commencement information
Graduation

Resources

Lodging, Restaurants
A list of lodging and restaurants near Bloomsburg University

Announcement Cards
Personalized graduation announcements can be ordered through Jostens. Call 1-800-353-5299 for ordering information. General graduation announcements can be purchased at The University Store.

Career Development
BU's Career Development Center offers career planning assistance to all students. In addition to individual career counseling sessions, the CDC provides permanent job opportunity information to graduating students and alumni.
Visit Web site or call the CDC, 201 Student Services Center, at (570) 389-4070.

Financial Aid Counseling
Recipients of the Federal Stafford Loan Program must complete exit counseling online prior to graduation. Call the financial aid office, 119 Student Services center, at (570) 389-4279 for more information.
Recipients of the Federal Perkins Loan Program (National Direct Student Loan) must arrange an exit interview through the business office, Waller Administration Building, (570) 389-4588 prior to graduation.

No Information Release
If you have stipulated that no information may be released concerning your university records, a written release must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar to have your name printed in the program.

Teacher Certification
Applications for teacher certification are available from Bonnie Burke, teacher certification coordinator, College of Education, McCormick, Room 3105, at (570) 389-5128.
PRAXIS tests must be completed and the degree granted before the application can be approved and forwarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
See BU's Web site or PDE's Web site for more information. See here for the application form.

Winter Commencement

Graduate Commencement

Graduate commencement ceremonies will be held Dec. 18 in Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts. No tickets are required.

There will be two undergraduate commencement ceremonies on Dec. 19 at the Haas Center for the Arts, 10 a.m. for the College of Liberal Arts and Science and College of Technology and 2:30 p.m. for the Colleges of Business and Education. Both ceremonies will last about two hours.

Tickets are not required, and there is no limit on the number of guests for each graduate. Graduates will assemble in Haas, Rooms 116 and 166, at least 30 minutes before each ceremony. Guest seating is on a first-come, first served basis in Haas, which opens roughly one hour before each ceremony. Graduate seating is reserved. Graduation

It is strongly suggested graduates and guests arrive with ample time to park on the lower-campus. Parking behind the McCormick Center and Bakeless Center will be reserved for disabled and handicapped guests. Those attending the afternoon ceremony should not arrive earlier than 1:15 p.m. to allow guests from the first ceremony to exit campus and clear available parking spaces. webbutton2

The university police will be on duty for the duration of graduation day. Guests should request help from them for parking or special needs. Individuals who cannot walk any distance can be dropped off at the front of Haas, where there will be police and staff to assist. Seating for guests in wheelchairs will be in the last row of the orchestra seating, along with an additional attendee. Please arrive in advance to allow time to be comfortably seated in this area.

Graduates will enter the Haas by the music department entrance across from Columbia Hall to line up no later than 9:30 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 2 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.

Graduation Timeline

DateEvent
Oct. 1Student deadline for Application for Graduation form to be submitted to student's academic department. Two applications must be completed for Secondary Education, double major, and dual degree students.
Nov. 1 Deadline for student's department to approve Application for Graduation and to notify the Graduation Office. Contact your department if you require verification of submission. (Department approval is necessary in order for students to be eligible to participate in commencement and to graduate).
Nov. 17Grad Finale' — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Alumni House on Lightstreet Road. Photo I.D. is required.
  • Verify graduation approval
  • Enjoy lunch or dinner courtesy of the Alumni Association
  • Purchase cap, gown and tassel ($30)
  • Receive academic honor cord if 3.5 GPA or higher as of prior semester
  • Obtain name card for attendance at commencement
  • Have yearbook picture taken if not already arranged
  • Purchase graduation announcements
  • Speak with a Career Development representative
  • Sign-up for alumni email
  • Consider signing the Graduation Pledge
  • Check-out B.U.'s Master's programs.

If class schedule does not allow student to attend the Grad Finale', students can purchase the cap and gown and generic announcements at the University Store at any time after this date.

Nov. 18 - Nov. 27Continued distribution of name cards and academic honor cords in the Graduation Office, Carver Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The name card, and honor cord if eligible, can also be obtained before the ceremony at the box office in the lobby of Haas.
Dec. 4Student or guest requiring an interpreter for the deaf or hard of hearing can contact Anita Hakim, graduation coordinator, by e-mail. Guests in wheelchairs do not need to make special arrangements.
Dec. 19 9 a.m. — Students in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Science and Technology begin to assemble in Haas Auditorium for the 10 a.m. ceremony. Enter the auditorium by music department door, across from Columbia Hall, and follows the signs.
1:30 p.m. — Students in the College of Business and College of Education begin to assemble in Haas Auditorium for the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. Enter the auditorium by music department door, across from Columbia Hall, and follows the signs.
Mid-Feb. Expect to receive diploma in the mail by this time. If not attending commencement, request a dioploma cover from Anita Hakim.