The graduation forum held last Tuesday was designed to give students the information they need for graduation.
Some of the topics discussed at the forum were forms that are necessary for graduation, class requirements and changes in the catalog. Susan Burkey, assistant registrar, told students what they need to know about graduation.
The first step to graduation is to meet the requirements for graduation, she said. These requirements are to take all the classes for your major/minor, meet the intensive guidelines and have the minimum grade point average.
The university requires that a student have a minimum GPA of 2.0, but individual departments have different guidelines.
However, the student should be sure that his or her GPA is above the minimum number. “We do not round up,” Burkey said. “If your GPA is a 1.99, you will not graduate because that’s not a 2.0.”
Students should also make sure that all of the necessary classes have been taken, including core classes, major/minor classes and any intensive classes, Burkey said. “Intensive classes are complicated and have always caused problems,” she said.
There are also papers that need to be completed in the graduation process. There are major/minor program sheets and an intent to graduate form.
The major/minor programs sheets list all the classes that have been taken in that field and let the graduation office know if any deficiencies are there.
The intent to graduate form alerts the office to the fact that the student plans to graduate at a certain time.
Burkey urges students to get their declarations of intent in as soon as possible. “We have three graduations going through the office at once,” Burkey said. “The earliest date gets first priority, but the earlier you get it in the better.”
Everyone must take the Academic Profile Exam before they can graduate.
Certain majors will be required to take a major field test.
These majors change from year to year, and students that have to take it will be notified through their advisor or they can get that information on the graduation office’s web site.
Students should also keep the graduation office informed on how to keep in touch with them.
“We need to know how to reach you in case something goes wrong,” Burkey said.
There is also a rumor that students will get pulled out of the procession line prior to the ceremony.
Burkey said this is not true. “We never pull people out of line,” she said. “They will notify you the day before.”
Students can order graduation supplies at the Graduation Celebration that will be held March 15 and 16 in the Atrium or the Bookstore.
The caps and gowns are provided free of charge from the graduation office and are one-size-fits-all based on height.
The caps and gowns will be available beginning April 18 in the Records Office and may also be picked up at the Graduation Celebration.
Students can get more information on the graduation office’s web site, located at www.etsu.edu/reg/graduation.

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