Office of the Registrar

Commencement – Spring 2008

The Spring 2008 Baccalaureate-Commencement

Ceremony will be held on May 3, 2008 in the courtyard between the Pontious Learning Resource Center and the Rigel Student Center. The ceremony will begin at 10:00am. Graduates will assemble in the Turner Athletic Center at 9:00am. All students who wish to participate should contact the Registrar’s Office to confirm their eligibility and plans.

Date and Time: The Spring 2008 Baccalaureate-Commencement ceremony will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, May 3, 2008, and will last approximately 1½ hours.

Location: The ceremony will take place in the courtyard between the Pontious Learning Resource Center and the Rigel Student Center. Graduates will assemble at 9:00am in the Turner Athletic Center. Map.

Caps and Gowns: Caps and gowns can be picked up at Grad Finale or on the day of the ceremony in the Turner Athletic Center.

Grad Finale: Grad Finale is an event for all students participating in the commencement ceremony, AA, BA and Master graduates, to pickup their caps and gowns, order invitations, class rings and other graduation accessories.
Grad Finale will be held on Monday, March 31, 2008, from 3PM - 7PM in the North Lobby of the Rigel Student Center, Lake Wales.

Graduation Announcements: Custom announcements can be ordered at the Grad Finale. A simple, non-personal announcement will be available through the bookstore on campus (800-949-7248 ext. 2775, 863-638-2775, Fax: 425-799-6217, E-Mail

Guests: There will be seating provided for the projected number of guests based on responses from graduates.

Local Accommodations: Area hotels/motels and restaurants can be located at the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce web site or at Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce, 340 West Central Avenue, P.O. Box 191, Lake Wales, FL 33859-0191. Phone (863) 676-3445 / Fax (863) 676-3446. E-mail.

The Day of Commencement

Reporting and Assembly: Graduates will need to report to the Turner Athletic Center at 9:00 am. Bring only the cap and gown - leave personal belongings (phone, purse, cameras, etc.) with your guests or leave them in your car. You will be given a name card and asked to find your position in line (alpha order). During the ceremony graduates will hand their card to the Academic Vice President as they step on to the stage for their name to be announced. If the name is difficult to pronounce, please write a phonetic spelling on the card or whisper the pronunciation to the Academic Vice President prior to the announcement of the name.

Academic Attire: Tassels are to be worn at the left temple. The recommended practice is not to change the position of the tassel. Men are to remove their caps during the opening prayer, but the cap is worn during conferral of the degree and receiving the diploma folder from the President. Please wear the cap and gown with dignity and no distracting items pinned on them. Master degree graduates, will wear only the robe and cap. Hooding of Masters will be a part of the ceremony.

Honor Cords: Undergraduates who qualify for Latin honors status (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude) will receive honor cords from the Registrar’s Office staff the morning of the ceremony. Honors status will be printed in the program but will not be announced in the ceremony. Due to time limitations, the printed honors status is based on records as of the end of the previous semester or term. Final honors status will be based on all courses and grades and will be printed on the diploma. The honors status qualifications are based on the cumulative GPA as follows: Cum Laude (3.50 - 3.70), Magna Cum Laude (3.70 - 3.89) and Summa Cum Laude (3.90 and above). Latin honors are available for Bachelor of Arts graduates only.

Honor Society Cords:Undergraduates may wear cords or ribbons from college academic honor societies where they hold membership. These should be worn in the same manner as those for the Latin honors noted above.

Processional: Graduates will line up for the commencement procession alphabetically by degree in the Turner Athletic Center. Master degree candidates will be first in line, BA candidates will be next, and AA candidates will be last. Marshals will lead the procession for the ceremony. The processional will begin promptly at 9:45 a.m.

Guests with Disabilities: Limited seating will be available for guests with disabilities. Please arrive early. Due to limited space only one family member is permitted to sit with guests with disabilities.

Photos: All seating at the ceremony allows for a good view of the stage. As a courtesy to the other guests and a safety precaution we will have a reserved location for guests to take photos. We asked that guests take photos from their seats or this location only. Professional photos of the ceremony and each graduate will be taken and available for purchase through the contracted photographer, Bob Knight Photography. Further details will be available at the ceremony. www.bobknightphoto.com

Diplomas: The College will mail diplomas approximately 6 - 8 weeks after the semester. All grades and official transcripts must be received and all financial matters cleared before the degree is posted on the transcript and the diploma is mailed.

Recessional: After the ceremony the faculty and platform party will recess, graduates and guests will remain in their seats until the recessional is complete.

 
 
Graduation Qualifications and Arrangements

In an effort to recognize students in as timely a manner as possible, Warner Southern has two commencement ceremonies each year. The Winter Baccalaureate-Commencement ceremony recognizes graduates who have completed their degree requirements at the close of the Summer or Fall semesters. The Spring Baccalaureate-Commencement ceremony recognizes graduates who have completed their degree requirements at the close of the Spring semester. If graduates who complete studies in the Summer or Fall semester want or need to participate in the Spring ceremony following, they may do so by informing the Registrar’s Office. Degrees are posted at the end of the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Graduates do not receive the diploma and have the degree posted to their transcript until all course work has been completed and entered into the official transcript, until all clearances have been made, and until the Registrar posts the degree on the transcript. Diplomas are then mailed to graduates.

 
 
Graduation Application, Requirements, and Procedures

Students are to apply for graduation the semester before they intend to finish their degree program. The application process includes a degree audit which will alert students to any problems or shortcomings in meeting graduation requirements.

Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies

1. Complete 60 semester credit hours;

2. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher. A maximum of three “D” grades can used to meet graduation requirements;

3. Complete the general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, with the exception of TST 4095;

4. Meet the one-year residence requirement;

5. Receive faculty vote of approval; and

6. Meet all financial obligations to the College.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

1. Complete 120 semester credit hours in courses acceptable for graduation, with at least 40 credit hours in upper-division coursework;

2. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher. Some majors require a higher GPA. A maximum of three “D” grades can be used to meet graduation requirements;

3. Complete the general education requirements;

4. Complete the requirements of a major and minor, if needed, with a grade of “C” or higher;

5. Be admitted to a major;

6. Complete the last year of coursework at Warner Southern College (at least 32 credit hours) and at least one-half of the courses in the major and the minor;

7. Receive faculty vote of approval; and

8. Meet all financial obligations to the College.

Graduate Degrees: Master of Arts in Education, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science in Management

1. Complete the required graduate semester credit hours for the specific program (a maximum of 6 graduate credits can be transferred);

2. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher (A maximum of three “C” grades can be used to meet graduation requirements.);

3. Complete all of the degree requirements (ie. courses, examination, portfolio, thesis/research project, etc.) for the degree program by the specified deadline and before the commencement date;

4. Complete all requirements within five (5) years of matriculation;

5. Receive School/Department and Faculty approval; and

6. Meet all financial obligations to the College.

In order for a student to be submitted to the faculty for approval, all supporting documents for completing the degree requirements during the current semester must be received before the following dates: December graduation, November 1, May graduation, March 1, and August graduation, July 1. Communication and documentation must be in written form. Please note the following documentation expectations:

• A current registration at Warner Southern College, will automatically be considered. Successful completion of the work is necessary for the degree to be posted.
  
  
• If taking course work at another college or university, the Registrar’s Office must have documentation of that registration, and an official transcript of the completed course(s) must be received by the Registrar before the degree can be posted.
  
  
• If taking standardized exams (e.g., CLEP, DANTES) to complete degree requirements, those results must be received in the Registrar’s Office before the dates noted above.
  
  
• PLA applications and supporting documents must be received in the Registrar’s Office before the above dates. These procedures and requirements apply to all students and any term in which they plan to graduate.

 
Need More Information?

If you have any further concerns or questions, please contact the office of the Academic Vice President (863-638-7206) for questions regarding the commencement ceremony, or the office of the Registrar (863-638-7204) for questions regarding your academic records. You can also e-mail questions about the ceremony at: academics@warner.edu and questions about your records at: registrar@warner.edu.