Commencement Information
This page contains information regarding:
Time and Location
Caps and Gowns
Graduating with Honors
Photos, DVD Recording & Television Viewing
Tickets & Honor Cords
Invitations & Class Rings
Diplomas
Candidates and Guests with Disabilities
The commencement ceremony is held in the William R. Johnson Coliseum and begins with the academic procession promptly at 9:30 AM on the respective Saturday. The duration of the ceremony is usually 2-3 hours, depending upon number of graduates participating. Check the SFA General Bulletin or Application Instructions and Deadlines for the date of commencement.
Candidates should arrive at the coliseum no later than 8:30 AM and proceed to the southeast corner of the coliseum to pick up seating cards. This card is also given to the announcer for the purpose of calling the graduate's name as they cross the stage. Signs will be posted in the coliseum directing graduates to the southeast corner.If you choose to participate in the commencement exercises, you must remain in your seat on the coliseum floor until the academic recession at the end of the ceremony.
William R. Johnson Coliseum is located at the corner of East College and University Drive.
The physical address is:
William R. Johnson
1002 E. College Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The commencement program lists applicants or candidates for degrees. The appearance of a name in the commencement program and the fact of attending commencement exercises is no guarantee of receiving the degree.
Cap and gown may be ordered at the Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore in the Baker Pattillo Student Center at any time. Orders may be submitted by printing the Cap & Gown Reservation Form and turning it into Barnes & Noble by e-mailing sm044@bncollege.com or in person. Caps and gowns will be picked up at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in the Baker Pattillo Student Center. Please contact Barnes and Noble at (936) 468-2108 or 468-1280 for Pick-up Instructions. Wear appropriate clothing under your gown. The mortar board is made to be worn flat on the head - parallel to the floor, and should not be decorated in any way.
A student receiving a baccalaureate degree with academic honors has completed a course of study with at least 54 semester hours of SFA residence course work excluding pass/fail hours and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher. The hours described in this statement appear on the transcript as GPA Hours. The honors are:
| 1. | Summa Cum Laude | 3.8 to 4.0 |
| 2. | Magna Cum Laude | 3.6 to 3.79 |
| 3. | Cum Laude | 3.4 to 3.59 |
Honors are called at the Commencement Ceremony. The Honors that are called are based upon the last completed semester. The final Honors earned will be posted to the transcript and will be printed on the diploma. Graduate level students are not eligible for honors.
PHOTOS, DVD RECORDING & TELEVISION VIEWING:
Photos
Flash Photography, located in Dallas, provides the photography services. For more information regarding photos, go to http://flashphotography.com/ then enter Department Code P307, or pick up a brochure in the Office of the Registrar.
DVD Recording
A professional quality DVD is made of each commencement ceremony available for purchase at the cost of $25.00. Information is mailed to each participating graduate regarding the purchase of a DVD or you may contact Terri Thompson-Sayler, Sr. Media Coordinator/Producer at (936) 468-2010. Videos may be ordered online at www.sfasu.edu/pubaffairs.
Television Viewing
The commencement ceremony is shown live on SFA-TV 2, local cable channel 2, during commencement and repeated periodically throughout the same weekend.
Tickets
We currently do not use tickets for commencement guests but respectfully request that graduates limit the number of their guests to approximately seven individuals.
Honor Cords
SFA does not sanction the wearing of Honor Cords or Sashes. While this practice is not sanctioned, it is also not prevented.
Invitations
Invitations may be ordered at your discretion through the vendor of your choice.
Class Rings
A class ring may be ordered at your discretion through the vendor of your choice.
Diplomas are not given out at commencement. Your diploma is mailed about 6-8 weeks after graduation. It bears your name, graduation date and degree (with honors, if earned), and the university's seal and signatures. Though it shows full degrees - like Bachelor of Arts, or Doctor of Philosophy - majors aren't shown. Additional diplomas may be ordered at the cost of $25.00 per diploma. For further information regarding diplomas, please e-mail Donna Burkett or call (936) 468-2335.
CANDIDATES AND GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Candidates, If you plan to attend the commencement ceremony, please e-mail Donna Burkett or call (936) 468-2335.
Guests: The commencement facility is disability accessible. University Police provides a cart for transport from the commuter parking lot to the venue. Disability Services will have a representative on hand at the commencement service to provide wheelchairs as needed. A platform, located to the left of the entrance is designated specifically for wheelchair seating.