Graduation
Graduation Ceremonies - IWU graduation ceremonies are held two times a year in April and December. Degrees are conferred and posted to the student's transcript on these dates. Four additional conferral dates in February, June, August, and October 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. Students who have met graduation requirements before February 1 would walk in the previous December. Students who have met graduation requirements before September 1 would walk in the previous April.
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.
Graduation Requirements - All requirements must be met and transcripted by the date established by the Office of Student Services (at least one week prior to the desired conferral date). 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 conferral. 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 six conferral dates, and students receiving the second major are not eligible to participate in another graduation ceremony.
Academic Honors (Baccalaureate Candidates) - Academic Honors are recognized at graduation ceremony to baccalaureate degree candidates with the identified grade point averages listed below. Academic Honors are not awarded to associate’s or master’s degree students. Academic Honors are based upon the student's grade point average (GPA). It should be noted that the Honors GPA includes transfer grades and as a result may differ from a student’s cumulative GPA. Academic Honors listed in the graduation ceremony program are based on all IWU academic work and all transfer work completed at the time the ceremony program is printed. Academic Honors listed on the official transcript and diploma will reflect all applicable academic work at the time of conferral. Academic Honors are awarded based on the following criteria:
- A minimum of 80 graded hours from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- NOTE: Credit from Sophia, Straighterline, military, foreign institutions, testing, PLA and any other types of 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 the Grade Report; the Honors GPA, which will include grades from transferred courses, will appear on the Grade Report under Honors Information.
Baccalaureate degree candidates will be awarded Honors as follows if the above criteria is met:
- Honors GPA of 3.5 or higher - “cum laude” (with honors).
- Honors GPA of 3.7 or higher - “magna cum laude” (with high honors).
- 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.
