Changing Your Graduation Date:
If your plans to graduate in December change, please contact us at 605.642.6567 or email April.Meeker@bhsu.edu to change your graduation date.

Announcements:
Graduation announcements are available at the University Bookstore 605.642.6636. You may also order personalized announcements directly from CB Announcements at www.CBGrad.Balfour.com.

Guests:
The number of guests for commencement is not restricted. You may invite as many people as you wish. Both chair and bleacher seating will be available.

Diploma Address:
You will receive a mailing with information about where your diploma will be mailed. Please review the diploma address sent with this mailing. If it is incorrect, email the new address to April.Meeker@bhsu.edu.

RSVP:
Return your RSVP card to the Registrar’s office no later than November 18, 2011.

Graduation Apparel:
Order your graduation apparel at the University Bookstore November 7th - 18th. If you cannot come to the store, please call 605.642.6636 to make mail order arrangements. (Allow ten days for mail delivery.)

Prices are as follows:

• Cap, Gown, Tassel $29.95 ($34.95 after December 1st)
• Master’s Hood $24.95

Exit Exams:
All bachelor’s degrees require an exit exam or alternative capstone experience such as a portfolio or an interview. Exit exams will be given on December 12. You will receive a letter from your Dean’s office with specific details. Questions about this requirement should be directed to your Dean’s office.

Graduation Rehearsal:
A graduation rehearsal (approximately 45 minutes) will be held on Friday, December 16th, at 2:45 p.m. Check-in for rehearsal will be in the Field House of the Donald Young Center.

Alumni T-Shirts:
The Alumni Association will be selling graduation t-shirts for $10 at rehearsal and prior to commencement. The t-shirts include the names and degrees of all December 2011 graduates.

Graduation Ceremony:
Graduates need to be in the Field House of the Donald Young Center by 9:30 a.m. to line up. The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. and will run for approximately 90 minutes.

Graduating with Honors: 
To graduate with honors, baccalaureate candidates must complete a minimum of 64 BHSU credits and associate candidates must complete a minimum of 32 BHSU credits. In addition, both the BHSU institutional and the overall cumulative GPA’s must be as follows:

• 3.500 Cum Laude (Baccalaureate)
  With Honor (Associate)
• 3.700 Magna Cum Laude (Baccalaureate)
  With High Honor (Associate)
• 3.900 Summa Cum Laude (Baccalaureate)
  With Highest Honor (Associate)

Honor cords will be distributed at rehearsal. They will also be available prior to commencement for those who are unable to attend rehearsal. For ceremonial purposes, honors are based on your GPA as of October 1. Final honors will be posted to your diploma and transcript only after all grades have been calculated.

NOTE: Honors are not awarded at the Master’s level.

Reception:
A reception honoring all graduates will be held in the Young Center Field House immediately following the graduation ceremony. All graduates, family, and friends are invited to attend.

Photographs:
Jolesch Photography will photograph you during the ceremony. You may view and purchase your photographs online at www.jolesch.com one week after the ceremony.

Final Grades:
Grades for the fall semester are due December 21 after which a final review of your credits will begin. Students are reviewed in alphabetical order until all degrees are posted.

Incomplete Grades:
Graduates with an incomplete for the semester or for a prior semester, will have until January 20, 2012 to complete the course and still receive a December-dated diploma. Completions after this date will delay the student’s diploma until May.

Transferring Final Coursework:
Graduates transferring additional coursework to us for the completion of their degree must do so by January 20, 2012 in order to receive a December-dated diploma. Transcripts received after this date will delay the student’s diploma until May.

• Transcripts should be sent directly to:
• BHSU Registrar
  1200 University Unit 9666
  Spearfish, SD 57799-9666

Transcripts are not required from USD, SDSU, NSU, DSU or SDSM&T because we utilize the same database and can access these directly.

Mailing Diplomas:
During the ceremony, you will receive a diploma cover to house your diploma. The actual diploma will not be mailed until all final reviews have been made. You can expect to receive your diploma in the mail no later than the first week in February.

Missing Requirements:
If we determine that you are missing a requirement to complete your degree or have other questions for you, we will communicate with you via email to your BHSU account. Please check your email on a regular basis until you receive your diploma.

Final Transcripts:
Requests for official transcripts must be made in writing by one of the following methods:

• Fax: 605.642.6022
• In person: Woodburn 104
• Mail: Send a letter of request to
  BHSU Registrar
  1200 University Unit 9666
  Spearfish, SD 57799-9666

Requests should include:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone Number
• ID Number
• Address to which you want transcript sent
• Signature

Make certain to indicate that you want us to wait until your degree has been posted so the transcript does not get inadvertently sent prior to the posting.

Official transcripts are $5.00 for the first copy and $2.50 for each additional copy, per request. Please remit your payment with your request. Your check should be made payable to BHSU. If you are faxing your request, please make payment by including a Visa or MasterCard number along with expiration date and cardholder’s name.