Harding - graduation

APPLYING FOR GRADUATION

Applications for December 2020 graduation were due March 1st. Students can still apply, but there is a $50 late fee. Applications for May or Summer 2021 graduation are due October 1, 2020. There is no penalty for applying early. The Graduation Application is available on Pipeline in the “Student Records” section.

Commencement Schedule

Benson Auditorium

Spring - August 15, 2020

The University has decided on a date for the rescheduled spring 2020 commencement: Saturday, August 15, 2020. We plan to have multiple ceremonies as usual and more information will be forthcoming on the times and college groupings.

As was previously communicated, students who complete graduation requirements by the end of the spring semester will have their degree conferred on schedule in May. Students who may be delayed in completing their graduation requirements will have their degrees conferred in August or upon completion. If you have questions about graduation, please email graduation@harding.edu.

Fall - December 19, 2020

All colleges will gather at 10 a.m. to celebrate together. There is only one ceremony time in December. Line up for candidates will be in the science building at 9:15. Benson doors will be opened at 9 a.m. for guest seating.

Watch live

GRAD FEST

In light of the suspension of on-ground classes, Grad Fest has been canceled. Instructions will be forthcoming on how to accomplish the tasks related to graduation that would have taken place at Grad Fest, such as securing caps and gowns.

Are you approved? Review the requirements

Please review your catalog for specific degree requirements. University graduation requirements are also posted in the catalog and may be found at www.harding.edu/catalog.

By university policy, to be approved to walk in the May commencement ceremony, candidates must have all degree requirements completed by the date of commencement. As the only exception, candidates who will complete degree requirements by enrolling at Harding in their final class during the Harding Intersession term are allowed to participate. Students who complete their degree during Intersession, while they may participate in the May commencement ceremony, their degrees will be awarded after Intersession and they are considered summer graduates.

Students who complete degree requirements after May degrees are verified will participate in the December ceremony, with the exception of pharmacy students who complete degree requirements after May degrees are awarded, and they will participate in the next May ceremony. Similarly, students who complete degree requirements after the December degrees are checked and verified will participate in the upcoming May commencement ceremony.

Academic Regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, tassels)

Arrangements are being made related to online ordering of caps and gowns. More details will be available soon.

Degree	Department	Color
B.A.	Art and Humanities, Business, Honors (IDS), and Sciences	WHITE
B.A.	Bible	SCARLET
B.A.	Education	LIGHT BLUE
B.A.	Communication Sciences & Disorders	SILVER
B.B.A	Business	KHAKI
B.F.A.	Fine Arts	BROWN
B.M.E.	Music Education	PINK
B.MIN.	Bible	SCARLET
B.S.	Arts and Humanities, Honors (IDS) and Sciences	GOLDEN YELLOW
B.S.M.T.	Medical Technology	KELLY GREEN
B.S.N.	Nursing	APRICOT
B.S.W.	Social Work	CITRON
D.P.T.	Physical Therapy	TEAL
Ed.D.	Education	LIGHT BLUE
Ed.S.	Education-Educational Leadership	LIGHT BLUE
Ed.S.	Education-Clinical Mental Health Counseling	OLD GOLD Tassel/LIGHT BLUE Hood
M.A.	Education	LIGHT BLUE
M.B.A.	Business	KHAKI
M.S.	Education-Professional School Counseling	LIGHT BLUE
M.S.	Speech-Language Pathology	SILVER
M.S.M.F.T.	Marriage and Family Therapy	LIGHT BLUE
M.A.T., M.Ed., M.S., M.S.E.	Education	LIGHT BLUE
M.MIN.	Bible	SCARLET
M.S.N.	Nursing	APRICOT
M.S.P.A.S	Physician Assistant	KELLY GREEN
PHARM.D.	Pharmacy	OLIVE GREEN

Honor Cords

Organization	Colors	Pick-up Location
Alpha Chi National Academic Honor Society	GREEN/BLUE	Sears Honors House
Alpha Psi Omega Theatre	GOLD/BLUE	Reynolds C101
American Studies Institute	RED/WHITE/BLUE	Heritage 211
Delta Mu Delta Business	PURPLE/GOLD	Mabee 100
Kappa Delta Pi Education	PURPLE	Thornton Education Center 130
Nu Delta Chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu Family & Consumer Sciences	MAUVE/IVORY	Hendrix 210
Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society	LIGHT BLUE/BLACK	Heritage 211
Phi Alpha Theta History	RED/LIGHT BLUE	Ganus 120
Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science	RED/WHITE/BLACK	Ganus 120
Sigma Tau Delta English	RED/BLACK	American Studies 300
Sigma Theta Tau Nursing	PURPLE/WHITE	order from www.nursingsociety.org

There are no honor cords for cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. These honors are designated in the program, on the diploma and on the transcript.

Diploma Sizes

Students who are awarded a Bachelor's or Master's degree, the diploma size is 8.5" x 11".

Doctoral students (Ed.D., Pharmacy, Physical Therapy) diploma size is 11" x 14".

About the week preceding commencement

The Line of March and graduation instructions are available in the "Graduation Information" section above. If your name is on the list but you do not plan to attend, please notify graduation@harding.edu, or call 501-279-4328. If your name is not on the list but you do plan to attend, please notify the office.

There will be no rehearsal for the commencement ceremony. Rather, students will be led in by faculty marshals.

Where you need to be on commencement day

Spring 2020: May ceremony moved to August, 2020

Fall 2020: December 19, 2020

Line up for candidates will be in the science building at 9:15. (Guest seating will begin at 9 a.m.)

Guest seating in Benson Auditorium is available on a first come basis approximately one hour prior to each ceremony. Guests may not reserve seats for more than 4 individuals (including themselves). Seating is available for the handicapped and elderly upon request to an usher.

On the day of the ceremony there is a reception with hors d'oeuvres after the ceremony in the cafeteria to honor the graduates and their families (1 reception in the fall and 3 in the spring). All graduates, family members and friends are invited to join the Harding faculty and administrators for this informal, come-and-go celebration. This is your opportunity to introduce the special people in your life!

Special Accommodations

Candidates for graduation who need special accommodations due to physical limitations must contact us at graduation@harding.edu so that needed arrangements can be made prior to the ceremony. We want to include all students who have successfully completed their program of study.

Guest attending commencement needing special accommodations will be assisted by Public Safety. Please see an usher for help. Facilities for wheelchairs and special seating is limited, available on a first-come-first-served basis, and often only allows a caregiver to sit next to the individual. We are unable to reserve seating. Handicap parking is available on South Blakeney Street, East Center Avenue, as well as, behind the Benson Auditorium. A ramp is located on the east side of the Auditorium that gives access without climbing steps. Please email graduation@harding.edu with questions.

#HUgrad20

Campus celebrates Spring commencement