Commencement Information for Undergraduate Students

CEREMONY INFO 

Am I able to participate if I'm not graduating until this summer? Undergraduate students who complete graduation requirements in the summer following the May commencement ceremony are invited to participate on May 18, but must be aware of and comply with the following conditions:

• Your graduation plan (exactly how you plan to finish in the summer) must be approved and documented in your "Intent to Graduate" file in the Registrar's office.
• By graduation day, you must have no more than two outstanding requirements (8 credits total) that are to be completed in the summer. If you already have two summer requirements identified, you cannot receive any incomplete or unacceptable grades in your spring classes.
• Any outstanding work from previous terms (e.g. incomplete grades, grade change requests or transfer work not yet received) must be completed and received by the Registration and Records office by May 2, 2013.
• Registration for summer school must be completed by April 26, 2013. If you've received special approval to take your summer class at a different school, you must bring proof of registration into the Registration and Records office by April 26, 2013.
• All degree requirements must be completed and grades received before August 31, 2013. After that deadline, you are no longer eligible to be a 2013 graduate.
• Upon successful completion of your summer coursework, your diploma will be mailed to you; an empty diploma case will be handed to you at the graduation ceremony.

If you fail to meet any of the above conditions, you will be removed from the 2013 graduation list. Contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@hamline.edu or 651-523-3000 if you have questions or concerns with these conditions, or if your graduation plans have changed. 

Is there assistance for graduates with special needs? Yes. Please contact Kathy McGillivray in the Disability Resources office with this information, 651-523-2521 or kmcgillvray01@hamline.edu at least two weeks prior to the event.

May my guests take photographs? Family and friends should follow the directions for picture taking found in the Commencement ceremonies program. Hamline also works with Grad Images to take photographs of each graduate as they receive their diploma. Proofs of these photographs will be sent to the graduates and prints will be available to order. For more information on this service, call Grad Images at 1-800-261-2576 or visit their website at www.gradimages.com.  

When will I receive my diploma? Diplomas for all graduates are scheduled to be mailed out in July. If students finish required courses during the summer, the diploma mail date will be later.

Will I receive Latin honors? Students who have at least 60 credits graded on an A-F scale and meet the following overall GPA requirements may graduate with honors: 3.50 - 3.74 - cum laude; 3.75 - 3.89 - magna cum laude; 3.9 and above - summa cum laude. Please note that final GPA calculation will not occur until all grades have been submitted and finalized. Graduates receiving honors will be given a gold tassel at the line-up location the morning of Commencement.

How do I know that my name will be pronounced correctly? All graduates should attend Senior Day, where you will be able to indicate any special pronunciation for the ceremony. If you are unable to attend Senior Day, contact the Registrar's Office at 651-523-3000 or registrar@hamline.edu.

What is the Graduation Appreciation Program (GAP)? Graduates show their appreciation to those who have helped them through the years. The Commencement program will include a section for graduates to list those they wish to thank. Deadline for submissions is April 21. Due to publication deadlines, no late submissions are accepted. Click here to visit the GAP web site.

Will Hamline send me information about Commencement? Yes. Commencement 2013 brochure will be mailed to all graduates at their Hamline mail box or current address in early March. If your address has changed or will be changing before March, please update your address information in Piperline. 

PARKING 

Where should I park? Free parking is available in all Hamline University lots and on most area streets. The campus map shows the location of parking lots. There is handicapped parking available in all lots, permits not required. 

BACCALAUREATE

What is Baccalaureate? Baccalaureate is a formal religious multi-faith ceremony to bless our graduates as they leave Hamline University.  The service is led by multi-faith clergy and will feature faculty, staff and students.  The ceremony will be held Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m. in the Hamline Church, 1514 Englewood Avenue.  Faculty line up begins in the lower level of the church at 8:30 a.m.  Academic regalia is required for faculty only.

CAP AND GOWN/ANNOUNCEMENTS  

How do I order my cap and gown? Caps and gowns are required for participation in commencement. All graduating undergraduate students should plan to attend this year's Senior Day, Friday, March 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in East Hall. You will be able to pick up and pay for your cap and gown at that event. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SENIOR DAY, you need to place your order with Herff Jones at their website. Click here to go online to the Herff Jones website. DEADLINE for online orders is April 22, 2013. If you are ordering after April 22, you must contact the bookstore at 651-523-2270. Questions and concerns about regalia may be directed to Herff Jones at 952-447-4449 or the Hamline Bookstore at 651-523-2270.

How do I order graduation announcements? Personalized or general announcements may be purchased at Senior Day, on Friday, March 8. Personalized orders not done at Senior Day may be done online at the Herff Jones web site or at 952-447-4449. Questions and concerns may be directed to Herff Jones, 952-447-4449. General announcements are available in the University Bookstore. Contact the Bookstore for more information at 651-523-2270.