Graduation

Are You Ready To Graduate?

General Graduation Requirements for Undergraduate Students

1. The student must earn 120 semester hours to include the general education requirements, the requirements for at least one major, and the requirements for a minor, if required by the student’s major.
2. The student must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 for all work completed at Bluefield University. The student must also have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all coursework required for the major (including primary and related disciplines, if any) unless a higher grade point average is specified as a requirement for that major.
3. A student earning a Bachelor’s Degree must complete 30 credit hours of their coursework or 18 credit hours in the required major courses at Bluefield University. A student earning an Associate’s Degree must complete at least 25% of their coursework at Bluefield University.
4. The student must satisfy the University RAMS Life requirement as verified by the Office of Student Development.
5. The student must apply for graduation with the Registrar by the deadline posted on the Academic Calendar.
6. The student must pay the graduation fee along with all accounts on campus (Student Accounts, Library, Student Development, etc.), when submitting the required application for graduation.
7. All students must be registered for all remaining classes and will complete all coursework by the end of the following semester in order to participate in commencement exercises. No exception will be made to these requirements.
8. A student who already holds a bachelor’s degree and desires to earn a second degree must meet all requirements for the second major and complete at least 30 semester hours of Bluefield University coursework beyond the first degree. All additional requirements above must also be met. A student may be awarded two degrees (B.A. & B.S.) simultaneously by earning 30 hours of Bluefield University coursework beyond those required for a single degree (a total of 150+ hours) and completing all requirements for both degrees.
9. The student is required to participate in the University’s assessment of the educational impact it has had on its graduating students. The method of assessment depends on the major, but may include recitals, written and/or oral examinations, etc. The student must participate in the assessment selected by his/her major. Some students will also be selected for participation in the assessment of the general education program.

Graduation Requirements for Graduate and Doctoral Students

1. The student must earn the required minimum number of semester hours specified by the degree and have completed all of the course requirements of the degree;
2. The student must have a minimum grade point average for all work completed at Bluefield University. The minimum GPA for graduation is specified for each program.
3. The student must apply for graduation with the Registrar by the deadline posted on the Academic Calendar.
4. The student must pay the graduation fee, along with all accounts on campus (Student Accounts, Library, Student Development, etc.), at submission of the required graduation application.
5. All students must be registered for their final courses and able to complete those courses by the end of the following semester in order to participate in the commencement exercises. No exception will be made to these requirements.
6. The student is required to participate in the University’s assessment of the educational impact it has had on its graduating students. The method of assessment depends on the program, but may include recitals, written and/or oral examinations, etc. The student must participate in the assessment selected by his/her program.

Graduation Application

Each student must apply for graduation by filling out the Graduation Application by the deadline posted in the Academic Calendar. The Graduation Application can be submitted electronically through myBU. (Student > Electronic Forms)

Once the application has been processed, you will receive a Graduation Evaluation Letter; this is only sent via email to your BU email address. You will be granted one of the following four statuses with any follow-up directives in the email.

Graduation Statuses:

• Approved – Graduation requirements are complete and you are approved to graduate.
• Approved – Pending successful completion of the work outlined below and/or receipt of documents outlined below.
• Approved to participate in graduation ceremony (within 6 semester hours of meeting requirements) – Pending successful completion of work outlined below and/or receipt of documents outlined below; please note that degree will not be awarded until all graduation requirements have been met.
• Not Eligible to graduate or to participate in the graduation ceremony. Your academic requirements outlined below must be met prior to graduating. You will need to re-apply for graduation.

Ceremony & Regalia

Each approved graduate is requested to attend graduation ceremonies, also known as commencement. Commencement is held semi-annually in May and November. Class photographs are taken prior to the ceremony.

Location | The graduation ceremony will be held on campus (3000 College Avenue in Bluefield, Virginia) in Harman Chapel.

Ordering Graduation Regalia | Students who indicate they will attend commencement on the Graduation Application will need to order their own cap and gown through Jostens. Students who do not attend or do not indicate they plan to attend can still order a cap and gown if they so desire. Information regarding ordering caps and gowns will be sent to students in the months preceding the commencement ceremony.

Graduation Regalia for the Ceremony | Students are responsible for bringing their regalia to the commencement ceremony. Please note that the University does not guarantee that back up regalia will be available for students who forget or lose their regalia. Students who do not have regalia will not be able to participate in the ceremony.

Arrival | Graduates are to report to the front steps of Lansdell Hall wearing their cap and gown for instructions and the Class group photo prior to the ceremony. Details and exact times will be communicated to students via email.

Livestream | Each Commencement will be live-streamed through the Bluefield University YouTube channel. This will be linked to our various social media accounts as we get closer to the date.

Personal Items | Please leave your personal items with your families during the ceremony. The commencement staff will not be responsible for safeguarding your belongings.

Graduation Fee | The graduation fee (if applicable) will be added to your student account.  You can pay this and any outstanding balance through the myBU portal.

Diplomas | Approximately 6-8 weeks following Commencement, graduates will be mailed their diploma if all graduation requirements have been met including financial clearance.  Students who complete their remaining degree requirements after Commencement need to e-mail [email protected] to let us know that you have completed your graduation requirements. Once your graduation status is verified, the diploma will be mailed to you.

Overview of Graduation Honors

Graduation with honors is determined by the cumulative grade point average earned at Bluefield University. In order to be eligible for honors, a student must have earned 30 credit hours of their coursework at Bluefield University.

Each graduate recognized for academic honors will be asked to stand.

• Cum laude:  3.50 – Blue Cord
• Magna cum laude:  3.75 – White Cord
• Summa cum laude:  3.90 – Gold Cord

Students whose Bluefield cumulative grade point average is greater than or equal to 3.50 but who have not earned 30 credit hours at Bluefield University will graduate “With Distinction.” A notation “Graduate with Distinction” will be added to the student’s diploma beneath the student’s name.

In addition, students who are members of the academic honors societies such as Alpha Chi, Kappa Pi, and Sigma Beta Delta will be recognized and asked to stand. Honor Society pins and medallions may be worn on your robe.