Academic Requirements:
All students are required to complete a formal degree application.  The Notice of Candidacy Form is available on line or from the Office of the Registrar, Dwight Hall 220.

Students who are within two (2) courses of completing undergraduate degree requirements and have a GPA of at least 2.00 may participate in the Commencement Ceremony.  The Commencement Program will list the names of graduates and eligible candidates as provided by the Office of the Registrar at time of publication.  Presence or absence of the name in the program does not of itself testify to completion or non-completion of degree requirements for graduation.  During the Commencement Ceremony there will be no distinction made between graduates and eligible candidates. 

Note: Beginning with the Spring 2011 Commencement Ceremony, all students must complete all degree requirements in order to participate in Commencement.

Residency Requirements:
To complete the College residency requirement, a minimum of eight (8) course credits (32 semester hours) must be taken at Framingham State College.

To complete a major requirement, a minimum of five (5) course credits (20 semester hours) in the major department must be taken at Framingham State College.

To complete a minor requirement, a minimum of three (3) course credits (12 semester) hours must be taken at Framingham State College.

Academic Honors:
To be a candidate for graduation honors, a student must have completed all degree requirements and must have completed a minimum of sixteen (16) courses at Framingham State College. The baccalaureate degree is conferred with honors upon a student with a final cumulative point average of:

Cum Laude: 3.25 - 3.59    
Magna Cum Laude: 3.60 - 3.79
Summa Cum Laude: 3.80 - 4.00

All students graduating with honors will receive a gold honor tassel.  Honor tassels will be distributed at the Commencement Rehearsal. 

Academic Regalia (Caps and Gowns)
Participation in the ceremony requires that a cap, gown and hood be worn.  University Cap & Gown will have representatives on campus in either the lobby of the McCarthy College Center or in the lobby of the Athletic Center in early May.  The cost of the package for 2008 Commencement was $25 (cash or check).  

College Obligations
If you have any unresolved obligations such as library fees, student loan exit interviews, bills at the Business Office or residence hall damage, diplomas will be held until the obligation is resolved.  Take care to resolve these matters prior to the end of final exams. 

Commencement Ceremony
Commencement is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 2:00pm (participants & graduates must check in at 1:00pm).  Commencement exercises will take place outdoors on the Village Green in Framingham Centre.  The ceremony will be held rain or shine.  Additional ceremony specifics will be addressed at the commencement rehearsal. 

Commencement Rehearsal
All students who wish to participate in the Commencement Ceremony MUST attend the mandatory rehearsal held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 11:30am.  Check-in is at the Athletic Center Gymnasium unless otherwise noted.  Mark this date on your calendar and do not be late.  If you do not attend rehearsal, you CANNOT participate in the Commencement Ceremony.  Exceptions will not be made. 

Invitations/Announcements
Complimentary announcements for the Commencement Ceremony will be available when you purchase your cap and gown.  The announcements are for the graduates to use as they choose.  Seating for guests is “open”.  This means that no tickets or invitations will be required for your guests to gain admittance to the commencement exercises.  No guests are guaranteed seating. 

Off-Campus Course Work
If you are taking a course at another college this semester you must have already submitted an Off-Campus Course Approval Form (prior to enrolling in the course) to the Office of the Registrar.  It is your responsibility to make arrangements for an Official Transcript to be forwarded from that college to the Office of the Registrar at Framingham State College. You may become ineligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony if grade confirmations are not received by May 14, 2009. 

Parking
Parking is available on the College Campus.  The Village Green is located approximately one half mile from the Framingham State College Campus.  A continuous shuttle bus will run between the College and the Village Green for anyone who wants a ride to the ceremony.

Photographs
During the ceremony, access to the stage area for picture taking or video taping by guests will be prohibited.  Please relay this information to your guests.  A professional photographer will take your picture as you receive your degree.  The photographer will be contacting you in writing at your home address with specifics on ordering photographs and the cost.

Senior Class Activities - 2009
Need information about what's going on during your senior year? There's no better place to look than Blackboard! It's packed with all the information you could possibly want! Critical announcements about important Senior happenings will also appear on the Blackboard site.
Getting started is easy!
     - Go to: framingham.blackboard.com
     - Log in
     - Go to: Organizations
     - You should automatically be enrolled in the "Class of 2009"

Any questions you may have regarding class events should be directed to your Senior Class Officers who are responsible for the coordination of these events.