Graduation

Broadcasting Commencement

APU may elect to broadcast and record the commencement ceremony. Graduation is a public event in which students, families, and the community are invited to participate. The information presented at graduation is considered directory information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act [FERPA]. If a student wishes not to participate in the ceremony due to the public nature of this event please contact the Registrar’s Office to determine if there are other suitable options.

Credit by Exam

A maximum of 45 semester hours may be earned through institutional examination (CE) or using approved standardized tests (DANTES,AP, ACE credit, etc.) and applied toward a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree, 22 semester hours may be applied toward the Associate of Arts degree. Only one-third of undergraduate certificate may be earned through alternative credit options. See Alternative Credit section in Academic Regulations for more information.

Dual Degrees/Second Degrees

Students wishing to apply for dual degrees (BA and BS) or earn a secondary bachelor’s/master’s degree please refer to the Dual Degree section in Academic Regulations  for more information on the process.

Graduation Communication

All information regarding graduation (application reminders, degree audits, and all graduation communications) will be directed only to the candidate’s APU email address. Graduating students are expected to check their email to remain informed about graduation. If a student has not seen any communications about graduation after applying, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation/Summer Degree Conferral Application

Students must apply for graduation/summer degree conferral as follows:

The graduation application is valid for only the specified semester. A new application and application fee must be resubmitted if the student does not graduate in the designated semester. All candidates for degrees must be approved by the faculty and the Board of Trustees. Late additions after the approval of the graduation list will not be accepted and will be moved to next semester.

Graduation Honors

Alaska Pacific University grants the following graduation honors to baccalaureate degree candidates. These designations are included on transcripts.

Honor GPAs are based on all college work attempted at Alaska Pacific University.

Residency Requirement for Graduation

Residency refers to the last credits taken in the degree.  For the associate level degree, the final 16 credit hours must be taken “in residence” at Alaska Pacific University. For the BA and BS degrees, the final 32 credit hours must be taken “in residence” at Alaska Pacific University. Students seeking undergraduate certificates the final 25% of the degree must be completed at Alaska Pacific University. Exceptions are handled by appeal to the Undergraduate Studies Committee using the Request for Special Consideration form.

Summer Degree Completion

In 2013, Alaska Pacific University opted to no longer hold summer graduation ceremony for students. Students are allowed to complete degree requirements normally offered during the summer semester. The graduation date reflects as the last day of the summer semester. Degree completion will be posted on the transcript after final grades have been received.

Summer completers will be provided the option to participate in Fall or the following Spring (not proceeding) graduation ceremony. Summer diplomas will be held to be presented at the graduation ceremony. Degrees will reflect the last day of summer semester for the completion date.

*PsyD summer degree candidates go to Counseling Psychology Graduate Studies Program . 

Graduation GPA Requirements

All graduates for associate, bachelor, or undergraduate certificates must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA to graduate. Programs can elect to have a higher cumulative GPA requirement. These additional requirements are noted under the major in the catalog.

Graduate programs (graduate certificates, master’s and doctorate’s) must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to graduate. Programs can elect to have a higher cumulative GPA requirement. These additional requirements are noted under the major in the catalog.