Northeastern State University

1. Apply for Commencement by October 1 for Spring; March 1 for Summer; May 1 for Fall.
   Application for Bachelor's Degree (pdf)
   Application for Master's Degree (pdf)
   
    
2. Resolve any outstanding financial obligations to the University, such as library fines, parking tickets, or other holds. You will not receive your diploma if you have outstanding holds. Questions regarding a hold should be directed to the office that instated the hold.
   
    
3. Grades for correspondence, incompletes, and transcripts of work completed at other schools must be in the Office of Admissions and Records for your name to remain on the roster of graduating students.

Seating and Tickets

The graduates and faculty in the Fall 2011 Commencement Ceremonies will be seated on the field house floor. Each graduate will be given an official name card for graduation and tickets upon showing proper identification at the following locations and times:

College of Education

You can pick up your card and (6) tickets on Friday, December 16, in Admissions & Records on the upper level of the CASE Building from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

or

Graduates who cannot get their card and tickets by 3:00 should arrive in the North Gym (line-up area) by 4:00 on Friday to pick them up and get the tickets to family and friends for entry. Line-up/seating begins at 4:30 p.m. sharp.

College of Business & Technology and College of Science and Health Professions

Pick up your card and (6) tickets on Saturday, December 17, at the North Gym between 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Please make plans with friends and family members to get the tickets to them for entry. Line-up begins at 8:00 a.m. sharp.

College of Liberal Arts

Pick up your card and (10) tickets on Saturday, December 17, at the North Gym between 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Please make plans with friends and family members to get the tickets to them for entry. Line-up begins at 11:00 a.m. sharp.

Only Graduates can pick up the card and tickets. Pick up must be done at the assigned places and times.

All guests who want to sit in Jack Dobbins Field House must present a ticket at the main entrance on the south side of the building. Children over the age of 2 years must have a ticket. Other family members and friends without tickets will be escorted to the WEBB Auditorium where the ceremonies will be transmitted live.

There will be a designated area at the south end of the field house for seating disabled guests.

Assembly Area

Assemble in the North Gym (practice gym located on the upper level of Jack Dobbins Field House) no later than:

• 4:30 p.m. (Friday, 5:00 ceremony)
• 8:00 a.m. (Saturday, 8:30 ceremony)
• 11:00 a.m. (Saturday, 11:30 ceremony)

Please be on time. The line up for beginning the ceremony will take the full 30 minutes.

If you should arrive late, after your group enters the field house, please report to the North Gym. Latecomers will be seated in the field house after all other graduates are seated.

Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability and need assistance, please let us know immediately so that arrangements may be made for you. It is very important that you arrive 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled arrival time and report to Brenda Bunch.

Leaving the Field House

There will be no recessional for the graduates. Only the stage group and faculty will recess. Please be careful in leaving the field house and returning to your vehicle and home.

Additional Information

Caps and Gowns

Caps and Gowns are available at the RiverHawk Shoppe along with honor cords. All candidates must wear a cap and gown to participate in the formal graduation exercise on Friday, December 16, or Saturday, December 17. Wear your cap straight on your head. Do not put anything on the top of your cap. Keep the tassel on the right side and do not change the position of the tassel after your degree has been conferred. The only adornment of the graduation gown that is appropriate is the wearing of approved honor cords. Please do not wear corsages, boutonnieres or other items on the outside of the graduation gown. In addition, please wear appropriate footwear for entering and exiting the stage.

Please do not carry cell phones, cameras, etc. since you will need both hands free.

Graduation Announcements

Graduation Announcements may be obtained from the CB Graduation Announcements/Balfour.

Name Card/Free Color Proof Card and Tickets

This card will be picked up in the North Gym along with your tickets. Please see a commencement representative at the registration table to obtain your card. You must present it to the announcer on the stage to have your name read. The photographer uses the information on the back for identification purposes.

Diplomas

Your diploma will be mailed to the address you put on your application. Make sure that the degree auditor has your correct address.

As soon as your final grades for the fall semester are recorded, your eligibility for graduation will be checked. If you meet all requirements and your account with the university is clear, your diploma will be mailed by early April to the address you listed on your application for graduation.

Duplicate diplomas cost $20 for bachelor's or master's and $40 for optometry. Processing time is approximately two weeks.

Special Reminder

Please note that grades for correspondence, incompletes, and transcripts of work completed at other schools must be in the Office of Admissions and Records by January 14, 2012 for your name to remain on the roster of graduating students for Fall 2011.