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Registrar Commencement

Celebrating Your Success

Please visit our main commencement page for full details.

All program requirements must be completed before a student is awarded a degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Students are encouraged to attend a commencement ceremony to celebrate their accomplishment. The responsibility of tracking and completing all requirements rests primarily on the student.

What do all graduating students need to know about commencement?

  • All graduating students, whether participating in the ceremony or not, must complete the Graduation Application.
  • The spring commencement program, including the listing of degree candidates and graduation honors, is based upon the applicable date six weeks prior to the commencement ceremony.
  • The commencement program is tentative, pending completion of required work and submission of final grades.
  • The commencement program lists all degree candidates for the respective period.
  • Students may only participate in commencement one time per degree earned.
  • Students may only wear regalia issued by Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
  • Printed graduation honors for students graduating from traditional undergraduate programs are calculated using the student’s grade point average from the immediate previous term.
  • Printed graduation honors for CAPS undergraduate degree programs are calculated approximately six weeks prior to the commencement ceremony date.
  • Actual graduation honors for all undergraduate students are indicated on the final transcript reflecting final grades earned. Academic honors do not apply to graduate program students.
  • Diploma covers are distributed during commencement. Diplomas are mailed when degree requirements are completed, when grades have been received, and when all account balances with the University have been paid. For students who have a Federal Perkins loan, exit counseling must be completed to receive a diploma.
  • Permanent address changes must be made prior to leaving MVNU so that the diploma is sent to the correct address.

What are the commencement eligibility requirements for College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) students?

Traditional undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) are eligible for commencement if they complete all degree requirements in the spring semester. An exception allows participation in the prior spring ceremony if approved by the Office of the University Registrar for students completing requirements by December 31, provided they present a written plan and are within 15 hours of completion. The University Registrar reserves the right to deny inclusion.

What are the commencement eligibility requirements for College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) students?

CAPS students are eligible for commencement if they complete all degree requirements prior to the spring ceremony date. An exception allows participation in the prior spring ceremony if approved by the Office of the University Registrar for students completing requirements by December 31, provided they present a written plan and are within 15 hours of completion. The University Registrar has the right to deny inclusion.

Degree Conferral

Although the University awards degrees during the commencement ceremony held each spring, the University may also confer degrees to students on a monthly basis (last calendar day of each month) in order to facilitate the student’s ability to enter the job market with their degree in a timely fashion after completing degree requirements. Students who receive degrees conferred in this manner are encouraged to participate in the next commencement ceremony following their degree conferral. The student is responsible to contact the Office of the University Registrar before March 1 for inclusion in the spring commencement program and exercises. All students desiring to have a degree conferral date other than the spring commencement ceremony will need to submit the Graduation Application to the Office of the University Registrar. Standard approval would be seven business days prior to the conferral date, so requests must be submitted in a timely manner.

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