Graduation General Information
Information Reviewed on this page:
- Procedures
- Graduation Application Term Change
- Graduation Fees
- Graduation vs. Commencement
- Honor Graduates
- Resident Credit Requirements
- Rescinding of Degrees and Certificates
1. Procedures
It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with degree requirements, graduation requirements, and all other aspects of satisfactory academic progress. Each student is assigned an academic advisor to assist in planning course schedules and give advice on timely graduation planning.
However, the ultimate responsibility for understanding and completing degree requirements lies with the student.
2. Graduation Application Term Change
Students who complete and submit the Graduation Application Term Change Request Form must have an active graduation application and degree plan on file in the Registrar’s Office. At the time of the graduation term change request, the student is aware that degree requirements will not be met as noted on the active graduation application and degree plan.
This request can only be submitted to change from one semester to the subsequent semester. A new graduation application is required if degree requirements are not met in the term immediately following the initial date of the active graduation application.
3. Graduation Fees
Graduation fees cover the cost of assessing student records for eligibility to graduate, degree/ certificate, etc. and must be paid prior to securing regalia (cap & gown).
GRADUATION APPLICATION FEE
The Graduation Application Fee of $90.00 is required for each student who submits an Application for Graduation. The fee will be automatically charged to your student account. If for any reason you don’t meet degree requirements as planned, the graduation application fee will remain on file for one year after the initial term for graduation (ex. Fall 2025 to Fall 2026).
Proof of payment is required for processing.
COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION FEE
Each graduate planning to participate in the commencement ceremony will be required to pay the $75.00 Commencement Participation Fee. This fee will cover the costs of commencement-related services, resources, events and programmatic elements of the commencement experience from beginning to end.
Commencement related activities and/or items include: regalia (cap, gown, hood, and tassel).
There is NO refund if regalia (cap and gown) is not used.
Proof of payment is required for processing.
ALL GRADUATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
4. Graduation vs. Commencement
Graduation is the completion of all graduation requirements and official posting of a student's degree to his/her academic record.
- All coursework and all other degree requirements must be completed prior to the degree conferral date for the graduation term.
- A degree cannot be conferred unless all coursework has received a final grade (NOTE: “I” grades are not final).
- Students enrolled as a visiting student at another institution during their final semester must complete all course work and the final grade(s) at the visited institution must be submitted by the final grade(s) deadline date for graduation candidates as stated on Southern University at Shreveport’s academic calendar.
Commencement is the ceremony for participating students who are eligible to graduate. The university confers degrees at the end of the spring only. The commencement ceremony recognizes summer, fall and spring degree candidates.
Note: Participation in the commencement ceremony DOES NOT constitute official graduation from the university.
5. Honor Graduates
Students who achieve certain academic distinction through earned grade point averages will graduate with honors. The cumulative grade point average determines the level of distinction.
The following standards apply:
- Highest Honor: 3.75 - 4.00
- High Honor: 3.50 - 3.74
- Honor: 3.1 - 3.49
Scholastic honors for graduation are determined at the close of the semester prior to the semester of graduation.
6. Resident Credit Requirements
The University requires that students seeking a degree or certificate from Southern University at Shreveport complete at least 25% of coursework through instruction offered by Southern University at Shreveport.