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Students who have submitted a formal application for graduation and are eligible for Commencement honors will receive a letter from the Registrar's Office. This letter will be mailed to students in early November for the Fall Ceremonies and early April for the Spring Ceremonies. If you do not receive a letter, but believe you should be eligible, contact Tiffany Porter in the Registrar's Office (812-465-1039 or 800-467-1965).

For Fall Commencement:

Commencement honors (for purposes of printing the commencement program) are based on a student’s cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester immediately preceding Fall Commencement. Fall semester grades are not used to compute Commencement honors. Students who will receive a bachelor’s degree and meet each of the following qualifications are eligible for Commencement Honors.

For Spring Commencement:

Commencement honors (for purposes of printing the commencement program) are based on a student’s cumulative grade point average at the end of the fall semester immediately preceding Spring Commencement. Spring semester grades are not used to compute Commencement honors. Students who will receive a bachelor’s degree and meet each of the following qualifications are eligible for Commencement honors.

Qualifications

  1. Have completed (or have a combination of completed and enrolled hours in the final semester) a minimum of 60 credit hours at USI. (Transfer and departmental/exam credit hours do not count toward this 60 hour minimum.
  1. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.6 on all courses attempted at the University.

The student with the highest cumulative grade point average (computed at the end of the previous semester) will receive the honor of Summa Cum Laude at Commencement. In case of a tie, there will be more than one person designated for this honor. Those with a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or higher will receive the honor of Magna Cum Laude. Those with a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 but less than 3.8 will receive the honor of Cum Laude.

Graduation honors are determined at the end of the final term when graduation requirements are complete, and therefore may differ from Commencement honors. If a student completes graduation requirements at the end of their final term with a cumulative grade point average equal to or higher than the person(s) designated Summa Cum Laude at Commencement, the student also will receive the Summa Cum Laude honor. If a student’s cumulative grade point average changes subsequent to computing honors for Commencement, and it changes the student’s honors eligibility or designation, the appropriate change will be made on the diploma and academic transcript.

PLEASE NOTE: All students must comply with the Commencement Regalia Policy with regard to stoles, cords, medals and caps. 

Honors regalia is accorded only to students who have been notified by letter that they are earning Commencement honors or are designated as a graduate of the USI Honors Program. Members of the USI Honors Program should contact the Honors Program director for more information at 812-461-5357.