Graduation Information

Announcements
They will be posted in MyLander and email communication will be through the student's Lander email address.

Procedures and Requirements
Application form
Apply and submit application form by stated deadlines to the Registrar's Office, Learning Center 125.

Deadlines: The time frame for graduation students graduating in either the fall or spring semesters is the first week of classes through the fifth week of classes. The time frame for students graduating in the summer semesters is during the first two weeks of classes in summer session 1.

Request for Graduation Form

Verify receipt of application to Registrar's Office

Within one month after the semester graduation deadline, your academic transcript in Bearcat Web should included a row entitled "Degree Awarded" indicating "Pending Graduation".

Check posting of graduation information
One month after the semester graduation deadline, a list of candidates will be available on the Registrar's Office graduation web page. Students should verify their diploma name, degree, major, minor and hometown (publication purposes). Any changes must be submitted to the Registrar's Office within the first three weeks of the graduation semester. Changes to the diploma name or degree after this time will incur a fee charge.

Graduation Gala
Every fall and spring semester a graduation gala in held for that semester's candidates. Information will be sent from the gala hosts: Bearcat Shop and Jostens and date is posted in Lander's web Master Calendar Attendance is strongly encouraged. Students will receive their cap and gown; ability to order announcements; receive student account review and required Perkins loan exit; obtain financial aid student loan history; optional cap and gown picture for later purchase and alumni information.

Academic Honors
The following academic honors will be mentioned during the commencement cermony: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude and Golden L. Final semester grades will not be available before the commencement ceremony therefore the announcement will be based on the student's previously completed semester at the University.

Within a month of the ceremony, a preliminary listing will be posted on the Registrar's Office graduation web page. Qualifications are available in the University catalog under "Academic Policies and Regulations". Questions should be directed to the Registrar's Office, registrar@lander.edu.

Graduates will be notified of their final academic honor(s) through their Lander student email account within ten working days after the commencement ceremony. Newspaper announcements will be posted in the Greenwood and hometown paper. A list will also be available on the Registrar's Office graduation web page.

Participation in Commencement Ceremony
Student participation is allowed if the:

  • student has submitted an application for graduation for the specific commencement ceremony
  • student receives initial approval for the specific commencement ceremony signified by signed copy of the application received from the Registrar's Office
  • for those students who must complete the Fine Arts Lectureship requirement, it is completed by the last day of classes for the specific commencement ceremony

An official or unofficial withdraw of all classes during the graduation semester will disqualify participation.

Any other conditions which disqualify a student from participation in the commencement ceremony must be appealed directly to the president of the University.

Tickets for Commencement Ceremony Attendance
Tickets will be required to attend the commencement ceremony.

The number of tickets will be announced during the Graduation Gala held on campus.

Graduation candidates will be able to pick up and sign for their tickets during the last week of classes with a picture ID at the University Police Office from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Candidates completing their degree requirements at the University Center of Greenville will be able to pick up their tickets from the UCG office during normal office hours.

Students are requested to only pick up the number of tickets needed. Remaining tickets will be disbursed during the week of exams on a first-come, first-served basis in the Registrar's Office. A number of tickets will be decided each term based on the total number of remaining tickets.

Commencement Ceremony Specifics

Diploma
The receipt of final grades will occur after the commencement ceremony therefore the diploma will be mailed to the graduate within ten working days after the ceremony. The candidate will be presented with a diploma cover during the ceremony.

The mailing address for the diploma will be the student's legal home permanent address in Bearcat Web, Personal Information. Candidates need to review and make any necessary changes to their legal home permanent address before the ceremony date.

Conferring of Degree
Degrees for students who take course work at another institution during their term of graduation will not be conferred if an official transcript of that course work cannot be received by the Registrar's Office within one month of the term graduation date. The student bears the responsibility of requesting the transcript to be sent to the Registrar's Office.