Graduation Information

Fall 2024 Commencement

Date and Times

SAU’s Fall 2024 Commencement will be held on Friday December 13th in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center basketball gym. There will be three ceremonies this fall, divided by college and degree type:

• 10:00am: College of Education & Human Performance and College of Science & Engineering undergraduates (associate’s and bachelor’s degrees)
• 2:00pm: Rankin College of Business and Dempsey College of Liberal & Performing Arts undergraduates (associate’s and bachelor’s degrees)
• 4:00pm: School of Graduate Studies (master’s degrees in all colleges)

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 their 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 in late November. You can also pick up your 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 once 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. Graduates will be asked to remove any unauthorized items. There is no dress code for attire beyond your regalia, but we suggest business casual or similar.

Photography

Grisham Photography will be taking professional pictures during the ceremony. An envelope included in your 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

Digital diplomas for all graduates will be available approximately 30 days after the ceremony. You will receive an email and text message from Parchment with a link to claim your digital diploma and confirm your mailing address for your physical diploma.

Physical diplomas will be printed and mailed via Parchment approximately 60 days after commencement. If your address has changed since you applied for graduation, please send your updated address information to registrar@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 Apply for Graduation, or follow the steps as outlined below:

1. Log in to mySAU and click on “Campus Connect” tab in the top menu.
2. Acknowledge Student Accounts message.
3. Navigate to the “Forms” tab (above your student photo) and click “Apply for Graduation.”
4. Choose term of expected graduation and click “Display Form.”
5. Complete all required fields, click “Continue Degree Info” to add your degree information, then click “Submit” to submit form.
6. Save email verification of your application for your records. If you do not receive a verification email, please contact us at registrar@saumag.edu or 870-235-4031 to confirm your application was received.
7. Contact your advisor to ensure that they complete a degree audit form to confirm your eligibility for graduation (undergraduate students only).
8. After you apply, you can follow these steps to check the status of your application and graduation paperwork via CampusConnect.

Graduate Certificate (Non-Degree) Students:

1. Log in to mySAU and click on “Campus Connect” tab in the top menu.
2. Acknowledge Student Accounts message.
3. Navigate to the “Forms” tab (above your student photo) and click “Apply for Graduate Certificate.”
4. Choose the expected graduation term and click “Display Form.”
5. Complete all required fields, and click “Submit” to submit the form.
6. Save email verification of application for your records. If you do not receive a verification email, please contact us at registrar@saumag.edu or 870-235-4031 to confirm your application was received.
7. Please note that graduate certificate recipients do not participate in the commencement ceremony, and there is no graduation fee charged for completing a graduate certificate. Printed graduate certificates will be mailed to recipients approximately 30 to 45 days after end of the term.

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

EVERY student who intends to graduate MUST apply for graduation, even if you do not plan to participate in the graduation ceremony! We don’t know you’re ready to graduate if you don’t tell us!! This also includes students who have previously applied for an earlier semester graduation but been cancelled – you must also reapply. Failure to apply for graduation may result in the receipt of your degree being postponed to a later semester.

Please also be aware that students are only eligible to walk in the graduation ceremony during the term when they are finishing their degree requirements. Failure to apply for graduation during your final term will NOT allow you to walk in a later ceremony, and it may prevent you from walking in ANY ceremony if your application is not received by the final deadline listed above.

After graduation candidacy has been confirmed by the Registrar’s Office, all graduation candidates will be charged a graduation fee of $120, which covers the cost of regalia (cap and gown,  plus hoods for master’s students), 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 will also be charged a late fee of $50 in addition to the regular graduation fee.