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Commencement

Students Getting Ready in the Triple Gym Students Getting Ready for Commencement Theatre Studies Majors Commencement Students and Families at Commencement Arts & Sciences Students Receiving their Diplomas Students and Faculty Celebrating Graduation Students, Faculty, and Families get together after Commencement Students and Faculty Celebrating Graduation

Graduation Requirements & Commencement Eligibility

Graduation occurs in January, May and August for students for students who complete all of their degree requirements. The annual Commencement Ceremony is held only in May.

Graduation Requirements

  • Completion of an official Senior Check
    - Schedule it early (about two semesters before graduation)!
  • Completion of all degree/major requirements as determined by the Dean's Office.
  • Achieve a 2.0 overall GPA. (2.5 for Social Work/Nursing).
  • Achieve a 2.0 major GPA (2.5 for Social Work).
    Note: Social Work Requires C grades and Nursing requires C+ grades or higher in all required major coursework.

Eligibility to Participate in Commencement

  • To participate in undergraduate commencement, students must be deemed eligible by the Dean's Office. All of the graduation criteria above must be met to be eligible to participate in Commencement.
  • The ability to participate may be granted to undergraduate students who meet the GPA requirements above, but are 1-2 courses shy of graduation with a clear plan for completing their degree requirements. Decisions about participation are made by the Dean's Office, according to university policies.

Check Your NU Email for Important Updates Regarding Your Status

Important emails about issues that affect your ability to graduate or participate in commencement are sent to your NU email. While we cannot identify all issues that could keep you from graduation (GPA cannot be determined until the end of the semester for some students), we try to stay in touch regarding any known outstanding issues that need to be resolved.

If you are concerned about your ability to graduate or commencement eligibility, contact the Dean's Office at 716.286.8060. Low overall GPA, low major GPA, F grades, incompletes, late registration and missing transcripts (transfer, AP, CLEP, Study Abroad, other) can affect your ability to graduate or participate in commencement.

Commencement Information

Visit the Official NU Commencement information page to get valuable information such as the dates, ticket information and distribution dates, where to pick up your cap and gown,  speakers, and directions.

Commencement details will be evolving since commencement will be held on campus in May 2012. Changes to the information below will be added as it becomes available.

Prior to Graduation Recommendations:

  • Check your NU email for important updates and graduation instructions, especially any that come from John Sauter (jps@niagara.edu).
  • Caps, gowns and hoods are available from the bookstore.
    - Hood colors: white for AA, BA; gold for BS; brown for BFA
  • Pick up your allotted tickets ahead of time and note the redistribution date (assuming tickets will be required).
  • Pick up your Honor Society cords ahead of time from the director of your honor society.
  • Double check with student accounts 716.286.8300 to make sure that there is no hold on your diploma.

Commencement Day Recommendations

  • If tickets are required, don't forget them as your family won't be able to get into the event without them.
  • Canadian students should leave plenty of extra time for crossing the border (Victoria Day weekend).
  • Leave your valuables (purses, etc.) with your families if you don't want to carry them across the stage.
  • Arrive early to make sure that you can find the assembly location (TBD), especially if you are picking up your cap and gown that day.
  • Check in with Arts & Sciences when you arrive to make sure that we read your name on stage.
  • Seating for the Arts & Sciences section is arranged as follows: Associate of Arts (A-Z), Bachelor of Arts (A-Z), Bachelor of Science (A-Z), Bachelor of Fine Arts (A-Z).  It will mirror the seating during commencement.
  • Faculty ushers will help you navigate the rest of the ceremony

Diploma Mailings

  • Diplomas are ordered after graduation. They will be mailed (in about 4-8 weeks) directly to the address you submitted to us on your senior check form. Please notify us if the address changes for any reason.
  • Diplomas on hold (student accounts, NUS/NUB, Learn & Serve) will be mailed to the Dean's Office until the hold is resolved.
  • Diplomas list majors and Latin honors, but not recognition of distinctive scholarships or minors.
  • Please contact the Dean's Office at 716.286.8060 if you notice any errors on the diploma, so that we may reorder it.

Welcome to the NU Alumni Community!