Personal Preparation
Who is eligible to participate in Humboldt's Commencement?
All undergraduate and graduate students who received a degree from Humboldt State during the summer '07 or fall '07 semesters, as well as those who have a graduation date on file at the Registrar's Office and expect to be awarded a degree at the end of the spring '08 or summer '08 or fall '08 semesters are eligible to participate.
The Commencement program lists the names of graduates and eligible candidates as provided by the Office of the Registrar at the time of publication. The presence or absence of a name in the program does not indicate completion or non-completion of degree requirements at graduation.
What college do I participate with if I'm an Interdisciplinary or Liberal studies major?
Students who are in the Interdisciplinary Studies or Liberal Studies programs are assigned to a college by their academic advisor. The student must indicate that designated college when picking up their cap and gown.
Graduation with Honors for Bachelor's Degrees
Honors are awarded at the time of graduation and are based upon the following criteria. Students do not fill out any paperwork to receive this recognition.
- completion of 30 units in letter-graded course work in residence at Humboldt State
- a minimum GPA of 3.50 on all work taken at Humboldt State
- an overall minimum GPA of 3.50 on all baccalaureate level work completed at all colleges
The overall grade-point average (including both transfer and Humboldt State course work) determines the level of honors the student receives on their diploma:
- Summa Cum Laude (highest honors) 3.85 to 4.00.
- Magna Cum Laude (high honors) 3.70 to 3.84.
- Cum Laude (honors) 3.50 to 3.69.
At commencement, only a recognition of "honors" is indicated; levels of honors are not addressed.
Note: Master's-degree candidates are not awarded honors. (See Graduation with Distinction section below.)
Students seeking a second bachelor's degree will have all undergraduate course work from the first degree, plus all course work for a second degree, counted in their cumulative GPA. During the ceremony honors students will be asked to stand in recognition of their achievement. Honors students may choose to purchase an honor cord to be worn during Commencement (see Caps, Gowns and Hoods section). Honors are awarded to those students whose cumulative GPA is within the stated ranges at graduation. Overall GPAs are not rounded up. For example: the cumulative GPA - a 3.499 is 3.49, not 3.50.
Graduation with Distinction
Master's candidates nominated for the Patricia O. McConkey Award for the Outstanding Thesis/Project will graduate with distinction. The Graduate Studies Office will accept one nomination from each major concentration. Students who participate in Commencement, but who have not have not compeleted their culiminating-experience requirement, may not be nominated the following spring for the award.
Commencement Attire
All candidates participating in Commencement must wear a cap and gown. Candidates should wear dress clothes beneath the academic robe.
The cap is worn with the long point of the shell to the rear. Undergraduates who have not yet earned a first degree wear the tassel forward and to the right. During the ceremony President Richmond will instruct undergraduates to move their tassels to the left to signify the conferring of the bachelor's degree. Master's-degree candidates will be hooded during the ceremony.
