Graduation

Students must complete all academic requirements and clear all financial obligations with the University to be eligible to receive their diploma (graduate) and academic transcript and to participate in the commencement activities. Students may earn degrees three times during the year (August, January or May); official graduation dates are listed in the academic calendar.

No more than three semesters before intended graduation date, students are directed to indicate intent to graduate through S.S. IU, completing the “Apply to Graduate” form in the Student Records section. Students 888may seek guidance on this process from their advisors or the Registrar.

Commencement

Immaculata University holds its annual commencement ceremony at the end of each spring semester. Students approved to graduate are strongly encouraged to participate in commencement for the conferring of the degree.

All August, January and May graduates are invited to participate in the Commencement exercises and are listed in the Commencement ceremony booklet.

Commencement Walking Policy

Students who do not meet graduation requirements in time for the May ceremony may still be allowed to “walk” in commencement provided they meet the following criteria:

• Have six (6) or fewer semester hours to complete.
• Have a minimum a 2.0* cumulative grade point average. *(Students in majors requiring higher grade point averages must meet minimum requirements of the program.)
• Complete a Petition to Participate in Commencement Ceremonies, which must outline student’s plan to complete all degree requirements.

Students may not participate in commencement if they have any outstanding balances.

Names of both walkers and graduates will be printed in the commencement program, and there will be no asterisk or special notation in the program differentiating walkers from actual graduates of the University. “Walkers” do not receive public or printed recognition of honors (cum laude, etc.) in the commencement program.

All graduation requirements and all financial obligations must be satisfied in order to receive the diploma. Degree will be conferred and officially awarded only after all graduation requirements have been met.

A student may participate in only one commencement ceremony. If, after declaring an intention to walk, a student does not participate in the ceremony and fails to notify the Office of the University Registrar at least four days prior to the commencement date, that student is ineligible to participate in any subsequent commencement ceremony.

Posthumous Conferral of Degrees

On rare occasions, a student who has completed all or nearly all of the requirements for a degree meets an untimely death before the degree is conferred. In such cases, it may be appropriate for this student to be recognized for his/her work by means of conferring a degree posthumously.

With the support of the academic department and the family of the student, the student’s college dean or the VPAA initiates a request. Undergraduate students who were determined to be in good academic standing by college dean/VPAA and who were within a semester of completing their studies (usually 18 credits or less) may be recommended for a posthumous degree. Other forms of recognition may be available for students who do not meet the requirements for the awarding of a posthumous degree. The college dean/VPAA will provide a recommendation along with a verification of the student’s academic standing and degree progress. Petitions shall be forwarded to the VPAA and dean for review and recommendation, then to the President for approval.

If approved, the President will notify the VPAA and dean. The official commencement program will include the student’s name with the annotation that the degree was conferred posthumously. The student’s academic record will be similarly annotated.

Immaculata Alumni

Upon completing their first degree from Immaculata, all University graduates are inducted into the Immaculata University Alumni Association (IUAA). The IUAA’s purpose is to serve and promote the mutual interests of Immaculata University and its alumni in collaboration with the Offices of Alumni Relations and Institutional Advancement. In support of the University’s mission, the IUAA provides opportunities to create meaningful relationships with alumni and the Immaculata community through ongoing commitment, communication, and connection. Through these opportunities, the IUAA’s Board of Governors seeks to create a fully engaged alumni community. The Immaculata University Alumni Association has over 19,000 members in 30 countries.