation Table during Check-In in the Davis Field House. Students must use their full legal name—absolutely no initials.

• 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 prior to the end of the last semester (or summer session) of her course work for degree conferral must use her married name on her diploma. Those who marry between the end of their last semester (or summer session) of enrollment and degree conferral may use either their maiden name or their married name. When the married name is used, the maiden name must also be included as part of her name.

The University’s Campus Store is the only source for official Bob Jones University graduation announcements/invitations. Prospective graduates who expect to complete all of their degree requirements by December 2009, May 2010, or August 2010 and who will participate in our annual Commencement may order graduation announcements/invitations through the Campus Store during the following dates and times:

I Semester
Thursday, November 5, 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, November 6, 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

II Semester
Thursday, January 28, 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, January 29, 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students not enrolled either semester may contact the Campus Store prior to the above dates for placing orders. After the above deadlines, orders will incur a higher charge.

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 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 allows a number of our prospective graduates the opportunity to share with family and visitors (many of whom may have never heard the Gospel) how the Lord has worked during their college careers. Every prospective degree candidate is encouraged to submit a testimony for selection for Commencement.

The testimony should not be over 45 seconds (100 words) in length. It should include thanks to the Lord for His blessings in some phase of school life. Include the following information in the upper right-hand corner of the page: name, home state or country, degree, area of study, and the school (Business, Education, Fine Arts, Religion, or Arts and Science) from which you are graduating.

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

For students enrolled II Semester, regalia will be distributed on Thursday, April 29, and Friday, April 30, from 1:30 until 5:50 p.m. in the mezzanine of the Amphitorium (enter through the Rupp Room tower entrance across from the Student Center).

For students not enrolled II Semester, regalia will be distributed immediately after the rehearsal until 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 6 in the mezzanine of the Amphitorium.

Ladies should wear the shoes they plan to wear for Commencement. Hair may be worn at shoulder length or somewhat longer if curled and nicely styled off the face. Long hair must be worn up in such a way that caps can be properly worn flat on top of the head. Ladies should also be sure that their dresses will not be longer than their gowns. (The hems of all gowns will be eight inches off the floor.)

Degree Candidates:

• Men: Wear white dress shirts, dark dress pants (black, charcoal gray, or navy), dark ties, black socks, and black shoes. Light gray, brown, burgundy, or green are not acceptable.
• Ladies: Wear white or dark dresses (black or navy or dark skirts with white blouses) and black shoes with neutral colored hose, no white hose. Do not wear dangling earrings, bracelets, or necklaces that detract and call attention to the person. Hair may be worn at shoulder length, or somewhat longer if curled and nicely styled off the face. Long hair must be worn up so caps can be properly worn flat on top of the head.

Graduation fees will be billed to your school account and should be paid by April 15 in the Business Office. The fees are payable in full whether the candidate receives the degree in person or in absentia. The gradation fee for degree candidates includes a complimentary DVD of Commencement, which will be mailed mid-summer for May graduates and the end of August for August graduates.

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

Baccalaureate candidates graduating with honors will be sent a note to their post office box telling them to pick up honors ribbons in the Alumni Building lobby starting at 8:15 a.m. Saturday. If you do not receive a note following the graduation rehearsal about honors and think you should have, or if you have a question about the accuracy of the honors, please inquire at the Records Office after the rehearsal.

Students not enrolled II Semester will receive notification concerning honors with their seat/marching assignment the morning of the rehearsal.

After Commencement, please plan to wait patiently or delay the return of your regalia for 20-30 minutes following Commencement as setup occurs for regalia return and distribution of diplomas while guests are being cleared from the Amphitorium.

Please return regalia (cap, gown, and hood) to the Amphitorium mezzanine. Enter the tower door directly across from the Student Center Post Office. After you turn in your regalia, continue through the line until you pick up your Diploma Release Ticket, whether you are a May or an August graduate; then proceed on to the diploma stations in the Amphitorium lobby. All regalia must be returned by 1:00 p.m. on Commencement day.

Once you have returned your regalia after Commencement (whether you are a May or an August graduate), continue through the line until you pick up your Diploma Release Ticket, then proceed on to the diploma stations in the Amphitorium lobby.

• May Graduate Diplomas: Please note that you need to present your Diploma Release Ticket at the table with the proper alphabetic or degree designation in the main floor lobby in order to receive your diploma. Diplomas must be picked up by 1 p.m. on Commencement Day.
• August Graduate Diploma Cases and those for May graduates whose diplomas are not ready to be released: Present the Diploma Release Ticket and your case to the August table in the main floor lobby; we must have this card in order to release your diploma in August. Greenville residents should remember to come to the Records Office after the August conferral date to pick up their diplomas.

Special notice: Diplomas will be given out only if your account with the University is paid up to date and you are receiving a diploma dated May 2010 with no printing changes on the diploma itself. Diplomas will be mailed to those graduating in absentia.

A complimentary DVD of Commencement will be mailed to each degree recipient. These will be mailed during mid-summer for May graduates and the end of August for August graduates. Additional orders for the recording of the Commencement ceremony may be placed at the Campus Store Customer Service Department. Order forms must be received at the Campus Store by July 1, 2010, for the discounted price; after that date there will be a price increase.

Degree candidates will be given five complimentary tickets which will be distributed as students leave the graduation rehearsal. Commencement tickets will be distributed to prospective graduates who are in attendance for the entire rehearsal. Additional tickets are available only from other students who do not need all of their tickets. Tickets are not to be sold.

The tickets may be used for seating on the main floor or in the balcony. No seats may be held for others. The ushers have been instructed to seat those with tickets by filling in all vacant seats. Ticket holders should enter the main entrance where they will be directed to the balcony or to various aisles on the main floor.

Note: There will be some ticket holders who will have to be seated in the balcony. The tickets guarantee seating in the building, but not in a particular section of the building. Seating on the main floor will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests’ Arrival: Please urge your parents to get here early. The Amphitorium doors will open at 8 a.m. Although tickets are good until 8:30 a.m., guests will not be able to get into the building by that time if they do not arrive on the campus in plenty of time to secure parking and get to the Amphitorium.

All guests without tickets, sophomores, juniors, and all graduate students and seniors not marching will be seated in the side sections of the balcony and should enter the tower doors opposite the Student Center Post Office and Unusual Films.

All freshmen without tickets are to go to Rodeheaver Auditorium.

Wheelchair: Guests seated in wheelchairs are to enter the tower door for Aisle 3 (opposite Student Center) or Aisle 11 (opposite Unusual Films, Rodeheaver Auditorium) and may be accompanied by another individual. No tickets will be needed for a person in a wheelchair or the one person with him who will be seated in a chair next to him.

Hearing Impaired: Guests needing sign language interpretation are to enter the tower door for Aisle 3 (opposite the Student Center Post Office) and will be seated on aisle 1 rows MM or NN. Guests may be accompanied by another individual and special tickets must be secured at the end of the graduation rehearsal.

Cameras, video or tape recorders, or packages are not permitted in the Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium. These items may be checked in at the ushers' Camera Check in the lobbies or left in a secure place elsewhere.

Children under six years of age will not be admitted to the Amphitorium or to the Auditorium. Guests with children may view the closed-circuit program in the Grace Levinson Chapel of the Student Center. For the convenience of married prospective graduates with children, childcare will be available during Commencement. We are sorry that we cannot accommodate children of prospective graduates’ relatives and guests.

Prospective graduates should sign up at the Child Development Center and complete the required medical form by the Wednesday prior to Commencement. If you will not be enrolled II Semester and plan to come from out of town, please contact the director of the Child Development Center if child care is needed during the service. The Child Development Center will be open at 7:45 a.m. and children should be picked up immediately after the service.

For prospective graduates not enrolled II Semester who want to stay on campus may secure a reservation by returning a questionnaire sent from the Records Office around March 15. The cost is $22 per day and includes three consecutive meals in the Dining Common. One must supply his own linens.

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