We plan to hold an in-person Spring 2021 Commencement on Saturday, May 1 at MetraPark. Out of an abundance of caution and for the health and safety of our graduates and their guests, two separate in-person commencement ceremonies will be held:

May 1 at 10 a.m.: Graduates from the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and graduates from City College

May 1 at 2 p.m.: Graduates from the College of Business, College of Education, and College of Health Professions and Science

IMPORTANT:

All graduates and attendees MUST wear a face covering at the commencement ceremony. Graduates will receive a special "Commencement" face mask.

All attendees must have a ticket to attend the commencement ceremony so we can track the number of attendees.  There are no limit to how many guests a graduate can have at commencement, but all guests will sit in their assigned seats. Tickets are available in even number sets, as they are designed to be seated in "pods" with distances from other groups. There is no charge for tickets. 

Tickets can be acquired starting at 10 a.m. on March 5 via the MetraPark website.

Visit the commencement webpage for more info.

MSUB graduate at commencement
Applying for Graduation

Graduation Application Due Dates

Summer Semester 2021 (not attending ceremony)

March 19, 2021

Fall Semester 2021

March 19, 2021 

Spring Semester 2022 Applications:

November 19, 2021

Summer Semester 2022 ( attending ceremony)

November 19, 2021

Graduation Application Instructions

Complete Application for Graduation Instructions

  1.  Type or hand write information required on appropriate graduation forms (links below).
    1. If you are majoring in more than one subject, please also submit “Application for Second Major”
    2. If you are earning a minor, or a minor is required for your degree program, please also submit “Application for a Minor”
    3. If you intend to earn two separate degrees, please submit one Application for Graduation for each degree you intend to earn upon graduation.
  2. Set up a meeting (well in advance) with your faculty advisor(s) to meet and finalize your Application for Graduation, Second Major or Minor (as applicable). Print off a copy of your DegreeWorks audit indicating all complete and/or in-progress coursework.
  3.  Go to the Business Office Cashier and pay the graduation application fee – non-refundable $50.00 (per degree)
  4. Bring Application for Degree, Second Major (if applicable), Minor (if applicable), copy of DegreeWorks audit and receipt from Business Office to the Registrar's office no later than the end of the 10th week of the semester PRIOR to the semester of completion.

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 software in order to open these files. 

MSU Billings Commencement Procedures 

TBA

Gowns (Apparel)

Please to go to: www.jackets-and-company.com, click on the GRADS tab and select GRADUATION REGALIA. Follow the ordering instructions on the Oak Hall web site. Your gown will be sent directly to you. Deadline to order online is April 9th, 2021. Gowns will be available at the Campus Store after April 1st. For more information call the Campus Store at 1-800-201-3794.

Name Card

You will receive a name card that you must prepare and hand to the “Reader of Names” on the stage. Please print your name clearly.*If your name is difficult to pronounce, please attach the Name Pronunciation form to your application for graduation.

Marching Order

Students will be sat by College in chairs on the Metra Park floor. Ushers will be available to facilitate this process. Please arrive during your assigned time window which will be sent out by April 16th.

Instructions

Stand for the National Anthem, the men will remove their caps. 
When the Dean of your respective college confers your degree, all graduates of that particular college will stand. When called forward to receive your diploma, the first row will remain standing. All others will be seated until the row coordinator indicates when you should proceed to the stage area. 

Please Note These Additional Details

Degree Conferral and Recording Timeline

Degrees are conferred three times per year at the official end of the term as determined by the Academic Calendar – April/May; August; December.  The review of applications for degree posting is manual and takes multiple weeks at the end of each term.  If you have a strict timeline for licensure or employment, please contact the Registrar’s Office (406-657-2158) in advance.

NOTE:  For summer degrees, due to multiple course end dates, degrees are still conferred once at the official end of the term and will reflect the August end of term date as the graduation date.  Please be advised that even if you complete courses sooner, degrees are conferred after final grading at the end of the term.  Please appropriately notify licensing agencies and employers.

Diploma

Diplomas will be mailed at the end of the next semester following your degree completion.  You will receive only a diploma cover during the Commencement Exercise.

Parking

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Photographs

Every graduate will be photographed by a professional photographer at the moment of receiving the diploma and also on the ramp exiting the stage.  A color proof will be mailed or emailed to the student with addresses provided on the reader card or application within 1-2 weeks.  Graduates are under no obligation to purchase photos.  You can view your photo at Lifetouch Special Events.

Should family members wish to take pictures, they may do so during or after the Commencement exercise.

Tassels

Tradition indicates that the tassel is worn on the left side of the mortar board (cap) after degree has been conferred.

Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees in College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Health Professions and Science: blue and gold tassels.

All colleges Master Degrees gold tassels.

City College at MSU Billings blue and white tassels.

Honor Cords

Gold Honor Cords Distinguishing GRADUATING SENIORS with a grade point average of 4.00, signifying “Summa Cum Laude.”

Gold and Silver Honor Cords Distinguishing GRADUATING SENIORS with a grade point average between 3.75 and 3.99, signifying “Magna Cum Laude.”

Silver Honor Cords Distinguishing GRADUATING SENIORS with a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.74, signifying “Cum Laude.”

Blue and White Honor Cords Distinguishing two year degrees and certificates with a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.74 (Honors), 3.75 to 4.00 (High Honors).

Questions? Send e-mail to: Registrar