Graduation and Commencement
The student’s official date of graduation is the last day of the relevant academic term in which the student completes all degree and major requirements to include any specified timeframes, participation in any required assessment activities, and with the grade point average meeting or exceeding degree and major thresholds, as determined by the Registrar’s Office. The University of Saint Mary awards degrees at the end of every eight-week term.
Commencement ceremonies, held at the end of the fall and spring semesters, honor students who have or will have completed all degree and major requirements during that academic year through the end of summer. In order to participate in the spring commencement ceremony, undergraduate students (excluding accelerated nursing students) must have no more than 6 credits remaining for their degree program, to be completed in the summer semester immediately following Commencement. Graduate students may participate in the spring commencement ceremony if all remaining credits can be completed in the summer semester immediately following Commencement.
Doctoral candidates (Ed.D.) may participate in the next commencement ceremony that follows the completion of the Doctor of Education in Leadership Program (Ed.D.) with the successful defense of their dissertation.
Students should confer regularly with the registrar, advisor, or their program director to be certain they are making satisfactory degree progress to avoid possible problems shortly before their intended graduation.
Students that have holds on their university account, whether financial or academic, will not be issued their diploma or final transcripts until the holds have been resolved. Failure to resolve any holds in a timely fashion may delay degree conferral until the next scheduled degree conferral date.
Graduation with Distinction
Seniors graduating with distinction must have completed at least 45 credit hours of their coursework at the University of Saint Mary. For Convocation and Commencement activities, the Registrar’s Office calculates cumulative GPA using grades up to the last completed academic term before Commencement. The final distinction earned will be recorded by the Registrar's Office on the official transcript.
Cum laude is awarded to students whose cumulative GPA is between 3.50 and 3.69.
Magna cum laude is awarded to students whose cumulative GPA is between 3.70 and 3.89.
Summa cum laude is awarded to students whose cumulative GPA is 3.90 or higher.
National Honor Societies
Kappa Gamma Pi
Selected by faculty as outstanding in scholarship, leadership, and service, this honor society is for graduates of Catholic universities who have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above. Students may be elected only as graduating seniors. At time of selection, they must have completed 24 hours at the University of Saint Mary. No more than 10% of the graduating class may be selected.
Phi Alpha Theta
A national honor society that recognizes and encourages excellence in the study of history. Undergraduate students who earn a minimum of 12 credit hours in history, have a minimum GPA of 3.10 in history, and a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, are eligible for selection in the junior or senior year.
Sigma Theta Tau
The mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, is advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. STTI membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nursing leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing.