Graduate Information

Baccalaureate

Our 2008 Baccalaureate service will be held in Schaller Memorial Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 18. Graduates are invited to sit with their families and friends at the Baccalaureate service. Academic apparel will not be worn at this service.

Commencement

The 2008 Commencement ceremony will be held in the Siebens Fieldhouse at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. Graduates should be at the location of assembly for the Commencement procession by 1:30 p.m. (see a list of locations). The Commencement procession will begin to move through the Victory Arch at 2:15 p.m. and enter the Siebens Fieldhouse at 2:30 p.m.

Ceremony Attendance

All graduates are expected to participate in the ceremonies. If you must be absent, Storm Lake students should notify the Registrar's Office (712.749.2233 or e-mail houskan@bvu.edu.) Students in the Professional and Online Studies programs should notify the office personnel at the location where they are taking classes.

Caps and Gowns

Orders for the non-returnable caps and gowns must be placed no later than Friday, April 4. Campus and graduate students are to place their order with the Lehnus Campus Bookstore (1-800-383-2821, ext. 2395); graduates in the Professional andOnline Studies programs should contact the office personnel at the location where they are taking classes. The caps and gowns for all graduates will be available from Wednesday-Friday, May 14-16, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., in foyer area near Anderson Auditorium located in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum. The offices of Alumni Relations and Career Services will be there to help with the distribution of caps and gowns and request that you allow a few extra minutes to complete forms needed by their offices (see enclosed letter for details.) Caps and gowns may also be picked up on Sunday at the following times/locations: main campus and master's degree graduates, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the foyer area near Anderson Auditorium located in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum; graduates in the Professional and Online Studies programs from 12:00-1:30 p.m. in the room where you will assemble for the procession.

Commencement announcements will be available to the graduates at the Commencement Fair or can be picked up in the Lehnus Campus Bookstore after April 1. Each graduate receives five announcements as part of their graduation fee. Additional commencement items can also be ordered at the Commencement Fair or by completing the enclosed order form and returning it to the Lehnus Campus Bookstore.

Admission to Commencement Ceremony

Tickets of admission will be required for the 2:30 pm Commencement ceremony. Each graduate attending the ceremony will be entitled to five tickets to the Siebens Fieldhouse. Additional guests can view live video of the ceremonies in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum. Graduates on campus can pick up their tickets at the Commencement Fair on April 1or at the Information Desk of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum starting April 2; graduates from the Professional and Online Studies programs need to contact the office personnel at the location where you are taking classes. If you are a master's degree graduate, mid-year graduate, student teacher, or interning student, please contact the main campus or the location where you are taking classes to make arrangements to obtain your tickets (phone numbers are listed below.)

Main Campus (800.383.2821, ext. 2243)
Council Bluffs (800.798.0788)
Creston (800.556.7151)
Emmetsburg (800.861.8981)
Estherville (800.650.4346)
Spencer (800.798.8090)
Spirit Lake (800.670.5582)
Fort Dodge (800.798.4881)
Iowa Falls (888.648.3840)
LeMars (888.546.9459)
Marshalltown (800.798.0076)
Mason City (800.798.8764)
Denison (800.672.2127)
Ottumwa (800.682.8208)
Newton (800.236.0484)

Because of the large number of graduates this year and limited seating in the Siebens Fieldhouse, we ask that you pick up only the number of tickets that you need for your family/guests. Tickets are not needed for guests that view the ceremony from the locations in the Forum. The deadline for picking up tickets is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2. After this date, any remaining tickets will be given out to those graduates that requested extra tickets.

If you need additional tickets, please contact the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum Information Desk (800888.383.2821) or your Center's office to put your name on a waiting list. You will be notified on Monday, May 5 regarding extra tickets. Extra tickets will be held for you at the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum Information Desk until noon on Sunday, May 18. Any tickets that haven't been picked up by noon on Sunday will be given out to guests that still need a ticket to the Fieldhouse. The Siebens Fieldhouse doors will open at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for those who have tickets for the Commencement ceremony. There is no reserved seating in Siebens Fieldhouse. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for choice seating. The commencement procession will be broadcast to the Siebens Fieldhouse for those that want to view it from their seat in the Fieldhouse. Please make sure your guests are aware of these options.

Recognition of Honors

Recognition of honors at commencement ceremonies, including honor cords and announced honors, is based on coursework completed and grades processed by the Registrar's Office prior to April 1. Any additional transfer work, BVU grades, or grade changes received after April 1 will not affect the honors announced at commencement ceremonies. You may check your current cumulative GPA via Campus Connect-Unofficial Transcripts, or Registrar's Office Tools-Degree Audit.

Latin honors are based on cumulative grade point average and are as follows:

Cum Laude	3.500 - 3.699
Magna Cum Laude	3.700 - 3.899
Summa Cum Laude	3.900 - 4.000

Students with a previous Bachelor's Degree or those who have earned less than 60 semester credits from BVU are not eligible for honors.

Designation of actual honors earned will be based on the cumulative grade point average upon completion of degree requirements and will be noted on the diploma and final transcript.

Storm Lake campus graduates - If your cumulative grade point average goes up after grades are turned in, you can stop by the Information Desk in the Siebens Fieldhouse immediately following the commencement ceremony and confirm your GPA with the Registrar so you can receive the appropriate ribbon. Your transcript will reflect the correct honors.

Professional and Online Studies graduates - If you received honors and your GPA changed, please contact your Center Director during regular business hours to exchange your honors ribbon for the correct one.

Photographs

Professional color photographs of graduates receiving their degree will be taken by a professional photographer and can be purchased at reasonable prices, allowing family members to enjoy your graduation without leaving their seats to take a picture. Because of this, we would appreciate your cooperation in having your personal photos taken before and after, but not during, the ceremony.

Video

Video recordings of the Commencement ceremony and Baccalaureate service are available for purchase. If you're interested in purchasing a DVD or VHS tape, please complete the printable order form located here .

Reserved Seating

There will be a reserved seating area in the Siebens Fieldhouse for those who need special accommodations. No reservations are needed for this area of seating. If you have someone that is needing a wheelchair when they get to campus, please contact the Dean of Faculty Office (712.749.2243 or e-mail owenj@bvu.edu) to reserve a chair. Handicapped parking is located on the north side of the Lamberti Recreation Center, the parking lot across from Dixon-Eilers on 4th Street, and the parking area directly behind the J. Leslie Rollins Stadium (football field). See this printable map for areas that are handicap accessible.

Commencement Viewing Locations

The Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies will also be broadcast to Rooms 1-4 and Anderson Auditorium in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum. These comfortable and air-conditioned locations are convenient areas to view the ceremonies for those with health concerns, the elderly, and guests who do not have a ticket to Siebens Fieldhouse.

Commencement Reception

A reception will be held immediately following the Commencement ceremony on the east lawn of the Siebens Fieldhouse. All graduates, guests, faculty and staff are invited to relax and celebrate with you and your family. In case of inclement weather, the reception will be held in Lamberti Recreation Center.

A buffet brunch will be available on Sunday, May 18, in the Dows Grand Ballroom of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum. See brunch details.

Please share the following information with your family and friends.

Family and friends of 2008 BVU graduates who are unable to attend the Commencement ceremony at BVU may wish to view the event live on the BVU website .

Additional information

Protocol and Assembly Locations - Information regarding Commencement protocol and designated assembly areas for graduates.
Brunch Buffet - A buffet brunch will be held on the day of Commencement in the Dows Grand Ballroom.
Video Orders - VHS and DVD recordings of Commencement activities will be available for purchase.