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Commencement

Congratulations Class of 2020

Commencement Times and Locations

Spring 2024 Ceremony Details

Graduation is a required event for students completing their degrees. 

Date: Friday, May 3, 2024

Times: Three commencement ceremonies will be held for Spring 2024 graduates. Below are the ceremony times for degree recipients.

  • Bachelor's degree recipients
    • Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:00 am
      • Check-In at 10:00 am in Intramural Gym
  • Graduate degree recipients
    • Friday, May 3, 2024 at 3:00 pm
      • Check-In at 2:00 pm in Intramural Gym
  • Associates degree recipients
    • Friday, May 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm
      • Check-In at 6:00 pm in Intramural Gym

Location: All ceremonies will be held in the Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center on the SBU Bolivar campus.

Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center: 
1260 S Pike Ave, Bolivar MO 65613

Download Campus Map (PDF)

Explore our Interactive Map

All graduates will be emailed and texted their specific ceremony times during the first half of the spring semester. Correspondence will be sent to graduates' SBU email addresses and cell phone numbers on file.

Graduate Checklists

  • February 24 - April 12
  • April 3
  • April 3
    • Pick up your regalia (cap, tassel, black gown, and purple stole). The campus store has placed your order!
      • Bolivar students – Pick up your regalia at the campus store on April 3 between 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
      • Springfield students – Your regalia will be
        distributed on your campus around this date.
      • Mountain View & Salem students - Mailed using the shipping address provided on your graduation application
  • April 12
    • Notify the Office of the Provost your desire to graduate in absentia. We are preparing for your celebration, but understand you may not be able to attend, kindly email graduation@SBUniv.edu to let us know. Program completion fees will still apply to all degrees obtained.
  • April 19
    • Check your account balance. Your account must be paid in full to receive your diploma or transcript. Contact the Cashier's Office at (417) 328-1524 or cashier@SBUniv.edu with questions.
  • April 21
  • April 30
  • May 2
    • Watch for invitation to Academic Honors Event: you will receive your cords at the ceremony. 6pm, Pike Auditorium. FAMILY  AND FRIENDS welcomed to attend!
      Ensure you have all items ready to wear to the ceremony.
  • May 3
    • Today is the day!
      • Bachelors
        • 9:45 a.m. - Arrive to the Intramural Gym for check-in and graduation Line-up;  wearing ALL regalia!
        • 11:00 a.m. - Celebrate this huge milestone
      • Graduates
        • 1:45 p.m. - Arrive to the Intramural Gym for check-in and graduation Line-up;  wearing ALL regalia!
        • 3:00 p.m. - Celebrate this huge milestone
      •  Associates
        • 5:45 p.m. - Arrive to the Intramural Gym for check-in and graduation Line-up;  wearing ALL regalia!
        • 7:00 p.m. - Celebrate this huge milestone

Regalia Details

Regalia for Spring 2024 will be ordered by the campus store with the completion of your intention to graduate form (deadline is January 19, 2024)  and will be distributed in the following manner:  

  • Mountain View and Salem Campus graduates: Mailed using the shipping address provided on graduation application
  • Springfield Campus graduates: Distributed on your campus
  • Bolivar Campus Associate's and Bachelor's degree graduates: Distributed on the Bolivar campus in the campus store on Wednesday, April 3 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Master's, specialist and doctoral degrees: Mailed using the shipping address provided on graduation application

Graduates are responsible to bring all of their regalia to wear on commencement day. 

SBU Grad Fair

Stop in the SBU Campus Store on Wednesday, April 3 between 10:00 am - 3:00 pm for the SBU Grad Fair! Bolivar campus bachelors and associate regalia will be ready for pick up and our Jostens representative will be on hand to assist with announcement ordering. Jostens will also have their entire line of graduation products and jewelry on display, and orders can be placed at a special one-day discount. 

The Commencement Group

The Office of the Provost will be adding a special feature for our family's and guests of our Spring graduates: "The Commencement Group" will be on campus for any gifts you may like to purchase for your graduates. Flowers, stuffed animals, necklaces. Orders CAN be placed online as well as in person. 

Learn MoreOrder Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate FAQ

No. There is no rehearsal; therefore, all important instructions are given during line-up before the ceremony begins. Check-in for your ceremony 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony. If you are late to check-in, you will be placed at the end of the graduation line and will not be able to graduate with your specific division.

The ceremony lineup will take place in the Intramural Gym inside of the Jane & Ken Meyer Wellness & Sports Center.

To avoid long lines, check-in for your ceremony will open 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and close at 1 hour prior, which is when all necessary line-up instructions will be given. If you are late to check-in, you will be placed at the end of the graduation line and will not be able to graduate with your specific division.

(Building #31 on this map)

Please be sure to bring your cell phone with you. There will be an online alumni survey you must complete upon your arrival to the ceremony line up. We suggest you leave all other personal belongings with a guest; however, these items can be stored in the lineup location as it will be locked during the ceremony.

Recommended attire:

  • Men: White dress shirt, dark slacks and dark dress shoes
  • Women: Dark dress (or dark skirt/slacks and blouse) and dark dress shoes

Caps are worn level with tassels on the left at all times. Men will remove caps at times of prayer; ladies will leave caps on at all times. This regalia is for you to keep.

Undergraduate degrees: The stole is worn like an honor cord, draped around the neck with the seal on your right. Those receiving honor cords will wear them on top of the stole.

Only the stoles, honor cords distributed at graduation lineup, and medals awarded to the Dutile Honors Program graduates may be worn with the graduation gown. It is NOT appropriate to wear cords/sashes/pins/ribbons from honor societies or other organizations during commencement.

Graduate degrees: Please be sure to bring your hood with you in order for it to be presented to you during the commencement ceremony.

Yes! A livestream of the commencement ceremonies will be available. 

We are planning on your attendance as we want to celebrate this significant accomplishment with you. If you cannot attend your commencement ceremony, kindly notify the Office of the Provost by by April 5, 2024. Please email Graduation@SBUniv.edu, stating your reason for being absent. You will receive a response by email within five business days.

A minimum of 45 semester hours of credit must have been completed at SBU prior to the semester of graduation. For the graduation ceremony, honors are calculated on the Institutional Grade Point Average at the beginning of your final semester.

  • Summa Cum Laude: 3.850-4.00
  • Magna Cum Laude: 3.700-3.849
  • Cum Laude: 3.500-3.699

After final semester grades are completed, official honors will be determined for transcripts.

Honor cords will be distributed at the Honors Ceremony to be held on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. This will be an invitation-only event. The graduate will be responsible for bringing honors cords, along with all other regalia, to the commencement ceremony.

The list of graduates will be posted online, on the Media Relations page, once grades have been finalized.

News releases will be sent to Missouri newspapers.

For out-of-state newspaper announcements, complete this form if you would like to have a news release sent to your hometown newspaper.

Grad Images will make pictures available online for your purchase. Visit www.gradimages.com or call 1-800-261-2576 with questions. Or, contact Grad Images Customer Service

To be eligible for a discount on photo purchases, visit www.gradimages.com/preregistration prior to the ceremony to pre-register for your graduation photos.

Diplomas will be available within four weeks of graduation. The diploma size is 8.5 X 11.

  • Pick up in the Registrar's Office: You are encouraged to pick up your diploma in the Registrar's Office. Please call (417) 328-1896 if you plan to pick up your diploma so that you can be notified when it is available.
  • Receive by mail: Diplomas not picked up in the Registrar's Office will be mailed to the address you supplied when you submitted your online application to graduate. If there has been a change of address since completing this application you will need to notify the Registrar’s Office.

All degrees will be granted contingent upon successful completion of all academic degree requirements, which includes the Chapel attendance requirements for graduates on the Bolivar campus, and payment of all financial balances. Once grades are determined and finalized, diplomas will be mailed to students who have successfully completed all requirements.

Graduate candidates can order announcements and other graduation products anytime prior to graduation ceremonies, visit Jostens.com and enter "Southwest Baptist University" in the 'Find My School' prompt. Announcement orders should be placed no later than one month prior to ceremonies.

Guest FAQ

There are handicap parking spaces in front of the Jane & Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center, as well as across the street in the Geneva Casebolt Music Center parking lot. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

There will be a designated area for special needs in the ceremony space. SBU Staff will be on hand to assist with the location of these areas and to answer any questions.

Yes! A livestream of the commencement ceremonies will be available. 

Several hotels are located near the SBU-Bolivar campus:

  • Best Western Plus, Bolivar: (417) 326-0188 (reserve by phone and ask for SBU discount)
  • Comfort Inn, Bolivar: (417) 326-6169 (reserve by phone and ask for SBU discount)
  • Country Inn, Bolivar: (417) 326-8004
  • Super 8, Bolivar: (417) 777-8888
  • The Barnwood Inn, Humansville: (417) 754-8250

Additional accommodations are located in nearby Springfield, Mo.

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce maintains a partial listing of Bolivar restaurants (those who are Chamber members).