Frequently Asked Questions About Commencement

Are tickets required?

How do students know if they are really going to get their diplomas?

Can one participate in commencement even if one is a few credits short of the required 31?

What does it mean to "graduate unofficially"?

Who is eligible for academic honors?

Where are academic honors designated?

What if a senior owes money or library books?

When will parents and students receive mailings about commencement?

Who is the commencement speaker this year?

What commencement activities am I invited to and do I have to pay?

What do I do if I lost my Commencement mailings?

Are tickets required?

The ceremony is held outdoors. Therefore, no tickets are needed and there is plenty of space for everyone. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony is moved indoors to the Lilly Center. Guests must have a ticket to enter the Lilly Center. Each student is issued 5 tickets during the Friday Commencement Rehearsal.

Students are encouraged to share unused tickets with friends.

We may be able to accommodate all families in the Lilly Center; however, the ceremony will be televised live in the Julian Science & Mathematics Center for overflow guests.
Back to Top

How do students know if they are really going to get diplomas?

The registrar will notify students who, based on their last semester grades, are not eligible to graduate. A list of all degree candidates will be posted online and in the UB mailroom by 5:00 p.m. the day before graduation.
Back to Top

Can one participate in commencement even if one is a few credits short of the required 31?

Yes, students who are within two course credits and/or a Winter Term of completing the degree may file a request in the Registrar's Office to participate in commencement on an unofficial basis.
Back to Top

What does it mean to "graduate unofficially"?

Students who are within two course credits and/or a Winter Term of meeting all graduation requirements may participate in commencement exercises as an Unofficial Graduate and receive an empty diploma cover.
Back to Top

Who is eligible for academic honors?

Approximately 20 percent of graduates in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and in the School of Music earn Latin honors.  The minimum grade average for the honors in each of the schools follows:

Honor CLA School of Music
Summa Cum Laude 3.8 3.9
Magna Cum Laude 3.7 3.8
Cum Laude 3.5 3.7

Back to Top

Where are academic honors designated?

Academic honors appear on the diploma and the transcript. In addition, the honors are read when the students' names are called to receive their diplomas and are listed on the Web site (List of Official Graduates and Students Receiving Latin Honors).
Back to Top

What if a senior still owes money or library books?

Seniors are expected to complete all financial obligations to the University and living unit no later than the Wednesday prior to graduation. Grades, transcripts, and diplomas are held if they are not cleared. However, students with financial obligations may participate in the ceremony and the graduation date is not changed.
Back to Top

When will parents and students receive mailings about commencement?

Schedule of 2007 Commencement Mailings

Mid December Letter to parents with general information and schedule
Late January Letter from bookstore regarding Graduation Fair (March 7-8, 2007) and ordering commencement paraphernalia (cap and gown, invitations, class ring, etc.)
Early February Letter to parents with a schedule of events and housing and meal reservation information
Late February E-mail to students with schedule of events, Grad Fair information, video order form and other information
Mid April Formal invitations are mailed to parents
Early May Letter to students from the University Marshal and Registrar about rehearsal, ordering caps and gowns from the bookstore, ordering transcripts and other information

Back to Top

Who is the commencement speaker this year?

Deborah Bial, founder and president of the Posse Foundation, will be the principal speaker at DePauw University's 169th annual commencement.
Back to Top

What Commencement activities am I invited to and do I have to pay?The list of activities is posted on the schedule.  The meals which need to be paid for indicate that tickets are required.  To order tickets, contact the University Conference Office at (765) 658-4626..
Back to Top

What do I do if I lost my Commencement mailings?

If you need a new copy of the Commencement mailings, you can either stop by the registrar's office to pick up a new one or take a look at the copies on the web.
Back to Top

Latest revision Nov. 27, 2008