Graduation and commencement Information

Petition to Graduate for Melbourne Campus and Extended Studies Students

Graduating seniors must file a Petition to Graduate and submit the completed petition to the registrar's Graduation Office no later than the date shown in the "Academic Calendar" online or in the University Catalog (dates also listed below). Students filing petitions after the due date are subject to a late fee of $30* and may not be able to graduate as planned because of insufficient time to verify completion of requirements. Petition forms are available online or may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or the respective academic unit. Petitions to graduate must be accompanied by a degree plan signed by the academic unit.

Petition to Graduate form for Melbourne Campus and Extended Studies students.

Florida Tech University Online Students Petition to Graduate

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR DEADLINE DATES TO PETITION TO GRADUATE—Melbourne and Extended Studies Students

NOTE: To allow time for processing, the academic department must be in receipt of the petition form two weeks in advance of the Registrar's Office deadlines noted below. If a student petitions to graduate during the semester of graduation, a late fee of $60 will be assessed.

Spring 2015 Graduation

  • Last day to petition to graduate without a late fee:* September 12, 2014
  • Last day to re-petition for students who had petitioned for Fall 2014:* February 2, 2015
  • Last day for completed graduate-level defense and exam: April 27, 2015
  • Graduation date (two Friday ceremonies): May 8, 2015

Summer 2015 Graduation

  • Last day to petition to graduate without a late fee:* January 16, 2015
  • Last day to re-petition for students who had petitioned for Spring 2015:* June 19, 2015
  • Last day for completed graduate-level defense and exam: July 20, 2015
  • Graduation date (No ceremony): July 31, 2015

Fall 2015 Graduation

  • Last day to petition to graduate without a late fee:* March 27, 2015
  • Last day to re-petition for students who had petitioned for Spring/Summer 2015:* September 4, 2015
  • Last day for completed graduate-level defense and exam: November 30, 2015
  • Graduation date (two Saturday ceremonies): December 12, 2015

 *Date the completed ‘Petition to Graduate’ form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Graduation Office to avoid a late fee of $30.

Purchase the Comencement Video

Fall 2015 Commencement Information

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Charles and Ruth Clemente Center for Sports and Recreation

Undergraduate Ceremony (Associate/Bachelor's Candidates) — 9:30 a.m.

Graduate Ceremony (Master's/Doctoral Candidates) — 2 p.m.

--TUNE IN FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT-- 

Download the Commencement Program (PDF) from the most recent commencement exercise. The current program will be posted closer to the date of Commencement.

Due to space limits, the university respectfully requests guests to attend only the ceremony in which their candidate is participating.

 

Associate and Bachelor's degree candidates check in at the Gleason Performing Arts Center
at 8 a.m.

Clemente Center doors will open for guests of Associate and Bachelor's degree candidates at 8 a.m.

 

Master's and Doctoral degree candidates check in at the Gleason Performing Arts Center
at 12:30 p.m.

Clemente Center doors will open for guests of Master's and Doctoral degree candidates at 12:30 p.m.

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To receive an associate or bachelor’s degree, a cumulative Florida Tech grade point average of 2.0 or higher is required. In the case of a student seeking two or more associate or bachelor’s degrees (see “Dual Majors and Additional Degrees”), a program GPA of at least 2.0 is required in each program for which a degree is awarded, as well as the overall GPA of at least 2.0 that is required for the award of any associate or bachelor’s degree (see “Grade Point Average” for the definitions of program and overall GPA).

A student is not permitted to graduate unless all financial obligations have been satisfied. All program requirements must be completed no later than 24 hours before commencement exercises. Program requirements completed after the deadline will cause a delay in the awarding of the degree.

Students should petition to graduate and attend the commencement ceremony for the term program requirements are met. Melbourne campus and Extended Studies students attend the spring ceremony if requirements are met in spring and the fall ceremony if the requirements are met in summer or fall. Florida Tech University Online students participate in the Melbourne commencement ceremony in spring if they satisfy requirements during Spring–1 or Spring–2 and the fall commencement ceremony if they satisfy requirements during Summer–1, Summer–2, Fall–1 or Fall–2.

All required documentation such as course substitution forms, transfer credit, defense or final program examinations must be received by the graduation office (undergraduates) or Office of Graduate Programs (graduate students) by the second Monday before the end of the semester in order for the candidate to participate in the commencement ceremony.

GRADUATION DAY CHECK-IN
All students must report to the Gleason Performing Arts Center no later than the assigned time. Once you have entered the area, please remain seated and follow all instructions very carefully. Please attend to personal matters prior to reporting to the area.

Seating arrangements and preparation for the ceremony are important. During the ceremony, students will be recognized for their accomplishments.

PARTICIPANT DRESS CODE
 Appropriate business attire and shoes are required.

CODE OF BEHAVIOR FOR FLORIDA TECH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
Neither food nor beverages are permitted in or around the ceremony area. This prohibition applies with force to alcoholic beverages, the presence of which is illegal and will lead to eviction from the Commencement Ceremony.

CERTIFICATION OF GRADUATION
Certification of graduation will not occur until all academic requirements for your degree are fulfilled and you have paid all financial obligations to the university. Please check Access for last-minute charges, such as telephone fees, that may have been applied to your account. These charges are usually not posted until Thursday of final exam week. Be certain to check with the Security Office for unpaid traffic/parking fines and with the

Remember, it is your responsibility to clear outstanding charges on your account. You will not be mailed your diploma or have your degree posted to your academic record until all outstanding debts to the university have been paid.

GRADUATION REGALIA

All candidates must report in appropriate academic attire (cap and gown).
Make certain tassel is attached to cap and hung on the right.

  • Students must purchase their own regalia, including caps and gowns for all degrees, and master’s and doctoral hoods. A link to purchasing regalia (caps, gowns, tassels, hoods) is available on the Florida Tech bookstore webpage. Please direct regalia questions to Ellie Turner, bookstore manager, at (321) 674-8042 or by email to eturner@fit.edu.
  • The Registrar’s Office will distribute the undergraduate honor’s cords during check-in the morning of commencement.

COMMENCEMENT TICKETS
 Guest tickets for Melbourne campus candidates will be available during Grad Fair Days at the bookstore. Candidates must present a photo ID and proof of regalia purchase in order to request guest tickets.

Extended Studies candidates attending the Melbourne campus commencement must contact their site for guest tickets.

Florida Tech University Online candidates attending the Melbourne campus commencement will receive an email regarding their guest tickets once they have reported their intent to attend the exercise.

 
 SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
 If a guest in your party requires special seating, arrangements must be made with the Graduation Office at (321) 674-8564.

PICTURES
 Two pictures will be taken by professional photographers, one as you receive your diploma, the other as you exit the stage. You may contact them at (800) 261-2576 (toll free in the U.S.), (800) 372-3686 (toll free in Canada) or (641) 472-8000 from outside the U.S. or Canada, or at GradImages®.

VIDEOS
Videos of the ceremony will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Purchase the Comencement Video

Spring 2015 Commencement Information

Friday, May 8, 2015

Charles and Ruth Clemente Center for Sports and Recreation

Undergraduate Ceremony (Associate/Bachelor's Candidates) — 9:30 a.m.

Graduate Ceremony (Master's/Doctoral Candidates) — 2 p.m.

--TUNE IN FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT

Download the Commencement Program (PDF) from the most recent commencement exercise. The current program will be posted closer to the date of Commencement.

Due to space limits, the university respectfully requests guests to attend only the ceremony in which their candidate is participating.

 

Associate and Bachelor's degree candidates check in at the Gleason Performing Arts Center
at 8 a.m.

Clemente Center doors wil open for guests of Associate and Bachelor's degree candidates at 8 a.m.

Master's and Doctoral degree candidates check in at the Gleason Performing Arts Center
at 12:30 p.m.

Clemente Center doors will open for guests of Master's and Doctoral degree candidates at 12:30 p.m.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To receive an associate or bachelor’s degree, a cumulative Florida Tech grade point average of 2.0 or higher is required. In the case of a student seeking two or more associate or bachelor’s degrees (see “Dual Majors and Additional Degrees”), a program GPA of at least 2.0 is required in each program for which a degree is awarded, as well as the overall GPA of at least 2.0 that is required for the award of any associate or bachelor’s degree (see “Grade Point Average” for the definitions of program and overall GPA).

A student is not permitted to graduate unless all financial obligations have been satisfied. All program requirements must be completed no later than 24 hours before commencement exercises. Program requirements completed after the deadline will cause a delay in the awarding of the degree.

Students should petition to graduate and attend the commencement ceremony for the term program requirements are met. Melbourne campus and Extended Studies students attend the spring ceremony if requirements are met in spring and the fall ceremony if the requirements are met in summer or fall. Florida Tech University Online students participate in the Melbourne commencement ceremony in spring if they satisfy requirements during Spring–1 or Spring–2 and the fall commencement ceremony if they satisfy requirements during Summer–1, Summer–2, Fall–1
or Fall–2.

All required documentation such as course substitution forms, transfer credit, defense or final program examinations must be received by the graduation office (undergraduates) or Office of Graduate Programs (graduate students) by the second Monday before the end of the semester in order for the candidate to participate in the commencement ceremony.

GRADUATION DAY CHECK-IN
All students must report to the Gleason Performing Arts Center no later than the assigned time. Once you have entered the area, please remain seated and follow all instructions very carefully. Please attend to personal matters prior to reporting to the area.

Seating arrangements and preparation for the ceremony are important. During the ceremony, students will be recognized for their accomplishments.

PARTICIPANT DRESS CODE
 Appropriate business attire and shoes are required.

CODE OF BEHAVIOR FOR FLORIDA TECH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
Neither food nor beverages are permitted in or around the ceremony area. This prohibition applies with force to alcoholic beverages, the presence of which is illegal and will lead to eviction from the Commencement Ceremony.

CERTIFICATION OF GRADUATION
Certification of graduation will not occur until all academic requirements for your degree are fulfilled and you have paid all financial obligations to the university. Please check Access for last-minute charges, such as telephone fees, that may have been applied to your account. These charges are usually not posted until Thursday of final exam week. Be certain to check with the Security Office for unpaid traffic/parking fines and with the Library for book charges.

Remember, it is your responsibility to clear outstanding charges on your account. You will not be mailed your diploma or have your degree posted to your academic record until all outstanding debts to the university have been paid.

GRADUATION REGALIA

All candidates must report in appropriate academic attire (cap and gown).
Make certain tassel is attached to cap and hung on the right.

  • Students must purchase their own regalia, including caps and gowns for all degrees, and master’s and doctoral hoods. A link to purchasing regalia (caps, gowns, tassels, hoods) is available on the Florida Tech bookstore webpage. Please direct regalia questions to Ellie Turner, bookstore manager, at (321) 674-8042 or by email to eturner@fit.edu.
  • The Registrar’s Office will distribute the honor’s cords during check-in the morning of commencement.

COMMENCEMENT TICKETS
 Guest tickets for Melbourne campus candidates will be available during Grad Fair Days at the bookstore. Candidates must present a photo ID and proof of regalia purchase in order to request guest tickets.

Extended Studies candidates attending the Melbourne campus commencement must contact their site for guest tickets.

Florida Tech University Online candidates attending the Melbourne campus commencement will receive an email regarding their guest tickets once they have reported their intent to attend the exercise.

 
 SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
 If a guest in your party requires special seating, arrangements must be made with the Graduation Office at (321) 674-8564.

PICTURES
 Two pictures will be taken by professional photographers, one as you receive your diploma, the other as you exit the stage. You may contact them at (800) 261-2576 (toll free in the U.S.), (800) 372-3686 (toll free in Canada) or (641) 472-8000 from outside the U.S. or Canada, or at GradImages®.

VIDEOS
 Videos of the ceremony will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray. You can order your DVD or Blu-Ray here.