Graduate Students
- Requirements for Graduation
- List of Majors by Ceremony
- Academic Regalia, Invitations and Diploma Frames
- Commencement Day Details
- Diploma
- Photographs
- Graduation DVD
- Program and Hometown Newspaper Release
Requirements for Graduation
Graduation Application
- Graduation applications must be filed with the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
- Application for Graduation
- Participating in a commencement ceremony does not certify graduation or confirm a degree. Contact the dean of the College of Graduate Studies to confirm graduation requirements have been met.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a diploma, each candidate must meet in full the following applications:
- Library (325) 942-2222 – All books must be returned and all fines must be paid.
- Students Accounts/Bursar’s Office (325) 942-2008 – All financial obligations must be met to the satisfaction of the Student Accounts/Bursar’s Office (Administration Building, Room 100).
- University Police (325) 942-2071 – All parking tickets incurred by the candidate must be paid.
- Student Financial Aid (325) 942-2246 – All candidates who hold a Hinson-Hazelwood, NDSL, College Access Loan, Stafford Unsubsidized Student Loan, nursing or short-term loan must confer with the director of Student Financial Aid (Administration Building, Room 204).
- University Locksmith (325) 942-2355 – All candidates who were employed by the university must have returned all keys. Please be sure to turn in your key(s) to the university locksmith (not to someone in the department where you were employed, as this will not clear you with the locksmith). If you will still be employed after graduation, your department head needs to notify the locksmith that you have permission to retain your key(s). It is your responsibility to take care of this matter.
- One Card Office (325) 942-2331 – All obligations to the One Card Office must be paid. If you have a replacement card for which you still owe money, please contact the One Card Office.
- Student Life Office (325) 942-2191 – All cheerleading and Angelette uniforms must be returned.
Official List of Candidates
- It is the responsibility of each candidate to check the official list of candidates, which will be posted by 2 p.m. on Thursday of finals week. It will be posted outside the Registrar’s Office, Room 101 of Hardeman Student Services Center, and outside each of the college deans’ offices.
- A candidate whose name does not appear on the official list of candidates will not receive a diploma or have a degree conferred. In order to prevent embarrassment, a candidate who is unable to check the official list should have a friend do so.
Pronunciation of Name
Every effort is made to pronounce graduates’ names as they want them pronounced. If your name is difficult to pronounce or unusual, please contact the Registrar’s Office and give the proper pronunciation.
Absence Policy
Each candidate for a degree is expected to participate in the commencement ceremony. However, if a candidate is unable to participate, written notification must be sent to the Registrar’s Office.
List of Majors by Ceremony
Saturday, Dec. 12 - Commencement Ceremonies (Junell Center/Stephens Arena)
- 10 a.m. Ceremony
- College of Graduate Studies
- College of Business
- College of Education
- 2 p.m. Ceremony
- College of Graduate Studies
- College of Liberal and Fine Arts
- College of Nursing and Allied Health
- College of Sciences
College of Graduate Studies Majors by Ceremony:
- 10 a.m. Ceremony
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational Diagnostics
- Guidance and Counseling
- Kinesiology
- Reading Specialist
- School Administration
- Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education
- 2 p.m. Ceremony
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- Animal Science
- Biology
- Communication
- Counseling Psychology
- English
- General Psychology
- History
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Nurse Educator
- Physical Therapy
- Public Administration
Academic Regalia, Invitations and Diploma Frames
Academic Regalia
Each candidate is required to wear a cap, gown and tassel during the graduation ceremony. It is the responsibility of the graduate to wear appropriate academic regalia. Anyone who is not dressed properly will not be allowed to participate. Caps, gowns and tassels are available in the ASU Bookstore or may be purchased from a private store of the candidate’s choice.
Invitations and Diploma Frames
- Invitations and diploma frames are available in the ASU Bookstore.
- Invitation orders should be placed as early as possible to avoid late charges incurred as a result of rush shipping. Contact the ASU Bookstore for details.
Graduation Fair
The ASU Bookstore will be hosting a Graduation Fair on October 26-27, 2009. During that time, students will be able to order all necessary regalia, invitations and diploma frames.
Commencement Day Details
Graduation Procedures
- Candidates may begin assembling and putting on academic regalia in the Auxiliary Court inside the Junell Center no later than 45 minutes prior to the ceremony.
- Banners will be posted for each college indicating where students should start lining up. Candidates from the College of Graduate Studies will line up behind their banner alphabetically by last name.
- A card with your name and honors (if applicable) will be given to you as you are lined up. The card will also include a number to indicate the order in which to line up.
- Students will process into the arena area as directed by commencement staff and marshals.
Attire
- A cap and gown are required.
- Graduate students wear the tassel on the left side of the cap.
- There is no specific dress code for graduation. However, we suggest that women wear a dress or skirt. Keep in mind the length of the graduation gown when choosing a dress. It is recommended that men wear collared shirts and nice trousers. Traditionally, commencement is a formal ceremony and students tend to dress accordingly.
Graduate Student Hooding Procedures
- Graduate students receiving a master’s degree will have hoods placed on them by the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, and the dean of their major prior to receiving their diplomas.
- Graduate students should neatly place their hood over their left arm for the processional into the arena.
- When called to the stage to receive their diplomas, they should again carry the hood over their left arm and present their name card to the announcer with their right hand. The provost and the deans will then hood graduates before they receive their diplomas.
Platform Procession
- Students walk up the ramp and hand their name cards to the reader at the podium.
- Students will have hoods placed on them by the provost and the dean of their major.
- Students will then proceed across the stage, shaking hands with several university dignitaries.
- At the far end of the stage, students will receive their diploma covers and pose with the dean of the College of Graduate Studies for a professional photograph.
- To ensure that you are properly photographed, please pause briefly as you receive your diploma from the dean.
- Hold the diploma cover in an upright position with the school seal facing the camera.
- At the end of the ramp, the vice president of the ASU Alumni Association will present each student with an alumni coin.
End of Ceremony
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the music will begin and marshals will direct students out of the arena. Please remain seated until your row is released.
Personal Belongings
There is no storage available during the ceremony. Please leave excess items at home or with your family for safe-keeping.
Photographs
- A professional photographer will be taking pictures of each graduate as his/her diploma is awarded.
- The photographer will contact you by mail, sending you information about pictures and ordering approximately 10-14 days after graduation.
- It is essential that you provide a correct mailing address on the Application for Graduation for the photographer to mail information to you. Please verify with the dean of the College of Graduate Studies that you have provided the correct address.
- If you take advantage of this service, you will not need to have anyone else photograph you.
- Charles Beasley is the professional photographer ASU uses for official graduation photographs. His phone number is (325) 949-3310.
- For safety reasons and because it is essential that graduates move quickly and smoothly across the stage, it is not possible to allow additional picture-taking from the floor of the Stephens Arena during the ceremony.
- Immediately following the ceremony, candidates and guests with their own cameras will have the opportunity to take photos with Dr. Joseph C. Rallo. There will be a designated location set up on the concourse level of the Junell Center in an alcove directly behind the ticket office.
Graduation DVD
- The ASU Special Events Office will be shooting video of each graduation ceremony and will offer a DVD for purchase.
- The DVD will be ready within 8-10 weeks after graduation.
- The cost of each DVD will be $25.
- Further information may be found by viewing the Graduation DVD Flyer.
- To request a DVD, please fill out the Order Form.
- For more information, contact the Special Events Office at (325)942-2761.
