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Graduation

Formal graduation ceremonies are held at the end of the Winter semester in April and the end of the Fall semester in December. Please see the Academic Dates page for the exact date for your graduation.

Application for Graduation

Students who expect to qualify for a degree must apply for graduation. The University recommends that students apply for candidacy the year before they plan to graduate. The application form is available at the Registrar's Office or online through your Stellic account. The deadline for the completed application form to be submitted to the Registrar’s Office is the semester prior to your final semester.

The Office of the Registrar will notify students in writing of the requirements to be completed for a degree from BYU–Hawaii. If the student does not graduate on the date indicated on the application, the evaluation will be held for a future graduation date without charge. Student should notify Office of the Registrar when outstanding requirements are completed.

Attendance at Commencement

The graduation exercise at which people march and are formally recognized is called Commencement. Candidates will indicate on their graduation application if they intend to participate or march in Commencement. Those who do not march will receive their degree in absentia.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed to students after all final grades are in, all graduation requirements have been certified complete, and all restrictions have been cleared.

Change in Graduation Requirements

The University reserves the right to change the requirements for graduation at any time, and candidates may be required to comply with all changes pertaining to the incomplete portions of their requirements.

Exceptions to the Graduation Requirements

Waivers of published graduation requirements are granted only in exceptional cases.

Application for a waiver in the major/minor/certificate is made to the dean over the major. Substitutions in the graduation requirements are granted by the dean over the major/minor/certificate program.

Scholastic Recognition

Summa, Magna, Cum Laude Recognition

There are three categories of academic recognition awarded to graduating students at commencement who have earned a minimum of 45 semester hours of credit at BYU–Hawaii. These are: summa cum laude (GPA 3.85-4.00), magna cum laude (GPA 3.70-3.84) and cum laude (GPA 3.50-3.69).

Graduation Requirements

A student may be awarded the bachelor’s degree upon completion of the requirements listed below:

Credits

A candidate for the bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit. Of these credit hours, a minimum of 24 credits must be upper level (300 level or above) within the major and 6 credits of upper level in GE.

Grade Point Average

The student’s record must show a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (C or higher) in all work presented in fulfillment of requirements. Students may not graduate in a semester in which they are on academic probation. Transfer students must show at least a 2.00 GPA for their residence credit at BYU–Hawaii.

Major Requirement

A student must complete a major program with at least 15 hours of credit in the major program earned at BYU–Hawaii. A student’s graduation date will not be extended for a minor or second major. Due to changes which occur from time to time in major and minor requirements, it is the responsibility of the dean of the faculty offering the major or minor to certify that requirements are properly fulfilled.

Double Majors and Double Minors

It is expected that students will graduate after four calendar years at BYU–Hawaii (minimum 120 semester hours of earned credit). Students with transfer credit should graduate in a shorter time period and will not be allotted the full four years to complete their graduation requirements. Students who wish to enhance their educational experience at BYU–Hawaii by adding additional minors, certificates, or majors are welcome to do so with the understanding that these must also be completed within the four-year allotment. Given the generous tuition subsidy paid by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church, a double major would not be approved unless it can be earned within four years.

Certificates

BYU–Hawaii awards certificates as part of a degree program. Students may not have an academic plan that consists solely of receiving a certificate. When a degree is awarded, any certificate earned within the coursework taken as an undergraduate is listed on the transcript and a physical certificate will be issued by the Registrar’s Office along with the diploma.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

The Baccalaureate degree at BYU–Hawaii is awarded for the equivalent of, typically, eight semesters of dedicated university study. At BYU–Hawaii this includes not just the discipline of a major, but the foundation of religious education. A student may have more than one major, but there is only one baccalaureate degree. The degree granted (BA, BS, etc.) is associated with the primary major and is declared when application for graduation is made.

Other University Course Requirements

The student must complete the religious education and English proficiency requirements.

Residence Requirements

At least 15 semester hours of major credit taken in residence at BYU–Hawaii are required for the bachelor’s degree. A maximum of 10 semester hours earned through Educational Outreach may be applied toward this requirement. A student must register on campus for two semesters, not necessarily consecutive, to satisfy the residence requirement. This requirement may be waived for certain programs completed through Educational Outreach if approval is given by the dean of the college sponsoring the program and the director of Educational Outreach. A maximum of 36 semester

hours of correspondence credit may be applied toward the total requirement of 120 semester hours. There is a deadline for filing of transfer and correspondence credit and for the removal of incomplete (I) grades from the student’s record. All credit transactions must be complete, except for filing of final grades, two weeks prior to the date of commencement.

Students not currently in residence at BYU–Hawaii who desire to transfer credits to the University and take their degree from BYU–Hawaii will be able to do so provided they left school in “good standing” and filed their graduation application.

Graduating Student Survey

The Graduating Student Survey is required of all students the semester they graduate. The purpose of this survey is to aid the University in evaluating its instructional programs and to provide data for University research. Diplomas and transcripts will not be available until a student has completed the survey.

Adherence to University Standards

A student’s graduation may be delayed or denied if he or she is found in violation of the BYU–Hawaii Honor Code.

Note: Any hold, warning, or probation by the Honor Code Office must be properly cleared well before graduation.