Graduation

Graduation Ceremonies - IWU graduation ceremonies are held three times a year. Degrees are conferred and posted to the student's transcript on these dates. Three additional conferral dates are available in between the graduation ceremonies in which degrees may be conferred and posted to the student’s transcript should all requirements be completed.

Eligible students are notified by the Office of Student Services of procedures and requirements concerning graduation.

Each student must complete an “Application for Graduation” provided by the Office of Student Services. This application indicates the student’s intent to graduate and initiates the final evaluation of the student’s academic record.

Students are also asked to inform the university as to whether they will be attending the ceremony. This allows the university to determine the number of tickets available for students who are attending. If a student cannot attend graduation due to unforeseen circumstances, the degree is still conferred; however, attendance at a future graduation is not an option.

Graduation Requirements - All requirements must be met and transcripted by the date established by the Office of Student Services (eight days prior to the commencement ceremony). Students taking internal or external coursework need to make sure that transcripts, grades, and scores can be received and transcripted by the deadline date.

Students may receive one degree only per commencement. Students meeting requirements for more than one degree must apply for and participate in two different ceremonies. Any university-approved dual degree program is an exception to this policy.

Students who have received a degree from IWU and have returned to meet requirements for an additional major at the same degree level will have the second major posted to their existing degree. The second major can only be posted at one of the three conferral dates, and students receiving the second major are not eligible to participate in another graduation ceremony.

Academic Honors (Baccalaureate Candidates) - Graduation Honors is a recognition given to baccalaureate students at commencement to acknowledge outstanding grade point averages earned. Eligibility for Honors is determined as follows:

• A minimum of 80 graded hours from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body or the Association for Biblical Higher Education. (NOTE: credit from ITT, International Business College, RETS College School of Nursing, hospital schools of nursing, foreign institutions, CLEP/DANTES, military, and assessed learning does not count toward this requirement.)
• A minimum of 40 graded hours must be from Indiana Wesleyan University.
• For transfer students, all graded hours transferred and transcripted are counted.
• For students with transfer work, the Indiana Wesleyan University GPA will appear on the transcript and in the shaded portion of the Grade Report Mailer; the Honors GPA, which will include grades from transferred courses, will appear below the shaded portion on the Grade Report Mailer.

Baccalaureate degree candidates will be awarded Honors as follows:

• GPA of 3.5 or higher - “cum laude” (with honors).
• GPA of 3.7 or higher - “magna cum laude” (with high honors).
• GPA of 3.9 or higher - “summa cum laude” (with highest honors).

Diplomas - Diplomas are mailed after the conferment of degrees. Diplomas indicate degree earned, date of degree, and honors (bachelor's only). A student’s financial account must be settled to receive a diploma.