Sewanee recognizes that participation in Commencement exercises is important to students and their families. While Commencement celebrates those who have fully earned their degrees, the College does recognize that students who are just shy of meeting all degree requirements may want to participate with their cohort. Accordingly, students who have not fulfilled all degree requirements, yet who are very close to do doing so, may submit a Petition to Participate in Commencement in order to "walk with their class" if they meet these criteria by the end of the semester of Commencement:
- The student must be within 8 credit hours (two full courses) of the 128 required credits for graduation.
- These final credit hours must be elective hours--that is, the student must have fulfilled all General Education and major requirements, including the comprehensive exam. (Minors are, by definition, optional and thus can be considered elective hours.)
- The student must have a clear plan for completing those final credit hours by the end of the upcoming summer term.
- The student must meet the minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation, 2.0, and be in good academic standing.
- The student must be in good social standing (no unresolved conduct processes or sanctions, not facing conduct suspension as a result of the current term).