USF 1996-97 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 50

GENERAL GRADUATION INFORMATION

Commencement

Commencement ceremonies at USF (Tampa) are held three times a year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

To receive information regarding the Commencemnt ceremonies, students must submit an application to graduate. Information regarding the ceremony will be mailed to the students during the term in which they should participate. If information is not received, the student should contact the Office of the Registrar. Graduate students (master's, education specialist, and doctorate) will not participate in commencement exercises until all requirements for such degrees have been fulfilled.

Application for Graduation

In order to graduate, a student must submit an application for the bachelor's degree, graduate degree, or associate of arts certificate to the Office of the Registrar. This application must be submitted in the term of expected graduation by the deadline noted in the academic calendar. If a student applies for graduation and is not approved, a new application for degree must be submitted by the deadline in a new term.

The application for the bachelor's degree is available from the student's college advising office. The application for a graduate degree is available from the Office of the Registrar or the student's college advising office. The application for an associate of arts degree is available from the Center for Academic Advising in Academic Support and Achievement.

The application must first be certified (signed or stamped in the section, "Office Use Only") by the student's college (Center for Academic Advising for the A.A. degree). The college retains one copy, and the student must submit the remaining copies to the Office of the Registrar prior to the graduation application deadline. Inquiries concerning approval or denial of graduation should be made to the appropriate college or to the Center for Academic Advising in Undergraduate Studies.

It is the student's responsibility to clear all "I" grades (incompletes) in courses required for graduation and to provide official transcripts of all transferred course work needed for graduation at least 3 weeks prior to the end of the term in which he/she expects to graduate.

A student applying for a second undergraduate major must do so within the same deadline set for applying for a degree.

A student applying for a minor must:

1. File a separate request for certification for the minor in the department of the minor during the semester of graduation;
2. Apply for the minor on the "Application for Degree," listing both the minor and college responsible for the minor on the application; and
3. Have no "I" grade in required courses.

Honors at Graduation

A baccalaureate candidate must first have an overall GPA for all work attempted at USF on the standard grading scale of a 3.500 or higher to be considered for honors. In addition, transfer students and USF students who have post-secondary work elsewhere to be eligible for honors must have a GPA of 3.500 or higher when combined with all work attempted at other institutions (including developmental classes). The forgiveness policy at USF or other institutions will not be applicable in computing the GPA for honors nor are plus/minus grades awarded at other institutions.

Candidates with a GPA of 3.500 but below 3.710 shall receive a diploma designation of cum laude (with honor).

Candidates with a GPA of 3.710 but below 3.900 shall receive a diploma designation of magna cum laude (with higher honor).

Candidates with a GPA of 3.900 or above shall receive a diploma designation of summa cum laude (with highest honor).

In addition, each dean has the option to select on the basis of exceptional achievement 1% of the college's graduates or 1 student per semester for graduating with distinction.

USF 1996-97 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 38

Academic Record

The student's academic record shall not be changed after the student has graduated.

Send comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 1996