Students may be permitted to participate in an alternate graduation ceremony (before their scheduled graduation date) in the following circumstances:
 
  1. The student is in good academic standing at VSU with a 2.00 or higher GPA for undergraduates and a 3.0 or higher GPA for graduate students.
  2. The student has six or fewer hours remaining in order to complete the degree*
 
*Some exceptions may be granted, including those for specific cohorts of students, particularly those  who would usually graduate during the summer and those with internships or other required experiences that take them out of the area.
 
 
Process
Students should complete the “Request to Participate in an Alternate Graduation Ceremony” form, available at the Registrar’s Office.  If the request is approved by the advisor and department head of the student’s major, they should this form, and then the student should return it to the Registrar’s Office for processing.  Students should remember that participation in a graduation ceremony is not the same as graduation.  Once students have completed all degree requirements, their official graduation will be recorded as the next available graduation date.