College of Arts and Sciences

Graduation

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Attention May 2016 Graduation Applicants

**May graduation means you have COMPLETED all coursework by May 13, 2016. If you will be taking summer coursework, you are NOT a May graduate and should apply for August graduation. ALL STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE IN MAY OR AUGUST ARE ALLOWED TO WALK IN THE MAY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. Students' names will be in the May commencement program for both May and August graduation terms if you apply by the deadline of April 1, 2016.**

If you believe all coursework will be completed by May 13, 2016, you should have applied for graduation during the fall semester. (The deadline for applying for May 2016 graduation was September 18, 2015.) If you applied on time, you should have received an email from this office listing the courses you still need to graduate to assist you in registering for Spring 2016. If you have not yet applied for May graduation, you should do so IMMEDIATELY. The deadline for having your name in the printed program at commencement is April 1, 2016. The graduation application will close on May 13, 2016.

Information about the commencement ceremony is below.

Attention August 2016 Graduation Applicants

**August graduates: If you will be taking summer coursework, you are NOT a May graduate and should apply for August graduation. ALL STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE IN MAY OR AUGUST ARE ALLOWED TO WALK IN THE MAY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. Students' names will be in the May commencement program for both May and August graduation terms if you apply by the deadline of April 1, 2016.**

All August graduates must apply for graduation during the Spring 2016 semester. All students who have at least 72 earned hours at the beginning of the spring semester will be sent an email from the Registrar's Office by the end of the 2nd week of the spring semester with instructions for applying. It is important that you apply so you will be notified of your graduation shortages in time to pre-register for summer.

The August graduation application deadline is Friday, February 19, 2016.

Information about the commencement ceremony is below.

Attention December 2016 Graduation Applicants

All December 2016 graduates must apply for graduation during the Spring 2016 semester. All students who have at least 72 earned hours at the beginning of the spring semester will be sent an email from the Registrar's Office by the end of the 2nd week of the spring semester with instructions for applying. It is important that you apply so you will be notified of your graduation shortages in time to pre-register for summer and/or fall.

The December graduation application deadline is Friday, February 19, 2016.

Commencement Information

Spring 2016 Commencement

Spring 2016 Commencement for the College of Arts and Sciences will be on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at 5:00 PM in the Holmes Convocation Center. For more information please visit the Registrar's Office. Students MUST have a cap and gown to participate in the ceremony.

Even if the student does not plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, he/she must still apply to graduate. A $15.00 degree application fee will be posted to accounts of students who apply for graduation.

  • Please note that it is a policy of the State of North Carolina that neither diplomas nor transcripts can be released if the student has an unpaid account with the University. If a student has not received the diploma, he/she should check the Student Account balance by going to your Appalnet account. Note also that students who have received a federal loan (Perkins or Stafford) are required to have an "exit interview" prior to graduation.
  • Proofs of commencement photographs will be mailed to the student's permanent address in mid to late January. Information on purchasing copies will be sent along with the proofs. For any questions regarding photographs, please contact GradTrak's customer service department at 800-424-3686 or 001-641-472-6892 if calling  from outside the United States. Customer service can also be contacted via e-mail, fax, regular mail, or online at www.gradimages.com.
  • GradTrak is offering students a $5 discount on any photo order over $25 when they register their email address prior to graduation. Please click on the button below to register your email address.

Click here to register your email and get $5 off orders of $25 or more

 Commencement and Graduation for Students

  1. As soon as possible, make arrangements for your cap, gown, and invitations at the University Bookstore. All graduates will wear the same attire. You will NOT be allowed to participate in the ceremony unless you have a cap and gown.
  2. Honor graduates will be recognized at the ceremony.
  3. You may invite as many guests as you wish to the ceremony. Accessible seating is provided for guests with physical limitations. If you have a family member or guest who needs seating in this area, please arrive early, and ask the student marshals for assistance. Special parking for the disabled is available. Contact the University's Traffic Office at (828) 262-2878.
  4. No rehearsal will be held. There is a virtual Commencement Rehearsal video that can be found on the Registrar's Office website.
  5. Please arrive at least one half hour prior to the ceremony to assemble for the processional into the arena.
  6. The GPA used to recognize honor graduates at the ceremony is the cumulative GPA at the end of the prior (not the current) semester. When all of your grades have been reported, your cumulative GPA will determine the honor status on your diploma.Graduation with Honors will be noted on your transcript and a gold seal will be affixed to your diploma as follows: summa cum laude 3.85, magna cum laude 3.65, and cum laude 3.45.
  7. Your diploma will be mailed to you at your permanent address approximately six weeks after graduation. If you do not receive it, contact the Registrar's Office, (828) 262-2050.
  8. Occasionally, a student participates in the graduation ceremony but does not meet all of the graduation requirements. If this is the case, the student is notified by email and US mail. Upon completion of the requirements by the deadline noted in the email/letter, the student is graduated, and a diploma is mailed to the student. If graduation deficiencies are not cleared within the allotted time frame, the student must reapply to graduate at a later date.

If you have questions, please contact us at:

Academic Services Office
College of Arts and Sciences
Room 100, I. G. Greer
(828) 262-3076
or e-mail or e-mail cas-students@appstate.edu