Graduation Requirements
The responsibility for meeting the requirements for graduation rests primarily upon the student. Students should acquaint themselves with the various requirements in this bulletin and, beginning with the freshman year, should plan their college courses to fulfill requirements.
Students who maintain continuous residence may meet the requirements in the bulletin current at the time of entry or any bulletin published during the time of residence. Students who have discontinued their residence longer than one year must meet the requirements in effect when they return.
Commencement
Commencement exercises are held annually in May, although diplomas are issued bearing August and December dates. Students who complete a program at the end of the spring semester will be expected to participate in the graduation exercises.
Exemption from participation in the annual exercises is granted only by the president. Graduates from the previous December are invited to participate. A fee will be charged to all graduates to cover the costs associated with graduation.
Academic Recognition at Graduation
Students graduating from Union College will be awarded their degrees with the following designations appropriate to the minimum cumulative grade-point average attained:
| Bachelor's Degrees | GPA |
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.90 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.75 |
| Cum Laude | 3.50 |
Prospective Summer Graduates Participation
Students who plan to complete requirements during the following summer may apply to participate in the graduation ceremonies as prospective summer graduates if the remaining requirements are limited to a practicum or six semester hours of coursework. Students must present documented evidence that the remaining requirements can reasonably be completed prior to the August graduation date. To encourage timely completion, a deposit of $200 will be charged to the student’s account, and refunded or applied to any unpaid Union College charges if all graduation requirements are completed and recorded in the Records Office by the August graduation date. If the degree is not completed on time, the deposit will be forfeited.