Graduation Announcements and Caps/Gowns

Students may order personalized graduation announcements and pre-order caps and gowns at the Bookstore. Further information is available on the "Information for Graduates" page.

Commencement Program Inclusion

Your graduate must file an Intent to Graduate card no later than Friday, October 24, 2008 in order to be included in the printed commencement program.

Scholastic Honors

Your graduate should refer to the Scholastic Honors policy if they believe they are eligible for scholastic honors to review the requirements necessary for scholastic honors recognition.

As noted in the academic regulation for scholastic honors link, Commencement recognition is based on GPA eligibilty at the conclusion of the Summer 2008 semester. Fall 2008 grades have not been officially submitted at the time of Commencement. There are no exceptions to this policy. Final scholastic honors eligibility (include Summer 2008 grades) will be recognized on the diploma and academic transcript.

Note: Transfer students must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours at Missouri State University to qualify for any honors. Additionally, honors are based on the LOWEST GPA of your Missouri State GPA and your combined GPA.

Division of Commencement Ceremonies

Friday, December 19, 2008

There are two ceremonies for Fall 2008.  Students should march with their college. If you are unsure of your college, check the list of colleges and departments.  

• Masters and Specialists degree candidates will march with the college of their major (program of study.)

• Education majors will march with the college of their major. Please see the following examples:

  Business Education majors would walk with the College of Business Administration.

  Music Education majors would walk with the College of Arts and Letters since Music is a department within the College of Arts and Letters.

  Physical Education majors would walk with the College of Health and Human Services since Health, Physical Education, and Recreation is a department within the College of Health and Human Services.

• Child and Family Development, Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, and Special Education majors are in the College of Education. Secondary education majors do not walk as part of the College of Education.

12:30 p.m. Ceremony

College of Business Administration
College of Education

4:00 p.m. Ceremony

College of Arts and Letters
College of Health and Human Services
College of Humanities and Public Affairs
College of Natural and Applied Sciences

Commencement Day

• Each ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes.  No tickets are required and there is no reserve seating. The event is open to the public and the doors to JQH Arena will open one hour prior to the ceremony.
• Graduates are to assemble on the main floor of Hammons Student Center no later than 45 minutes prior to the start of their assigned ceremony. Graduates will march from the main floor of Hammons Student Center to the main floor of JQH Arena.
• When all graduates have entered the arena floor, the president of the university will preside.  At a certain point the President and the Provost will introduce the various candidates for degrees. The graduates will proceed forward to have their names read and to receive a diploma cover by one of the Board of Governors. At this moment a picture will be taken by a professional photographer. About three weeks after commencement, graduates will receive a proof of the photograph taken by the professional photographer plus information on ordering prints.
• When all graduates names have been announced, the ceremony will end with the singing of the Alma Mater and a recessional of Platform party, faculty, and graduates out of the arena. 
• In fair weather the graduates will be marched out of the northwest entrance of JQH Arena. Graduates are requested to prearrange a meeting place with their guests at a location outside the Arena.

Seating for Commencement

No tickets are required and there is no reserved seating. Special (non-reserved) seating areas are available for guests with permanent or temporary disabilities. No stairways are encountered. Guests in wheelchairs as well as those who are unable to climb stairs are permitted in these areas. Due to space limitations, we ask that only one other family member be seated with the guest in the special areas. To seek assistance in locating this seating, you may see one of the ushers located at the entrances the day of the ceremony.

Special Accommodations

The University must have at least one week's notice of any disability accommodation (other than seating) in order to serve the needs identified. That notice must be given to Mr. Thomas Lane in the Student Union Administrative Offices at (417) 836-5886.

Parking

Parking will be available in all available parking lots around JQH Arena , at Bear Park North, which is one block north of the Arena, and at Bear Park South, which is south of the Arena at the corner of Grand and Holland.  Disabled patron parking is located in lot 25 south of JQH Arena.

Directions to the Campus

Link to directions to Missouri State University

For more information on Springfield, visit the Springfield website at http://www.ci.springfield.mo.us/.