• Application Process
• Graduation with Academic Honors
• Application Status
• Regalia
• Announcements and Class Rings

Application Process

Deadline to Apply for Spring/Summer is December 15
Deadline to Apply for Fall is August 1

A student seeking a(n):

• bachelor's degree must meet with their faculty advisor to complete the Graduation Application (PDF).
• associate of arts degree must meet with an academic advisor advisor to complete the Graduation Application (PDF).
• associate of applied science degree or certificate must meet with an advisor, instructor, or dean to complete the Graduation Application (PDF).

The application is filed with the Records Office in partial fulfillment of graduation requirements. A student will be awarded a degree upon completion of program requirements.

A student who fails to complete the degree during the intended semester must reapply for graduation. Completion of the requirements for graduation will be noted on transcripts at the end of the semester the requirements are completed.

Commencement ceremonies are held twice per year at the conclusion of the spring and fall semesters. See calendar for dates. Graduation applications must be completed by February 1 for information to be included in the spring commencement program, and October 1 for information to be included in the fall commencement program.

Letters will be mailed to students who have applications on file, with information concerning when to be measured for cap and gown. Also, letters will be mailed with dates to pick up cap and gown and provide information about the commencement ceremony.

If you have questions about graduation, call the Records Office at 479-788-7232.

Graduation with Academic Honors

The bachelor’s degree with honors will be conferred upon graduates who meet the criteria for honors recognition. All students meeting numerical criteria described below are eligible for consideration for cum laude based on the University’s GPA for all college-level work. Graduation candidacy standings will be based on the overall college-level GPA to include University work and all transfer work, excluding those for the semester preceding graduation.

Tentative honors recognition will be included in the commencement ceremony program. The official determination will be made upon evaluation of results including the final semester grades. University honors will be identified on the official transcript and diploma.

Graduation with University honors will be awarded in one of the following categories of praise:
summa cum laude 3.9-4.00 GPA.
magna cum laude 3.8-3.89.
cum laude 3.6 -3.79.

This recognition requires a minimum of 62 credit hours in residence, including a minimum of 30 hours of the last 36 hours of credit and at least half of the credit hours in the major field in residency. These honors are awarded only for the first baccalaureate degree awarded. Students who graduate from another college or university with a bachelor’s degree and pursue a second undergraduate degree at UA Fort Smith are not eligible for honors. No student subject to disciplinary sanctions for academic misconduct or disciplinary suspension at the University will be graduated with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude). Exceptions for consideration of this policy must be appealed through the appropriate dean with the “Grade Petitioning” process.

Application Status

After a graduation application is completed with a faculty or academic advisor, the application is forwarded to the Records Office for review. Students applying for bachelor or associate of applied science degrees should receive an email regarding the status of the graduation application. To inquire about the status of any application for graduation, students may contact the Records Office at 479.788.7405 or 479.788.7232.

Regalia

Graduation caps and gowns are required for participation in the ceremony, and are complimentary from the University. You must be measured in the Records Office, second floor of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. The deadline for ordering regalia is Friday, March 7. Caps and gowns may be picked up at the Lions Bookstore beginning April 28.

Announcements and Class Rings

Information about ordering announcements and class rings will be posted on LionsLink. A representative from Herff Jones will be on campus February 27 and 28 to take orders for class rings. The Lions Bookstore will also have items such as diploma frames and graduation gifts available for purchase.