The spring commencement ceremony is Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium and begins at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony is open to the public, you can invite as many guests as you like, and there is no entrance fee.

* Graduates must arrive at 8:00 a.m. for check-in and seating.

Placement into the ceremony is done through a cap and gown order. Bellevue University purchases a cap and tassel for you and rents a gown and hood (for master’s) regalia for you to wear during the ceremony. The gowns and hoods are turned in immediately following the ceremony.

* Graduates are responsible for ordering a cap and gown (placement into the ceremony).

A cap and gown order can be placed two ways, by coming to the cap and gown measurements at the Main Campus or Lozier Professional Center during dates and times below, or ordering your cap and gown online.

To order your cap and gown online, please log into BRUIN, go to e-Services, Graduation Events, and fill out the Commencement Ceremony Reservation Form by the deadline date of Friday, April 11th.

Cap and Gown Measurements

	Main Campus/Student Center	West Omaha/Lozier
Monday, March 24, 2008	5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.	4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008	11:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008	5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.	4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 27, 2008	11:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The deadline date for cap and gown orders is Friday, April 11th. If you do not place your order before the deadline date, a $50.00 late fee is charged. Graduates also have the option of walking in the January 31, 2009 Commencement Ceremony rather than joining late and paying the fee.

Cap and Gown Pick-Up

The caps and gowns are delivered to the main campus and available for graduates to pick up in the Quiet Lounge in the Student Center during the following dates and times.

June 3rd, 4th & 5th (Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday)
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. & 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on all days

*Graduates can send a family member or friend to pick up their cap and gown.

Graduates living outside of the Metro Area can pick up their cap and gown at the Omaha Civic Auditorium the morning of the ceremony, at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, June 7th.

Graduation honors are awarded to undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours at Bellevue University (in-class or online) and have a cumulative g.p.a. of 3.60 and above. These credits do not include CLEP, DANTES, OR ELA. [FOR DETAILED INFORMATION regarding academic honors, please see the catalog pg 29, the student handbook pg. 12, or online at www.bellevue.edu, click “Current Students”, “Ready to Graduate?”, then “Graduation Honors”].

For the purpose of the ceremony, honors will be “estimated” for those bachelor students who are still completing coursework. All classes a student is registered in as of April 15th will be counted toward the “estimated” honors for the ceremony. Graduate students are not included in the honors program because it is an honor in itself to be accepted into and complete the requirements for a Master’s degree.

For undergraduates participating with honors, there will be a sash with your gown at Cap and Gown Pick Up. The meaning of the honors sashes are as follows:

Red Sash	Summa Cum Laude	3.95 to 4.00
Gold Sash	Magna Cum Laude	3.88 to 3.94
Green Sash	Cum Laude	3.76 to 3.87
White Sash	With Distinction	3.60 to 3.75

If you would like your picture taken in your cap and gown, Bellevue University is pleased to provide professional photographer, Kim Photography, throughout the 3 days of cap and gown picks-ups, during the Graduation Open House, and immediately following the ceremony at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Guests are allowed to take pictures during the ceremony from their seats. Also, Bellevue University Instructional Technology department records the ceremony and DVD’s can be purchased online through BRUIN, e-Services, Commencement Video Order Form.

Open House

A Graduation Open House will be held Friday June 6th on the main campus from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. All graduates and their guests are invited. There will be guided campus tours, hors d’oeuvres, and drawings for prizes. If you would like to join in this fun event please RSVP @ www.bellevue.edu/openhouse.

*Graduates who RSVP to this event, your cap and gown will be available for pick up at the event (this only applies for those who RSVP)

Class rings, announcement, and other graduation items can be ordered through the following companies:

Graduation Supplies, Inc. at: www.graduationresources.com
Jostens® in the Bellevue University Bookstore and online at: www.jostens.com

The Big Day

On the day of the ceremony the graduates need to arrive at 8:00 a.m. Guests can begin arriving at that time as well. Seating is on a first –come- first served basis. Street parking is free and there are several parking structures available for a fee.

Upon arrival to the auditorium, graduates will be escorted to the Exhibition Hall for placement in the ceremony and guests will be escorted upstairs to the seating areas. We ask that graduates give their belongings to their guests before being escorted to the Exhibition Hall. If you must bring your belongings, please make sure you can hold them on your person using pockets, fanny packs, etc. You will not be allowed to go upstairs to visit with your guests once you have been placed into the ceremony seating.

The Omaha Civic Auditorium is accessible for handicapped individuals and those with special needs. Bellevue University ushers wearing purple gowns will help individuals gain access to suitable seating.

*If you are graduate with special needs please contact the University’s Disability Services Specialist terra.beethe@bellevue.edu or 1-800-756-7920, ext. 7414 as soon as possible to ensure the accommodations are made for the ceremony and seating chart.

Questions

If you have questions about the ceremony or please contact the Commencement Coordinator at julie.mahoney@bellevue.edu or 1-800-756-7920, x7012.

For the questions regarding graduation, the process, number of credits you have or need, and graduation honors, please contacts your Academic Advisor at “Ask Your Advisor” online: http://www.bellevue.edu/forms/ask_advisor.asp or call 1-800-756-7920 x7281 for Undergraduate Advising and 1-800-756-7920 x7240 for Graduate Advising.

If you have questions regarding your diploma, please contact the Registrar’s Office at ashley.kirchner@bellevue.edu or 1-800-756-7920, x7404.