DECEMBER 2017 COMMENCEMENT GUIDE Approved List of Students for Commencement In order for your name to appear on the approved list, you must be academically cleared by the Registrar and the Department Chairperson. Senior grades are due in the system by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. Commencement Financial Requirements The $60 graduation fee is due by November 27, 2017. The deadline to clear all account balances and student fees (telephone balances, parking fines, university loans, unpaid tuition and fee balances, and Federal Perkins Loan exit interview, f needed) is November 20, 2017. If you have not cleared your account balance, you will not receive your diploma or official transcripts until your balance has been paid. All payments can be made online via the web at www.vsu.edu, click on Trojan Link, and select Banner. Payments can also be made at the Cashier's Office in person, by mail (Cashier s Office, VSU, and P.O. Box 9125, Petersburg, VA 23806) or via telephone 804.524.5150. Payments must include the student s name and identification number.
B. Exit Interviews Stafford Loans The U.S. Department of Education requires that all recipients of a Federal Stafford Loan must complete a mandatory exit interview with the Office of Financial Aid. Failure to complete the mandatory exit interview will result in you not receiving your diploma. To complete the exit interview, students must complete the following steps: Step 1: Log on to https://studentloans.gov Step 2: Select Log In select Continue to Login (Use your FSA ID Username or Email address and FSA ID Password) if you don t have a FSA ID, you may create an FSA ID Step 3: Select Complete Counseling Step 4: Select Start Exit Counseling Step 5: Proceed until Process is Complete AND The in-person sessions will be conducted on the following dates: Monday, November 13 through Saturday, November 17, 2017** 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Foster Hall, Room 300 Saturday, November 18, 2017 9 a.m. to Noon Foster Hall, Room 300 **Sessions begin EVERY HOUR (Ex. 9 a.m., 10 a.m., etc.) It is important that you are aware and understand the various repayment options available to you in managing your student loan debt. Specifically, the exit interview will cover the following: A repayment plan that will fit your circumstances: Make repaying your loans as simple as possible Develop a workable budget for your new life out of school Review your rights and responsibilities as a Federal Direct Loan Borrower. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 800.823.7214 or 804.524.5990.
C. Exit Interviews Perkins Loans The U.S. Department of Education requires that all recipients of a Federal Perkins Loan must complete mandatory exit interviews with the Office of Student Accounts. Failure to complete the mandatory exit interviews will result in you not receiving your diploma. Federal Perkins Loan Exit Interviews will be done through Heartland (ECSI), our loan servicer. If an exit interview is needed for a Federal Perkins Loan, you will receive notification from Heartland (ECSI), and the VSU Collections Office, along with instructions on how to complete the exit. If you were awarded a Federal Perkins Loan and you do not receive notification or if you have any questions/concerns, feel free to contact the Office of Student Accounts at 804.524.5339. All account balances must be cleared by November 20, 2017. If additional charges are assessed after November 22, 2017, it is still your responsibility to make sure these charges are paid in full. Failure to do so will result in your diploma and official transcripts being held. VSU Bookstore December 2017 Cap and Gown Prices (prices before tax) Bachelor s degree - $65 Includes black cap and gown with VSU tabs embroidered on right/left side, tassel with year date, standard academic hood, degree color in velvet and school in color silk. Master s degree - $80 Includes black cap and gown, upgraded academic hood, degree color in standard velvet and school color in satin.
Doctoral degree - $147 Includes black gown with royal matinee velvet on the bars and front panels, upgraded academic hood, degree color in matinee velvet, school color in satin and OSFA Tam. Individual items: Bachelor s gown - $37 Master s gown - $45 Doctoral gown- $74 Bachelor s hood - $23 Master s hood - $35 Doctorate hood- $48 Cap - $11 Doctoral degree tam - $54 Regular tassel - $8 Souvenir tassel- $12 If an individual has purchased regalia and cannot take part in the ceremony, a refund will be issued minus a $10 processing fee. The VSU Bookstore must be notified three days before commencement and the package has to remain unopened by the customer. After that time, no refunds will be issued to the student. Commencement Program The appearance of a name on any list in the commencement program must not be considered as conclusive evidence of graduation. The official transcript of the University, signed and sealed by its proper officers, is the official testimony of the possession of the degree.
Commencement Rehearsal Participants must take part in rehearsal on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at 10 a.m., in the VSU Multipurpose Center. Any candidate unable to attend rehearsal, but planning to participate in the ceremony, must report to a marshal immediately upon arrival at the VSU MPC on Saturday, December 9 at 8 a.m. to be placed correctly in the procession. Each graduate will be allowed eight tickets for the ceremony. Please bring hoods to rehearsal. Senior luncheon will be at noon; the location will TBA. Honor cords and cards will be available for pick up on Friday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations: College of Graduate Studies - Virginia Hall, Room 203 College of Agriculture - Owens Hall, Room 103 Reginald F. Lewis College of Business - Front Lobby of Singleton College of Education - Harris Hall, Room 131 College of Engineering and Technology - Engineering Building, Room 315 College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Harris Hall, Colson Auditorium College of Natural and Health Sciences - Hunter McDaniel, Room 241N
Commencement Instructions 1. Each school will issue an academic clearance card to the candidate. This card will be used to call the candidate s name. Please preserve the card. 2. All candidates are required to wear caps and gowns. 3. Students in academic attire should wear auxiliary clothing that harmonizes with the black gown: Dresses of appropriate length Dark shoes Dress slacks Dress shirt Tie No jeans All students must wear professional (business) clothing such as dresses, skirts or slacks. No jeans or tennis shoes may be worn. Please wear low heeled or flat shoes for your safety and comfort. Refrain from pinning or attaching anything to the cap or gown. Fraternities/sororities shawls, can be worn with your cap or gown. Corsages, ribbons or scarves are not allowed. Academic regalia should be worn with modest jewelry, no large earrings and bangles. 4. Caps are worn with tips in a horizontal position (not tilted), and tassels on the right side. Hoods are carried on the right arm while marching in the procession. 5. Women keep their caps on throughout the ceremony. Men remove their caps during the opening; replace them thereafter; remove them again for the closing, and replace them to remain through the end of the ceremony. 6. Candidates from each school will be presented by their dean to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will then present them to the President. Immediately following the President's statement, conferring the degrees, the Chief Marshal indicates the hooding ceremony. Candidates will turn to the right to be hooded by the candidates on the left.
7. The President will deliver the charge to the class, followed by the National Alumni Association President leading the graduates in the Oath of Alliance. 8. After the commencement ceremony, graduates will be led by the Marshals out of the VSU Multipurpose Center. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THE LINE OF MARCH UNTIL YOU ARE RELEASED BY THE MARSHAL. 9. No picture taking will be allowed where graduates, faculty and special guests are seated. No balloons, noisemakers, floral bouquets or large gifts will be allowed in the VSU Multipurpose Center. Please ask your families to save these items for after the ceremony. Commencement Ceremony The ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 9 at the VSU Multipurpose Center at 9 a.m. with the procession beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. The doors will open at 7:30 a.m. and close promptly at 8:15 a.m. After the procession, the doors will reopen for late arrivals. Graduation Honors Candidates for the bachelor's degree who have earned more than half of their academic credits at Virginia State University are recognized for academic achievement using the following standards: CUM LAUDE: Awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 to 3.49. MAGNA CUM LAUDE: Awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 to 3.79. SUMMA CUM LAUDE: Awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 to 4.00.
Candidates for the bachelor s degrees who have earned 40 or more academic hours but less than half of their academic credits at Virginia State University are recognized for academic achievement using the following standard: WITH DISTINCTION: Awarded for a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher. Please note: Graduate students are not eligible for honor cords. Visitor Information If you need information about lodging and dining accommodations, visit the Petersburg visitors guide website at http://www.govirginia.com/petersburg or call 804.733.2400. You can also visit the Colonial Heights visitors guide website www.richmondvirginia./colonialheightsva or call 804.518.0638. Special Seating for Disabled Special arrangements for disabled guests will be provided. Seating will be on a first come, first serve basis. Diplomas All diplomas will be mailed. Please ensure that your address is correct with the Registrar s Office. Diploma Frames Diploma frames designed and matted especially for VSU diplomas will be available through the VSU Campus Bookstore. For additional information, visit the bookstore or call 804.524.5691. Pictures/Videos
Picture taking is prohibited in front of the commencement stage and is restricted to the Virginia State University photographer, the media and employee(s) of Orrie Gaines Photography. Orrie Gaines Photography is responsible for taking pictures as each candidate walks across the stage. For more information, call Orrie Gaines Photography at 804.308.2778 or www.orriegainesphotography.com. A DVD of the commencement ceremony will be available for purchase at a cost of $25 by money order, cashier s check or certified check payable to the cashier s office. The order form is included in this guide. For more information, call 804.524.5188. Contacts If you have any questions regarding the commencement ceremony, contact Ms. Anita Wynn, Office of the Provost, at 804.524.3269. For activities, contact the Department of Student Activities at 804.524.5645. Commencement Order Form Available through the Department of Mass Communications & Communications Services DVD are $25 per copy. To order your copy of the commencement DVD, remit check/money order to the following address: Virginia State University Cashier s Office P.O. Box 9125 Room 112, Virginia Hall Virginia State University, VA 23806 Quantity: Total Cost: (Please Do Not Send Cash) Mail my Commencement DVD Purchase To the Following:
Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Telephone: Please allow four to six weeks for delivery. You may call 804.524.5188 to confirm receipt of payment. Thank you for your order.