For Master's and Doctoral Candidate instructions, please visit the Graduate School's Graduation page.
Preparing for Commencement
1. Financial Aid Arrangements
All students who have NOT conducted an Exit Interview with a representative of the Student Financial Services Office, OR who have NOT cleared their Student Account balance, must do so before beginning graduation procedures.
If necessary, you may make an appointment with a counselor in the Student Financial Services Office in the Welcome Center, Zellner Room 100.
2. Diplomas
The name and mailing address on the Commencement Information Form will be used for the Commencement program and to print and mail diplomas. Therefore, you MUST fill out the Commencement Information Form (you will be sent an email when this form is available on-line).You will be receiving only your diploma cover at the ceremony. If the address to which you want your diploma mailed (within two months following Commencement) has changed, it is your responsibility to inform the Registrar's Office. Changing your address through the campus Post Office will not change your diploma address.
3. Invitations
Invitations may be ordered in The Campus Store beginning Monday, October 19th. The last day to order is Friday, December 4th.
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Graduation Fair in the Living Room of the Campus Center
Friday, December 11, 2009
3:00 pm Undergraduate Rehearsal in Moody Coliseum
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"Hooding the graduate" is a long-standing tradition in the ACU Commencement
ceremony. A parent or special person selected by the graduate serves as an
escort and during the ceremony places the hood on the graduate.
Bachelor's Candidates: Remember to bring your hood and mortar board with
you to rehearsal.
Candidates should report to the check-in tables in the concourse area of
Moody Coliseum to receive Commencement ceremony information and to
find out where to report to line up.
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7:00 p.m. Commencement Ceremony Line-up
Candidates and escorts should report to their assigned location to line up
for Commencement.
7:30 p.m. Commencement Ceremony in Moody Coliseum
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Ceremony Information
1. Dress and Regalia
Men: Suit coats are not required, but ties should be worn. Dark slacks, dark socks, and dark shoes are considered appropriate apparel for academic regalia occasions.
Ladies: Dark clothing (either blouses and skirts or dresses) should be worn under the black robes. Light colors of clothing should be worn under the white robes.
No flowers are to be worn or carried.
According to traditions of academic regalia, no jewelry or non-academic accessories should be worn on the outside of the robe; no accessories or decor on the cap. The only exceptions are the gold stole worn by Honors Program students, the medallion worn by University Scholar student, the gold braid worn by departmental honors, and the discipline-based Honor regalia. There are no special cords for candidates receiving Latin Honors.
Sunday dress or business casual is the most appropriate attire for guests.
Purchasing Regalia
Academic regalia will be available in The Campus Store Tuesday through Friday (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) during Finals week. Regalia may not be charged to student accounts.Bachelor Candidates may purchase a complete set (consisting of the black undergraduate gown, the white escort gown, the hood, the cap and the tassel) for $60.
Associate Candidates may purchase a complete set (consisting of the black undergraduate gown, the cap and the tassel) for $45.
Disposing of Academic Regalia
The regalia you wear in the commencement ceremonies at ACU is yours to keep or dispose of as you wish.If you have no other need for any or all pieces of your regalia, please consider donating them to the Preacher Training and Bible Schools sponsored by the Churches of Christ in several countries in Africa. Due to economic conditions in many of these countries, the students who complete their training cannot afford a gown for their graduation ceremonies. Several ACU faculty members have recognized this situation and are interested in supporting these schools in this way.
After the ceremony, you may deposit the regalia items for which you have no further use in the RED collection containers located in the lobby of the Teague Center.
2. Photography
During the ceremony, each graduate will walk across the stage and receive a diploma cover. Your photograph will be taken at this point by a professional photographer from GradTrack Graduation Images. You will receive a free passport-sized digital proof of this photo on an order card within 5-7 days following the ceremony. After the ceremony you may order online at www.gradimages.com; to pre-register please visit www.gradimages.com and click on Pre-Event Registration.
Since this service is provided by the university, all family members and guests are asked to remain in their seats during the entire ceremony. Under no circumstances will anyone other than the professional photographer be allowed on the platform or the Coliseum floor to take pictures. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
3. Seating for Elderly and those with Physical Limitations
If you have disabled or elderly guests who might have difficulty climbing stairs, seats will be reserved in the lower rows of Sections U, A, and B on the east side of the Coliseum and Sections K, L, and M on the west side of the Coliseum. Designated seats will be marked with "Physical Limitations" signs.
Note: Due to limited seating and a growing demand for this service, please arrange for one person to sit with the disabled or elderly guest while all other family members and guests sit elsewhere in the Coliseum.
4. Seating for guests requiring Sign Language Interpreter
If members of your family or other guests require the services of a signer, seats will be reserved for them in the lower rows of Section U. The signs on these seats will read "Reserved for Guests requiring Sign Language Interpretation."
5. Academic Honors Designations in Printed Program
Honors at commencement are based on a student's GPA on courses taken at ACU. Students must complete at least 64 hours of course work at ACU to qualify to graduate with honors. Students who entered ACU prior to Fall 2006 have the following honors: cum laude (with honor) at least a GPA of 3.4; magna cum laude (with high honor) at least a GPA of 3.6; summa cum laude (with highest honor) at least a GPA of 3.8. The GPA thresholds for students who entered ACU in Fall 2006 or later are 3.6 for cum laude, 3.75 for magna cum laude, and 3.9 for summa cum laude.
Honors listed in the graduation program are based on the current GPA at the time of commencement. If the final semester's grades alter the student's standing, the correct honor will be noted on the diploma.
6. Extra or Unusual Noises during Ceremony
Please ask your family members and guests to refrain from bringing air horns or other unusual noise-making instruments into the Coliseum for use during the ceremony. The ACU Commencement ceremony is not a high school ceremony. Thank you for your cooperation.
7. Recessional
Please ask your family and guests at the ceremony to remain in their seats until the recessional is finished. Please stay in line with your fellow graduates until you have exited the building.
8. Reception
There will be a reception honoring graduates following the ceremony. Faculty and administrators will be there to greet the graduates and their guests.
Do you have questions that were not answered by this Web site?
Please contact your graduating student. If you need further assistance, please call the Registrar's Office at 325-674-2236 or e-mail us at graduation@registrar.acu.edu.
For graduate commencement information, please contact the Graduate School at 325-674-2223, or visit the Graduate School's Graduation page.
