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Commencement Ceremony at NSU

Commencement recognizes and celebrates students' successful completion of their academic programs. Many students, as well as their families and friends, participate in the ceremony as a rite of passage that commemorates the admirable achievement of attaining a college or graduate-level degree. 

Undergraduate Commencement

Participation and Criteria

Participation

Graduating seniors planning to participate in Commencement should complete the Commencement Participation Form emailed to them from the Office of the University Registrar. Note that the Commencement participation fee does not cover the degree (diploma) application fee. Final instructions regarding graduation will be emailed about two weeks prior to the ceremony to those graduating seniors who submit participation forms and payment.

This year’s Commencement Participation Forms will be emailed to all graduating seniors in March.

Criteria for Marching in Commencement

On the date of commencement, students must have completed all curricular requirements for the award of the degree (excluding summer coursework). Final instructions regarding graduation will be emailed only to those graduating seniors who submit their participation forms and payment.

Students scheduled to complete degree programs during the summer may petition to participate in Commencement by completing the following steps:

  • Register for the final eight (or fewer) credits required for the degree (not to exceed two courses) in the summer semester immediately following the undergraduate commencement.
  • In addition to meeting all curriculum requirements, students must already meet the GPA requirements for degree conferral (major and overall).
  • Students must submit the Commencement Petition for review to the Center for Academic and Professional Success (CAPS) at caps@nova.edu.
  • If the student meets the criteria, CAPS will add the student to the Commencement list and will email him/her with approval of the petition.
  • If the student does not meet the criteria, CAPS will inform the student that the request is not supported.
  • If the student wishes to appeal this decision, a request must be prepared, submitted to CAPS at caps@nova.edu, and will be reviewed by Mignon Bissonette, Assistant Dean.

Preparing for Degree Conferral and Commencement

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