Commencement requirements and obligations
Please note: The following information pertains to undergradute students. Graduate Students are advised to visit the Graduate School website to review details regarding degree completion, forms and deadlines.
Undergraduate Graduation Requirements:
Undergraduate students are responsible for reviewing their DARS report on the BUSI system to track their progress towards their degree. If you need assistance understanding your DARS or have questions about your degree requirements, please meet with your school's Academic Advising Office.
Once you are able to confirm the semester in which you will graduate, submit the Application for Undergraduate Degree. This form is mandatory in order to declare yourself as a candidate for graduation. The Registrar's Office will use this form to confirm that you have met your requirements and award your degree in a timely manner once the semester you indicate is completed. The Application for Undergraduate Degree should be completed by the Add/Drop deadline of the semester prior to the term which a student plans to graduate. If the deadline has been missed, please submit the form as soon as possible.
If you wish to cancel your current Application for Undergraduate Degree, or change the term in which you intend to graduate, you must submit a new form.
The Application for Undergraduate Degree must be on file for you to be able to submit the Commencement RSVP form, indicating that you will participate in your Commencement ceremony. The Application for Degree also must be current for your name to appear in the Commencement Program and local paper publications.
Commencement Requirements
Binghamton University's Commencement ceremonies are an opportunity for students, families, and guests to formally celebrate the students' accomplishments with the University community. All Commencement events are optional; attendance does not affect your progress towards or receipt of degree.
Summer graduates and Fall candidates are eligible to attend only the Fall Commencement ceremony. The Spring Commencement events are designated solely for students that are degree candidates for the Spring semester. If an active Application for Undergraduate Degree is on file, your name will appear in the Commencement Program, regardless of attendance.
Undergraduate students that wish to attend commencement must have an active Application for Undergraduate Degree on file for that semester, and then complete the Undergraduate Commencement RSVP form.The deadline for the Fall 2008 Commencement RSVP is November 30, 2008. Please visit the Registrar's Office with any questions regarding attending Commencement.
Once the Undergraduate Commencement RSVP form is submitted, the undergraduate candidate will be eligible to purchase the cap and gown from the University Bookstore. Regalia purchase dates and costs will be provided once available. The cap and gown attire is mandatory for students attending the Commencement ceremony. Details regarding the cap and gown are located on the "Cap and Gown" page.
A variety of services are available for students and guests that need assistance while attending Commencement events. Please visit the "Accessibility Requests" page if you are interested in learning more about the options available on campus.
Petition To Walk
In some cases, undergraduate students may wish to attend Commencement when they still have requirements to complete. The Petition to Walk procedure allows undergraduates to participate in the ceremony when they are not yet candidates for graduation. Students that are interested in petitioning for the 2008 Fall ceremony will need to be 4-or-fewer credits from completing their requirements.
The 2008 Fall Commencement Petition to Walk form will be available during the Fall semester. The deadline will be announced.
Undergraduates that wish to request this accommodation will need to submit the Petition to Walk form with a copy of their current DARS attached to the Registrar's Office during the application period. If a petition is approved, the student will receive a letter by e-mail that will permit them to purchase their cap and gown at the University Bookstore. The Registrar's Office will also notify students by e-mail if additional information is required to make a decision, or if the petition is denied.
Petition to Walk students will not be included in the Commencement Program for that ceremony; only degree candidates are listed. Petition to Walk students are also still responsible for submitting an Application for Undergraduate Degree for the correct semester, and completing the necessary requirements before their degree wll be awarded.
If you are an undergraduate student that will complete your degree requirements and you wish to attend Commencement, you need only to submit your Application for Undergraduate Degree for the correct term and submit the Commencement RSVP form during the semester in which you plan to graduate; you do not need to complete the Petition to Walk.
