Please review your catalog for specific degree requirements. University graduation requirements are also posted in the catalog and may be found at www.harding.edu/catalog.

By university policy, to be approved to walk in the May commencement ceremony, candidates must have all degree requirements completed by the date of commencement. As the only exception, candidates who will complete degree requirements by enrolling at Harding in their final class during the Harding Intersession term are allowed to participate. Students who complete their degree during Intersession, while they may participate in the May commencement ceremony, their degrees will be awarded after Intersession and they are considered summer graduates.

Students who complete degree requirements after May degrees are verified will participate in the December ceremony, with the exception of pharmacy students who complete degree requirements after May degrees are awarded, and they will participate in the next May ceremony. Similarly, students who complete degree requirements after the December degrees are checked and verified will participate in the upcoming May commencement ceremony.

Get professional 

Students will be able to visit a booth set up for resume building and interact with the variety of career services the university has to offer.

Get connected

The Office of Alumni Relations and Generation HU, the university’s young alumni program, will be set up with stations to meet students and begin relationships with them as they step into their new Harding roles as alumni.

Get swag

Students will have the opportunity to shop for a frame for their diplomas and pick up other various Harding apparel and souvenirs before they leave campus.

Get robed

This will also serve as the location for students to pick up their caps and gowns for commencement ceremonies.

Get excited

Grad Fest will not only provide one place for students to take care of their requirements before graduating, but it will also facilitate fun and excitement among graduates as they celebrate this milestone in their lives together. Throughout the event, we will encourage all students to participate in every opportunity involved in Grad Fest and celebrate their academic achievements as college graduates.

Harding uses an external vendor, Parchment, to provide access to your electronic diploma. Within two weeks of the awarding of your degree, you will receive an email from Parchment containing a link for viewing, downloading, and/or printing your electronic diploma. Receipt of this electronic diploma is the confirmation that your degree has been awarded. Your paper diploma will arrive a few weeks after the electronic version.

For students who are awarded a Bachelor's or Master's degree, the paper diploma size is 8.5" x 11".

For those who are awarded a Doctoral degree, the paper diploma size is 11" x 14".

After you receive your electronic diploma link from Parchment that indicates your degree is awarded, we recommend you order an official transcript from Harding. Have the transcript sent to yourself to keep on file with your other important documents. You will be asked many questions over your lifetime, when applying for employment and other professional opportunities, about your college classes and grades. Your transcript contains all the answers you will need. Having that document in your possession allows you to answer such questions quickly. There is a small fee for securing an official transcript that varies depending on delivery options.

If you were not able to pick up your cap and gown at Grad Fest, you can go online to harding.shopoakhalli.com and complete the ordering information. Beginning the week preceding the commencement ceremony, regalia may be picked up in the Harding Bookstore (HUB) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; and on Saturday morning beginning an hour before the first ceremony until 5:30 p.m.

If you pre-ordered a packet, it will be ready with your name on it. Be certain you get the correct color of tassel for your degree (see the section on Academic Regalia). If you were unable to order early, you should contact the HUB at 501-279-4351 with questions. The HUB will have a limited amount of regalia on hand and these gowns will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis thru graduation Saturday.

The Line of March and graduation instructions are available in the "Graduation Information" section above. If your name is on the list but you do not plan to attend, please notify graduation@harding.edu, or call 501-279-4328. If your name is not on the list but you do plan to attend, please notify the office.

There will be no rehearsal for the commencement ceremonies. Rather, students should enter the Benson with their tickets and be in their assigned seats at least 20 minutes prior to ceremony start time.