Commencement, Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), and Honors Reception
Frequently Asked Questions
2015
Commencement
When is it?
Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 8:00 am in Viejas Arena; Graduating students should plan to be in the L Lot
at 7:15am, but no later than 7:45 am and must have their RED ID cards or other form of picture ID
(Drivers license, military ID, etc…) to get in. The ceremony lasts approximately 2 hours.
Can I leave early?
No. Students are required to stay for the entire ceremony.
Will there be a rehearsal for students?
No.
How many guests can I bring?
The university gives each business graduating student 7 tickets. All guests (one year or older) need a
ticket to be admitted to Viejas Arena. Any other questions about seating or rules of arena need to call
Viejas Arena at 619 594-2682
Where do I get the tickets and my cap and gown?
At GradFest, March 24-26, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. taking place in Montezuma Hall. You
must present your RedID card or other form of picture ID (drivers license, military ID, etc to obtain
tickets. Please see the GradFest web site for more information: http://www.sdsubookstore.com/grad/.
What if I can’t attend GradFest?
Please call the GradFest phone line for more information on how to get your graduation items if you
cannot attend: (619) 594-7493. Also, please visit the www.sdsu.edu/commencement webpage to find
out how to pick up your guest tickets after GradFest. You have until Friday, May 8th at 4pm to pick
up your allotted number of tickets at the Viejas Ticket Office. For questions, please contact the ticket
office by calling (619) 594-2682.
What if I need more tickets?
IF there are remaining tickets, the Viejas Ticket Office will issue an additional two tickets to students
on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday, May 11. Please see this web page for more information:
www.sdsu.edu/commencement
Can I walk in the May 2015 ceremony even if I did not apply for December 2014, May 2015, or
August 2015 graduation?
The only way to walk in May if you did not apply for one of the above stated terms is to apply twice
for graduation: once in the semester in which you wish to walk and the other in the semester in
which you actually wish to graduate. This means paying the $55 fee twice.
What if I or one of my guests needs assistance at Commencement?
Disabled graduates, guests and senior citizens with mobility or hearing difficulties should contact
Student Disability Services by April 15, 2015 for mobility assistance or a sign-language interpreter.
For more information, contact SDS at (619) 594-6473 or http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/sds
Where do my guests and I park?
SDSU will provide complimentary parking for you and your guests during commencement
ceremonies. There will be signage posted directing commencement attendees to the closest parking
structures. PS 5 and PS 4 are the closest parking structures to Viejas Arena.
What activities are happening after the Commencement?
The College of Business is hosting receptions for all the majors at 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. Various
department chairs, faculty, and Deans will be present and refreshments will be served.
Where will they be held?
MGT/MKTG: Parma Payne Ballroom
FIN: Scripps Cottage
ACCTG/IS: Hall of Fame Athletic Building
What if I cannot make the ceremony? Can I watch it on television?
Each commencement ceremony will be streamed live at the SDSU homepage. View the
commencement schedule for the ceremony start time. College of Business, May 16, 2015 8:00 a.m
For more information, visit the university commencement page:
http://www.sdsu.edu/commencement .
Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS)
What is BGS?
BGS is a prestigious international honor society for Business students.
Who is eligible to join?
SDSU invites the top 10% of graduating seniors and the top 20% of graduating Master’s students in
the College of Business.
What was the GPA cut off for BGS this year?
Undergraduate seniors: 3.53
Graduate was: 3.68
How are students notified of eligibility?
Toward the middle of March, we will be sending out invitation packets to those students eligible for
BGS membership.
How do I join?
If invited, students interested in joining BGS should return the data and application forms included
with their invitation along with their membership check for $70. We will return these to BGS for
them. The deadline listed on their invitations is April 15, 2015. Students can join BGS at any time.
What about initiation?
Students who choose to join BGS are invited to attend the induction ceremony and Honors Reception
in May 15th at 5:00pm-7:00pm at San Diego Marriott Mission Valley 8757 Rio San Diego Drive, San
Diego, CA 92108.
What if I can’t make it to the induction ceremony?
Students are not required to attend the induction ceremony in order to become BGS members. Once
a student has turned in their response form and check and we send it to BGS, BGS will send, via email, them a Membership Data Profile link to complete. Once that is complete, he or she is a member.
What are the benefits of membership?
The College of Business will provide a certificate and BGS pin to each student who joins BGS. If
students wish to purchase additional regalia, they are welcome to do so from the BGS website.
BGS has a great website, so if students want more information about the organization, please direct
them to: www.betagammasigma.org or speak with Leviticus.
Honors Reception
When/Where is the Honors Reception?
May 15th at 5:00pm San Diego Marriott Mission Valley 8757 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA
92108.
Who can attend?
Invitations to the reception will be sent to students who are eligible to graduate in the following
categories: cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, distinction in the majors, University
Honors Program, College of Business Honors Program, Beta Gamma Sigma and outstanding
undergrad and graduate students. Note that eligibility for these categories was calculated as of Fall
2014. There may be some students on the list whose grades drop after Spring term and therefore, will
not have the honors listed on their diplomas. Likewise, there may be some students who do not now
appear eligible, but may raise their GPAs and qualify for some honors on their diplomas.
Can students in these categories bring guests?
Of course! Please let us know how many guests you will bring so that we plan to order enough food.
How do I RSVP?
Students will receive an invitation with a website link to visit to RSVP online.
What is the suggested attire for the reception?
We encourage students to wear regalia (cap and gown) to the reception.
What about the red tassels?
The College of Business provides red tassels to the following groups of students: cum laude, magna
cum laude, summa cum laude, distinction in the majors, university honors, and business honors only.
We will be sending information in April to those students on when/how to pick up their tassels.
What about honor cords?
Yellow Honor cords are provided by the Provost’s (Nancy Marlin) Office for students earning
Summa Cum Laude. Eligible students will be contacted by the Provost’s Office and will be asked to
pick up cords with ID in Provost’s Office in Manchester Hall, Room 3310 or call 619-594-6881.
What are the various honors categories and what do they mean?
Cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude: Also referred to as “Graduation with
honors”, these categories are determined by both the SDSU and Overall GPAs. BOTH GPAs
must be above the minimum threshold in order to be granted the honor as follows:
o Cum laude (3.50-3.64)
o Magna cum laude (3.65-3.79)
o Summa cum laude (3.80-4.00)
Students in all three categories will be invited to the Honors Reception and will be recognized
in the commencement program and as they walk across the stage at commencement. All three
groups will also receive red tassels.
Note that eligibility for these categories was calculated as of Fall 2014. There may be some students on
the list whose grades drop after Spring term and therefore, will not have the honors listed on their
diplomas. Likewise, there may be some students who do not now appear eligible, but may raise their
GPAs and qualify for some honors on their diplomas.
Distinction in the major: Each academic department has the option to choose to recognize
students that they feel have made extraordinary achievements in their majors. While the
selection is at the discretion of the department, the only students eligible for this category are
those that have a major GPA of at least 3.5 (regardless of the student’s cumulative GPA). These
students will be invited to the Honors Reception and will be recognized as they walk across
the stage during commencement. They will receive a red tassel.
University Honors Program: These are students that have completed the requirements for the
University Honors Program. These students will be invited to the Honors Reception and will
be recognized in the commencement program and as they walk across the stage. They will
receive a red tassel.
College of Business Honors Program: These are students that have completed requirements for
the College of Business Honors Program. These students will be invited to the Honors
Reception, where they will receive a special certificate from Carol Venable, and will be
recognized in the commencement program and as they walk across the stage. They will receive
a red tassel.
Outstanding Students: One student is selected by each CBA department as the Outstanding
Student in the department and then from these 5 students, one is selected as the overall
Outstanding Student for the College of Business. Each of these students names one professor
as their Most Influential Faculty member. These students are invited to sit on stage at
commencement, where they will be individually recognized. They will be listed in the
commencement program and will be invited to the Honors Reception, where they will receive
a special certificate. They will receive a red tassel and be recognized at commencement.
Beta Gamma Sigma: The top 10% of graduating seniors and the top 20% of graduating
Master’s students are invited to join this honor society. Please see more info on BGS above.
Students that elect to join BGS will be invited to an induction ceremony at the Honors
Reception. They will receive a BGS key pin and certificate of membership. Although BGS is a
prestigious achievement, it is something NOT recognized at commencement and these
students will NOT receive a red tassel.
Dean’s List: This recognizes students for achievement in an individual semester, rather than a
student’s cumulative academic success. Students are notified by the Dean’s Office after each
semester if they are eligible to be recognized by Interim Dean Singh for achievement (semester
GPA of at least 3.5). While this achievement is listed on the student’s transcript, it is NOT
something that is recognized at commencement or at the Honors reception. These students
will NOT receive a red tassel.
Who receives a red tassel?
Distinction in the majors, University Honors Program, Business Honors Program, Outstanding
Students, Latin honors (cum, magna, summa)
Who receives a cord?
Students with Summa Cum Laude. Eligible students will be contacted by the Provost’s Office and
will be asked to pick up cords with ID in Provost’s Office in Manchester Hall, Room 3310 or call
619-594-6881.
Miscellaneous
How will my degree appear & what to write for invitations?
Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts and Sciences
Business Administration
(Latin honors)
With Emphasis in _______
(With Distinction in Business Administration)
*Specializations will not appear on the degree or on transcripts.