SP 09-10 - Policy on Student Participation in Commencement Exercises (supersedes SP 07-05)

Policy File:
SP 09-10 Policy on Student Participation in Commencement Exercises

Drafted By: Student Academic Policies and Procedures
Purpose: To describe which students are eligible to participate in commencement.

Background: This policy delineates criteria for graduate student participation in commencement. The criteria for undergraduates are established in policy #SP 07-05. This policy establishes that graduate students must have advanced to candidacy to participate in commencement, aligning criteria for participation with the university description of commencement as a ceremony for degree candidates. This policy removes the August 31 cut off date to accommodate the different master’s degree program schedules.

Applicability: All CSU Channel Islands students

Definition(s):
Commencement - The official University ceremony held in May of each year to recognize the achievements of graduates, degree candidates and teaching credential recipients.
Graduation - The process of verifying completion of degree requirements and conferring the degree.
Published Deadline - Deadline to apply for graduation as published in the Schedule of Classes and on www.csuci.edu.

Policy:
Commencement is held annually at the end of the spring semester. Undergraduate students who have completed a degree the previous summer or fall terms are eligible to participate in the ceremony along with those who plan to complete their degrees in the spring or subsequent summer and have filed an Application for Degree and Diploma. Graduate students who have completed degree requirements the previous summer or fall terms are eligible to participate in the ceremony along with those who plan to complete their degrees in the spring or subsequent summer and have advanced to candidacy. Names of graduates and degree candidates who have applied for graduation by the published deadline will be published in the Commencement Program. Students who do not wish to have their names published in the Commencement Program may opt out by filing a Request to Withhold Directory Information form with the Records and Registration office.