Commencement Basics

Fall 2012, Spring 2013 and Summer 2013

Candidates Eligible to Participate in Commencement

Candidates completing all degree requirements (associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees) during the Fall 2012 or Spring 2013 semester are eligible to participate in spring commencement.

Students with reasonable expectation to finish a degree during the summer term may participate in the spring commencement prior to completion. Summer graduates also have the option to attend the following spring commencement. However, all graduates are allowed only one opportunity to participate in commencement. Names will appear in the program for the ceremony in which the graduates are scheduled to participate. Undergraduate students present requests to the Registrar; graduate students present requests to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Time Limit for Fulfilling Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Students have a maximum of six years to meet catalog requirements for graduation in effect at Fort Hays State University when they first entered any college or university. They may also graduate under the requirements of any subsequent FHSU catalog. Students may not, however, be allowed to graduate under the requirements of an FHSU Catalog in effect earlier than two years preceding their enrollment at FHSU.

If students have had their college program interrupted by more than two consecutive years, they will be subject to the requirements of the later catalog.

Approved Major/Degree Summaries/Program of Study

Associate degree candidates should complete a degree summary by the time they have completed 48 credit hours.
Bachelor’s degree candidates should complete a degree summary near the end of the sophomore year or as soon as junior classification is attained--60 credit hours completed. .

Graduate students should have a program of study on file by the completion of 9 graduate hours.

Degree Applications

Undergraduate students must file Intent to Graduate by the final enrollment for the last semester in which the degree is being sought. If you are completing your degree this semester, log in to Tiger Tracks, go to Online Services, and complete and submit the application..

Graduate students must file Intent to Graduate in TigerTracks by June 12, 2012 for Summer 2012; by September 4, 2012 for Fall 2012; and by January 28, 2013 for Spring 2013.

Degree Requirement Completion Date

All requirements for the completion of a degree must be completed and on record in the Office of the Registrar by January 15 for fall semester graduates; May 31 for spring semester graduates; and August 15 for summer term graduates to be included in the degree granting dates for the semester or term.

Degree Completion Fee

Undergraduate degree $50 (even for a student receiving two bachelor's degrees in the same semester); graduate degree $50. Graduate students who are in the thesis or field study option will pay binding fees of $15 each for the first four copies required by the university and $25 for additional copies. These non-refundable graduation fees are required of all degree candidates. This fee supports the costs associated with the graduation process such as administrative expenses, diploma printing and covers, and mailing costs.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed out to the address indicated on your Intent to Graduate form, NOT your permanent address. Associates and Bachelor's degree candidates should speak with their degree analyst in the Registrar's Office at 785-628-4222 to change their diploma address. Master's and Ed.S. degree candidates should talk to you the Graduate School at 785-628-4236 to change their diploma address. All address changes must be made before the end of your final semester to ensure correct delivery of your diploma.

Caps & Gowns

All graduates wear a cap and gown during the Commencement ceremony. Master's and Ed.S. degree candidates will also have a hood as part of their academic dress. Caps, gowns, hoods, tassels and name cards will be available to pick up in Memorial Union the week of Commencement.

Dressing for Commencement: Place cap squarely on your head. In addition to appropriate attire, women should wear dark dress shoes and men should wear white shirts and dark dress shoes. Please consider that your feet and legs below the gown will be visible on stage. Associates and Bachelor's degree candidates should wear the tassel on the right side of the cap and move it to the left side when the degree is conferred. Master's and Ed.S. degree candidates should wear the tassel on the left side of the cap. The hood will be carried over the left arm.

Honors at Graduation

There will be three levels of academic honors at graduation: cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.

Cum Laude: Achievement of a grade point average of 3.60 to 3.79 on your cumulative and Fort Hays State University coursework.

Magna Cum Laude: Achievement of a grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89 on your cumulative and Fort Hays State University coursework.

Summa Cum Laude: Achievement of a grade point average of 3.90 or above on your cumulative and Fort Hays State University coursework.

Each student graduating with academic honors must have attended the university for one of the last two years, and at least 62 hours must be earned in an institution offering regular upper-position credit.

While honors will be listed in the commencement program for those who may reasonably anticipate them, the listing on the program is not a guarantee of receiving honors. The listing and reading of honors for spring degree candidates are based on the grades indexes achieved at the beginning of the student's final semester. The official honor awarded based on final grade indexes will be noted on the student's diploma and transcript..

Honor cords are NOT provided by the Registrar's Office or University Bookstore. Some academic honorary organizations will distribute them to their members. To find out more information, please speak to your organization advisor.

There is no honors distinction for Master's or Ed.S. degrees.