Responsibility for Graduation Requirements

Every candidate for a degree is personally responsible for meeting all requirements for graduation. No University official can relieve the student of this responsibility.

Application for Graduation

Students must apply for graduation or certificate completion in order to earn their degree/certificate. The University confers degrees in May, August, and December of each year upon the completion of the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters respectively. Students should apply to graduate no later than the third full week of classes of the semester they wish to graduate. If a student fails to complete the requirements at the time stated on the application for graduation, reapplication must be made for a later graduation date. Students may apply to graduate via their student portal (MyBradley or MyOnline) or by submitting a PDF or paper application to the Office of the Registrar

Completion of Degree Requirements

Students who maintain continuous enrollment and who complete work toward a baccalaureate degree or certificate within five years from the date of entry may graduate under either the catalog in effect at the time of entrance or under the catalog in effect at the time of graduation. A change in major may mean meeting new requirements that are in place at the time of the change of major. Students whose work has been interrupted for one or more semesters may be held to requirements in effect at the time of their re-enrollment. Candidates for a degree or certificate must meet all-University requirements and requirements in the curriculum for which they have applied for their degree to be conferred. All requirements must be taken and transcripted in the term a student wishes to graduate or earlier. Degrees will not be backdated for any reason. The deans of the colleges give final approval for graduation and recommend the candidates for the degree. Therefore, questions concerning degree requirements should be directed to the college deans.

Students electing to take courses at another accredited institution to meet Bradley graduation requirements must obtain prior written approval of their dean. An official transcript covering this coursework must be received by the Bradley University Registrar’s Office no later than two weeks after the end of the Bradley semester. 

The grades of all work needed to fulfill the graduation requirements, whether earned through residence at Bradley or through another collegiate institution, must be completed and received by the Registrar’s Office no later than two weeks after the end of the Bradley semester. Any degree or certificate requirements that are not tied to enrolled coursework (e.g. comprehensive exams) must also be completed within the term a student wishes to graduate or earlier. Documentation of successful completion of non-course requirements must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than two weeks after the end of the Bradley semester.

Note the University regulations concerning incompletes and in progress grades and their removal deadline are published elsewhere in this catalog. Incomplete and in progress grades must be converted to final grades prior to the degree being awarded.

Attendance at Commencement

Commencement is a ceremony held to celebrate the academic achievement of Bradley students. Bradley holds commencement ceremonies at the end of the spring and fall terms. Participation in commencement does not equate to official degree conferral or completion of degree requirements. Commencement participation is limited to students completing baccalaureate, Masters, or Doctoral degrees. Certificate students may be celebrated through ceremonies held by their college or department. 

Students must be approved for participation in Commencement. Students will be approved if they have proof of registration for the work which will complete the requirements for the degree in the semester they wish to graduate. If some coursework is being transferred, proof of registration provided by the Registrar of the other institution must be received by the posted deadline. Students will only be approved to participate in one commencement ceremony per degree. Students who have degree requirements remaining may apply for permission to participate in a particular commencement if the following conditions are met: the remaining degree requirements do not exceed two courses and/or required practical experiences; and it must be possible for the student to complete the remaining degree requirements during the interim and/or summer session(s) immediately following the commencement. Formal requests for permission, including proof of enrollment in the necessary coursework to complete their degree, must be filed with your college dean. The actual date of the degree would be the next official graduation date (spring, summer, fall) immediately following the completion of degree requirements.

Approval to participate in Commencement or related graduation celebrations may be revoked if a student violates the Student Code of Conduct.

Awarding of Diplomas and Certificates

Diplomas and certificates will be awarded at the end of the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms, whichever date follows the completion of all of the requirements for the degree, and will bear that date. Diplomas and certificates will be awarded only to students completing all requirements.

Latin Honors

Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude

Bradley University recognizes a graduating, undergraduate student’s superior scholastic achievement through the awarding of Latin Honors. Evidence of achievement is shown by the student’s grade point average (GPA). A student will be awarded Latin Honors according to the following standard:

• 3.40-3.59 Cum Laude
• 3.60-3.79 Magna Cum Laude
• 3.80-4.00 Summa Cum Laude

For recognition at Honors Day and at Commencement, the computation of the Latin Honors designation earned by GPA shall be made on the basis of cumulative GPA and hours completed at the end of the semester/term immediately preceding graduation (normally after seven semesters of work).

The computation of the GPA for Latin Honors designation on the student’s permanent record and diploma shall be made on the basis of all work completed at Bradley University at the time of graduation. Note that Latin Honors awarded for recognition at Commencement may not be the same as final earned Latin Honors.

Students who have successfully completed the requirements of the University Honors Program will be recognized for this achievement by a separate certificate.