Before Graduation Information

Graduation packets will be mailed October 31, 2008 to undergraduates.  (Note: Packets for graduate students will be sent via e-mail to stumail accounts).  Undergraduates, if you have not received your packet by November 15th, please pick up a graduation packet from ESU's Registration Office (Plumb Hall, Room 108H). The packet will include the following items and information:

• Mailing Address: Candidates for Degrees - Please complete the address card enclosed and return it immediately to the Degree Analysis Office, Plumb Hall, Room 108H. Be sure to indicate on this card if you do not plan to attend commencement.
• Not graduating after all? If you do not plan to complete the degree requirements for December 20, 2008 graduation, please notify the Degree Analysis Office at the address above, by calling 620-341-5150, or by e-mail.
• Pay graduation fee - The $15 fee must be paid in the ESU Cashier's Office, Plumb Hall, Room 104. It covers the cost of your diploma and its cover. Your diploma will not be mailed to you until the fee has been paid. The commencement fee is due even if you do not attend the graduation ceremony. A hold will be placed on your transcript and diploma if the fee is not paid.
• Change of name - If your name will change prior to the December 20, 2008 graduation and you wish to have your new name appear in the commencement program, you must report your name change to the Degree Analysis Office (Plumb Hall, Room 108H, 620-341-5150, or e-mail) by November 20, 2008.
• Senior announcements - There are two ways to purchase announcements:
  • through the Memorial Bookstore; or
  • call CB Announcements, 1-800-433-0296, to obtain mail-in order information or go on line at http://www.CBGrad.com.
  It takes two to three weeks to process announcement orders, so we suggest that you place your order as soon as possible.
• Purchase academic apparel - Caps and gowns will be available for purchase in the Memorial Union Bookstore. It is not necessary to be fitted for your cap and gown; you may call and order it from the bookstore at 620-341-5214 or e-mail. You must wear graduation apparel to participate in the commencement exercise. Bookstore hours are: 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday
  10am - 2pm, Saturday (call before going; 620-341-5214; mcrellmi@emporia.edu).

The bookstore will also have graduation apparel available at W. L White Auditorium on December 20 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (About academic attire...)

• There is no rehearsal for the commencement exercise; instructions will be available at the assembly point.
• Academic Achievement - Those graduating seniors who have a sufficiently high cumulative grade point average (CGPA) based on their last term of attendance will be recognized as outlined below. The recognition of achievement at the graduation ceremony is provisional and does not become final until all grades have been recorded. The recognition will appear on the diploma and the transcript.
  • All hours counted toward the baccalaureate degree will be counted in the calculation of the CGPA for purposes of recognizing achievement at graduation. A student must have completed at least 45 hours at ESU by the time the degree is conferred to receive this recognition. (Grade point averages for Honor Students listed in the Commencement Program will be based on the work up to, but not including, the current semester.) Grade point averages for honors distinctions are:

    Summa cum laude - 3.90 to 4.00
    Magna cum laude - 3.70 to 3.89
    Cum laude - 3.50 to 3.69

  • The Honors Council will recognized those individuals who participated in the Honors Program. In addition to recognition based upon CGPA, students who satisfactorily participated in the Honors Programs will have the achieved designation entered on their diploma and transcript.

  • A list of students who are eligible to wear honor braids will be provided to the Memorial Union Bookstore. Honor braids may be purchased at the bookstore prior to graduation or at the "extra apparel" area at Welch Stadium prior to commencement. Letters will be sent to students receiving academic recognition at graduation approximately two weeks before the ceremony.

• PERKINS LOAN AND/OR STAFFORD LOAN (SUBSIDIZED/UNSUBSIDIZED.) If you have borrowed from any of these loan programs while attending Emporia State University, you are required to have an exit interview before leaving school. It is possible for you to complete this requirement online. Follow these simple steps:
  • Log-on to http://www.mappingyourfuture.org.
  • Site menu (on left side)

  3) Student Loan Counseling Interview

  4) Choose appropriate EXIT interview(s).

  If you have received both Stafford and Perkins loans while at ESU, you are required to do an exit for each loan program.

  For those students who are unable to complete their exit interviews online, interviews can be completed as follows:

  For Stafford Loans, Office of Student Financial Aid, (Plumb Hall 103), 620-341-5457; toll free 800-896-0567.

  For Perkins Loans, Perkins Loan Office (Plumb Hall 103O) 620-341-5286. Contact the appropriate office for interviews times and dates.

• Incomplete courses, fines (from ESU Police & Safety, WA White Library, etc.) and financial obligations - Please attend to these matters immediately. Failure to do so may result in holds being placed on your transcript and/or diploma. In order to graduate as of December 20, 2008 all incomplete grades must have grade changes turned into the Academic Records Office (in the Registration Office, Plumb Hall, Room 108) by the instructor by January 20, 2008.
• Correspondence, extension courses, or work from another college - Students with work not previously transferred to ESU must have all official transcripts of their work sent to the Degree Analysis Office (Plumb Hall, Room 108H, 620-341-5150, or e-mail) in order for the credit to appear on their ESU transcript. All are on file with ESU. You do not need to request that another copy be sent - we only need transcripts with new work.
• If you have questions about accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact the Office of Disability Services and Non-Traditional Student Programs at Emporia State University at 620-341-6637 V, 620-341-6646 TTY, e-mail: disabser@emporia.edu. Advance notice of 72 hours is needed.

 

Last Updated October 6, 2008