Summer 2024 Commencement
Friday, May 10 – Undergraduate Ceremonies
| 8:00 a.m. | Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Grand Hall |
| 10:00 a.m. | College of Science and Engineering – Video |
| 1:00 p.m. | College of Education and Human Performance – Video |
| 3:00 p.m. | Rankin College of Business and Dempsey College of Liberal and Performing Arts – Video |
Saturday, May 11 – Graduate Ceremonies
| 9:00 a.m. | Rankin College of Business, College of Education and Human Performance, and Dempsey College of Liberal and Performing Arts – Video |
| 11:00 a.m. | College of Science and Engineering – Video |
SAU’s Summer 2024 commencement ceremony will be held on Friday August 2nd at 10:00am in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center basketball gym. This will be a combined ceremony for all undergraduate and graduate candidates. The ceremonies will also be livestreamed on the SAU Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
Graduates should arrive for check-in at the Auxiliary Gym at least one hour before the ceremony begins. The easiest way to find the check-in area is to go in the main entrance to the Watson facility and then follow the posted signs down the side hallway to make your way around to the auxiliary gym.
Regalia and Dress Considerations
Graduation regalia (caps and gowns, plus hoods for master’s students) will be available to pick up at the SAU Bookstore during regular business hours beginning at noon on Monday July 22nd. Candidates can also pick up their regalia at the check-in area in the Auxiliary Gym the day of the ceremony. If you would prefer to receive your regalia by mail, please contact the bookstore at (870) 235-4050 after the pickup period begins. The cost of shipping is $7.50. The cost of regalia is included in your graduation fee, and it will be yours to keep after the ceremony.
Only University-approved accessories, such as academic cords, stoles, and medallions from within academic disciplines, may be worn over regalia. Decorated caps are not permitted. Candidates will be asked to remove any unauthorized items.
Photography
Grisham Photography will be taking professional pictures during the ceremony. An envelope included in the regalia bag will provide instructions about purchasing these photographs.
Photography order envelopes can also be picked up and dropped off at the check-in table before the ceremony, or orders can be made by contacting Grisham Photography directly at (318) 539-3489 or j.grisham@hotmail.com.
Diplomas
Diplomas for all graduates will be mailed to the address provided on the graduation application approximately 60 days after commencement.
If this address is not correct, please send an update to sauregistrar@saumag.edu to prevent any delay in receiving your diploma.
How to Apply for Graduation
Degree-Seeking Students (Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s Degrees):
Please use our step-by-step guide on how to submit your graduation application form on CampusConnect, or follow the steps as outlined below:
- Log in to mySAU and click on “Campus Connect” tab in the top menu.
- Acknowledge Student Accounts message.
- Navigate to the “Forms” tab (above your student photo) and click “Apply for Graduation.”
- Choose term of expected graduation and click “Display Form.”
- Complete all required fields, click “Continue Degree Info” to add your degree information, then click “Submit” to submit form.
- Save email verification of your application for your records. If you do not receive a verification email, please contact the Office of the Registrar at sauregistrar@saumag.edu to ensure your application was received.
- Contact your advisor to request that they complete an updated degree audit form if they have not already done so (undergraduate students only).
Graduate Certificate (Non-Degree) Students:
- Log in to mySAU and click on “Campus Connect” tab in the top menu.
- Acknowledge Student Accounts message.
- Navigate to the “Forms” tab (above your student photo) and click “Apply for Graduate Certificate.”
- Choose the expected graduation term and click “Display Form.”
- Complete all required fields, and click “Submit” to submit the form.
- Save email verification of application for your records. If you do not receive a verification email, please contact the Office of the Registrar at sauregistrar@saumag.edu to ensure your application was received.
Graduation Application Deadlines and Fees
The deadlines for graduation applications are as follows:
- Fall (December) graduation: regular deadline July 31st, final deadline (with late fee) August 31st
- Spring (May) graduation: regular deadline December 31st, final deadline (with late fee) January 31st
- Summer (July/August) graduation: regular deadline April 30th, final deadline (with late fee) May 31st
All graduation candidates are charged a graduation fee of $120, which covers the cost of regalia (cap and gown), diploma cover, commemorative coin, diploma shipping and handling, engraved brick, and other expenses associated with the commencement ceremony and graduation process. The graduation fee is nonrefundable, but will be carried forward to a future term if a candidate fails to graduate during expected term. Candidates who apply after the regular deadlines listed above are also charged a late fee of $50 in addition to the graduation fee.
