It is mandatory for all degree and award candidates to apply for graduation.

ALL students must file an Intent to Graduate form with the Office of the Registrar and pay a non-refundable $60 Graduate Fee.  The Intent to Graduate (ITG) form will officially establish you as a degree or award candidate, and will initiate the preliminary review (or degree audit) of your student record to determine whether all academic requirements have been met.

We strongly recommend you meet with your academic advisor to determine your fulfillment of program requirements by the anticipated graduation date of December 30^th, May 30^th or August 30th. This form must be completed in full, signed, $60 fee paid and submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the following deadline dates in order to be considered as a degree or award candidate:

I will finish my program requirements:	Summer (August 30)	Fall (December 30)	Spring (May 30)
Subit "Intent to Graduate" form to the Office of the Registrar by:	March 1, 2012	July 1, 2012	December 1, 2012
Permitted to attend Commencement Ceremony:	May 2013	May 2013	May 2013

The College of Biblical Studies

Commencement Ceremony will be held on

Date: May 5, 2012

Time: 10:00 am

Location: Houston’s First Baptist Church

7401 Katy Freeway

Houston, Texas 77024
MAP

Photographs

ALL Candidates are requested to arrive at Houston’s First Baptist Church at 8:15am for the official graduation photograph.

Group Commencement Ceremony pictures and DVD information will be available after the ceremony at the CBS Bookstore. Individual photographs of candidates crossing the stage will be available for purchase online at: http://johnleechphotography.smugmug.com/Other/College-Of-Biblical-Studies/22009955_gHmWWW.

Graduation Regalia and Attire

Cap & Gown

Graduation Regalia are a requirement for all degree candidates in order to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Attire to be wore under regalia and for participating award candidates is as follows:

Male: White dress shirt, modest tie, dark slacks and/or suit jacket, and dark socks/shoes.
Female: Modest dark dress & dark shoes.

Graduation Fair

A CBS Graduation Fair event is held at the CBS bookstore during the spring of each year.  We encourage you to order your class rings, diploma frames at this time. Click here for more information.

If you are unable to attend the Grad Fair held in the spring, you will need to place your graduation regalia order through the Office of the Registrar. Graduation regalia will be shipped to the Office of the Registrar. Once you have been cleared to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, your Graduation Specialist will contact you to pick up your regalia.

Graduation Packages and Products

Visit www.everythinggraduation.com/cbs to preview graduation packages, or to place an order for announcements, diploma frames, rings or packages if you are unable to attend one of the graduation events.

Diplomas and Awards

Candidates will receive a diploma cover at the time of the Commencement Ceremony, but not the official diploma due to the conferral dates of December 30^th and May 30th. The official CBS diploma for May graduates will be available for pick up at the Office of the Registrar within   3 to 4 weeks after the degree conferral date. Your assigned Graduation Specialist will contact you when diplomas and certificates are available for pick up.

****PLEASE NOTE****
All CBS financial obligations (Student Financial Services and Library) must be cleared in order for the official certificate, diploma and transcript with degree posting to be released.

Do I need to apply to graduate?
Yes. An Intent to Graduate form is required.

Is there a charge for graduation?  

Yes. All degree and award candidates must pay a non-refundable $60 graduation fee. If you do not graduate or award in the term you have registered for, you must file a NEW Intent to Graduate form. Your student record will then be moved to the new degree conferral group applied for.

How long will the Commencement Ceremony last?

The Commencement Ceremony should last approximately two hours.

Why do award candidates sit to the right of the degree candidates?

In higher education, award candidates typically are not included within a formal Commencement Ceremony which gives honor only to degree candidates. However, CBS wishes to give special tribute to our award candidates as well by allowing them to participate in the ceremony and walk the stage with the degree candidates. Hence, degree candidates will sit center stage of the sanctuary and award candidates will sit to their right.

Who is this year’s Commencement Speaker?  

This is to be determined.

What is the Delta Epsilon Chi award?

It is the Honor Society of The Association for Biblical Higher Education. Its purpose is to encourage and recognize the top 7% of graduates from among the accredited institutions of the Association for Biblical Higher Education across North America who have distinguished themselves through intellectual achievement, Christian character and leadership ability.

Who will graduate with honors?

Honors recognition for the Commencement Ceremony is based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA) and will be given to degree candidates only. Associate of Biblical Studies (ABS) candidate honors will be listed as:

• Highest Honors 3.80-4.00
• High Honors 3.65-3.79
• Honors 3.50-3.64

A baccalaureate candidate GPA is based on the highest rating of baccalaureate cumulative GPA and CBS cumulative GPA. The bachelor’s degree candidate will graduate with the honors of:

• Summa cum laude 3.80 – 4.00
• Magna cum laude 3.65 – 3.79
• Cum laude 3.50 – 3.649

How do I order my Honor Cords?

Red honor cords will be given to ABS candidates, and gold honor cords will be given to baccalaureate candidates at the Commencement Ceremony. There is no need for a degree candidate to purchase honor cords, CBS will provide them to qualified candidates.

What do I do if I cannot attend Commencement?

Please notify your assigned Graduation Specialist as soon as possible.This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

When will I receive my diploma or certificate?

The official diploma or certificate will be available for student pick up at the Office of the Registrar within 3 to 4 weeks of the assigned degree conferral date. (See the Diplomas and Awards section in "Commencement Ceremony Information" above.) Your assigned Graduation Specialist will contact you when diplomas and certificates are available for pick up.