Fall 2024 Commencement
Questions? Contact Us.
Office of the Registrar- Graduation@bagmakerblog.com
- 479-788-7230
- Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center
Fall 2024 commencement ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Stubblefield Center.
10 a.m. Ceremony
College of Arts and Sciences
The 10 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences. Click the college name to show each major within this college.
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of General Studies
- Biology
- Biology with Teacher Licensure
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- English
- English with Teacher Licensure
- General Studies
- Geoscience
- Graphic Design
- History
- History with Teacher Licensure
- Mathematics
- Mathematics with Teacher Licensure
- Media Communication
- Music
- Music Education
- Political Science
- Rhetoric and Writing
- Spanish
- Studio Art
- Theatre
1 p.m. Ceremony
College of Business and Industry
College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences
The 1 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates from the College of Business and Industry and the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences. Click the college names to show each major within these colleges.
- Accounting
- Applied Science
- Automotive Technology
- Business Administration
- Computer Graphic Technology
- Diesel Technology
- Electrical Engineering Technology
- Electronics Technology
- Engineering
- Finance
- General Technology
- Industrial Electronics and Electrical Maintenance
- International Business
- Marketing
- Organizational Leadership
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Welding
- Dental Hygiene
- Early Childhood Education
- Master of Education
- Elementary Education
- Master of Healthcare Administration
- Imaging Sciences
- Middle School Education
- Nursing
- Practical Nursing
- Psychology
- Radiography
- Social Work
- Surgical Technology
Commencement Information
Cap and gown can be purchased at the Herff Jones website (allow 2-3 weeks for delivery) until November 19th. There will not be an option to purchase online after that date.
- Master's graduates wear a black master’s gown with the hood for their area of study.
- Bachelor's graduates wear a black cap and gown.
- Associate and certificate graduates wear a navy cap and gown.
The reader card notes the graduate’s name, degree, college, and any applicable university honors. It is handed to the reader by the graduate as they go on stage to receive their diploma cover. The reader will then announce the graduate’s name and degree as they walk across the stage.
Reader cards can be picked up at the Registrar’s Office the week of commencement, December 9 - 13.
Graduates should arrive 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Graduates will line up in the Echols Building (directly south of Stubblefield) and should enter the building at the entrance facing Waldron Road. To get to Echols from Stubblefield, walk up the sidewalk from the main entrance toward the Echols Building, and look for the sign marked “Graduate Entrance.”
- Graduates in the 10 a.m. ceremony should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m.
- Graduates in the 1 p.m. ceremony should arrive no later than 12:15 p.m.
Graduates are encouraged to wear attire appropriate to honor the occasion. Graduates wear their caps and gowns during the ceremony. Women are cautioned that shoes with very high heels may make walking difficult during the processional.
Graduates should not bring personal items (purse, coat, umbrellas, etc.) to the line-up area. We understand that you will be entering directly from outdoors, but unfortunately there is no place to store personal items during the ceremony. If possible, leave personal items with one of your guests.
Each college will be represented by a faculty marshal carrying a sign with the college name in the line-up area in the Echols Building. Graduates will line up behind the marshal/banner of their respective college (the college of each graduate is listed on their reader card). Graduates are recognized in the following order: master's degrees, bachelor degrees with honors, bachelor degrees, associate degrees with honors, associate degrees, technical certificates.
Graduates will march into the arena behind the banner of their respective college. The marshal will hand off the banner and lead the graduates to their seats. The chairs will be in rows with a center aisle. Graduates will move down and fill every chair in the row and remain standing until the chancellor asks all to be seated.
Tentative academic honors are noted in the commencement program, and these students will wear the honor stole and/or cord appropriate for that honor. All qualified students are informed via their UAFS email.
Commencement honors are tentative and are based on all college-level coursework including coursework transferred from other institutions. Grades earned during the graduating semester are not used in the calculation of honors noted at commencement. Official honors will be calculated after grades are submitted and will be noted on the graduate’s diploma and transcript.
Bachelor's Degree with Honors
Honors will be conferred upon bachelor's degree graduates who meet the criteria for honors recognition noted below. The official determination of UAFS academic honors is made after all degree requirements have been met and will be identified on the graduate’s official transcript and diploma.
Tentative academic honors are recognized at commencement, noted in the commencement program, and do not include grades earned during the graduate’s final semester.
- Summa Cum Laude: GPA of 3.9–4.0
- Magna Cum Laude: GPA of 3.8–3.89
- Cum Laude: GPA of 3.6–3.79
University bachelor's degree honors are based on the following criteria:
- Cumulative GPA in one of the categories noted above for ALL college-level coursework, including all coursework from other institutions and all repeated coursework (developmental coursework and courses for which academic clemency has been granted are excluded). NOTE: The GPA reflected in My.UAFS is only for UAFS coursework and may not reflect the GPA used for the calculation of honors.
- At least 45 hours completed at UAFS
- A minimum of 50 percent of hours in the major field completed at UAFS
- Honors are awarded only for the first baccalaureate degree conferred.
- Any student subject to disciplinary sanctions for academic misconduct or disciplinary suspension at UAFS will not be graduated with honors.
Associate Degree with Honors
The associate degree with distinction will be conferred upon associate degree graduates who have a cumulative GPA of 3.6-4.0 in all college-level coursework.
Tentative academic honors are recognized at commencement, noted in the commencement program, and do not include grades earned during the graduate's final semester.
University associate degree honors are based on the following criteria:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.6-4.0 for ALL college-level coursework, including all coursework from other institutions and all repeated coursework. (developmental coursework and courses for which academic clemency has been granted are excluded). NOTE: The GPA reflected in My.UAFS is only for UAFS coursework and may not reflect the GPA used for the calculation of honors.
- Meet residency requirement of the respective associate degree
- Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies: last 15 hours at UAFS
- Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Science: last 15 hours and 50 percent of major hours completed at UAFS
- Honors are awarded only for the first associate degree conferred. Students who have previously earned a degree higher than an associate are not eligible.
- Any student subject to disciplinary sanctions for academic misconduct or disciplinary suspension at UAFS will not be graduated with honors.
The top of the cap may be decorated, but should not contain any offensive images or language. Be respectful, but have fun with the decorations. The gown should not be decorated.
Braided cord of navy, black, and teal
Single cord of green and purple
Double cord of black and white
Gold stole with royal blue trim
Single cord of pink
Single cord of pink and silver
Three cords of red, black, and white
Red stole with gold Greek letters
Single cord of black and light blue
Baby blue stole with pink trim
Single cord of light blue
Two cords of red and blue
Single cord of black, white, and silver
Single cord of red and white
Red stole with gold trim
Graduates will need to bring their cap and gown, tassel, photographer card, and reader card.
Please DO NOT bring purses, cameras, etc. to the ceremony. There is no storage for these items at the Stubblefield Center. It is recommended that these items be left with family or friends who will be attending the ceremony or lock them securely in a vehicle. For those who don’t have a convenient pocket to put them in, keys can be pinned to the inside of the gown.
Guests and graduates may park in any UAFS parking lot, with the exception of the lots directly adjacent to Stubblefield. These are either reserved or set aside for attendees with physical disabilities.
All lots noted with blue and/or green (with the exception of lot G) are open parking for commencement.
UAFS has contracted with Grad Images to take individual photographs at commencement. They will take two photographs of each graduate: the first is of the graduate being presented their diploma cover by the chancellor, and the second as the student walks off the stage.
Grad Images will be contacting each student via email with prices and proofs the week after the ceremony. To facilitate this students will complete a photographer information card when they pick up their reader card. The photographer card is required even if the graduate is not ordering photographs. The student will bring both to commencement. The reader card will be given to the reader as the graduate goes on stage. The photographer card will be given to the photographer just before the student goes on stage.
Graduates who require special accommodations for themselves or guests should contact the Registrar's Office at 479-788-7230 or graduation@bagmakerblog.com by December 7.
Each graduate will receive a diploma cover containing a letter of congratulations from Chancellor Riley, but it will not contain a diploma. Diplomas are printed only after completion of degree requirements is verified for all graduates, approximately eight weeks after commencement. Each graduate will be informed via UAFS email that their diploma is ready and may be picked up at the Registrar’s Office. In this email graduates are given the option of requesting that the diploma be mailed to an address they specify.
All graduates should continue to check their UAFS email after commencement for this reason.
All ceremonies will be live-streamed on this page and the UAFS YouTube channel.
Spring 2025 - May 10
- College of Business and Industry - 10 a.m.
- College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences - 1 p.m.
- College of Arts and Sciences - 4 p.m.
Fall 2025 - December 13
- College of Business and Industry and College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences - 10 a.m.
- College of Arts and Sciences - 1 p.m.