Graduation Information

Graduation

Commencement

Office of the Registrar

1100 South Marietta Parkway

Marietta, GA 30060

 

Phone: 678-915-4200

Fax: 678-915-7292

E-mail: bfarrell@spsu.edu

To contact us:

Deadlines to Petition to Graduate

 

Graduation Petitions must be paid and submitted to the Registrar’s Office by this date:

            

 

 

 

 

 

How to Petition to Graduate

 

1.   Pick up a form called “Admission to Candidacy for a Degree” in the Registrar’s Office or    

      your major department.  This is also known as a graduation petition.

 

2.   Complete the graduation petition by including your name, address, student id number, email

      address, etc.  Check the semester you plan to graduate.  Include your signature.  Provide

      your current schedule and the schedule you plan to use to compete your degree.

 

3.   Pay $40 graduation fee by check or money order at the Registrar’s Office.  If you submit your

      petition after the posted deadline, there will be an additional $60 fee added to the original $40 fee i.e. a late fee total of $100.

 

4.   We will send your graduation petition to your major department.  They will attach additional

      paperwork.  They will send it to Brenda Farrell through campus mail.

 

You will receive an email from Brenda Farrell in the Registrar’s Office once your audit has been completed.  This email will go to your SPSU email account.  If you do not receive this email 4 weeks after submitting your petition to graduate, please contact Brenda Farrell at bfarrell@spsu.edu.

 

Problems in Petitioning After the Deadline

 

There are several problems that can arise if you petition to graduate after the deadline:

 

* You may be missing a class and have to take it the next semester

* Your name may not be included in the commencement program

* Your diploma may not be here in time for the ceremony

 

History 2911

 

Most students will not need to take History 2911.  However, if your US History/American Government credit was transferred in from a school that is not a University System of Georgia school or was awarded due to AP credit, you will need this course.  It is a one-hour course designed to help these students meet the State of Georgia’s legislative requirement that all students have knowledge of the US Constitution and of Georgia history.

 

Holds

 

You will need to check BannerWeb to see if there have been any holds placed on your record.  These holds may be for any number of reasons, some of which are parking tickets, library fines, monies owed the university, etc.  These holds need to be cleared by graduation time.

 

Other Petitions

 

You will need to make sure that no other petitions are required for you to graduate i.e. Course Substitution Petitions, Petitions to the Faculty, etc.  These petitions, if required, must be submitted in plenty of time for them to clear before you graduate.

 

Taking a Class at Another University During Your Final Semester

 

If you are taking a class at another university during your final semester, you need to have your grade submitted ASAP.  If we do not have your final grade from the other university, we cannot award your diploma.  If possible, submit an official transcript to us before noon on the day that final grades are due.  Since that is not always possible, you may have your professor or the school’s administration office fax us your final grade on their school letterhead and follow up with an official transcript as soon as it is possible.  Our fax number is 678-915-7292.  We need your final grade no later than 5 pm on the Thursday preceding commencement.

 

Senior Grades

 

Senior grades are due to the Registrar’s Office by noon on the Thursday before the ceremony.  Do not call or come by the Registrar’s Office to check on your grades.  We are very busy processing grades.  You will be able to check your grades online typically by Thursday evening.

 

Honors

 

Honors are awarded as follows:

 

                                       Cum Laude: 3.50—3.69 GPA

                                       Magna Cum Laude: 3.70—3.89 GPA

                                       Summa Cum Laude: 3.90—4.0 GPA 

 

President’s Distinguished Honor Graduate

 

The President’s Distinguished Honor Graduate is the person who is graduating in a given semester who has the highest GPA and the most hours in residency at SPSU.

 

Walking But Not Graduating

 

Due to varying circumstances, we sometimes have students who are not actually completing their degree requirements, but would like to participate in the graduation ceremony.  If you would like to do this, please contact the Registrar’s Office.