Indiana University Bloomington holds all of its students in high esteem, and it takes an added measure of pride in those who demonstrate sustained academic excellence over time.
We confer upon undergraduates who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or higher, the designation of Founders Scholar. We honor Founders Scholars and other academically distinguished undergraduates at an annual event, the IU Bloomington Honors Convocation.
The 2023 IU Bloomington Honors Convocation will be held on Sunday, March 26, at 2 p.m. in the IU Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh Street, on the IU Bloomington Campus.
The program lasts approximately 60 minutes, and a reception will follow.
Invited students do not need tickets and may invite as many guests as they wish.
Accessibility
If you have accessibility needs, please call 812-855-5739 or email housemgr@indiana.edu.
Formal invitations to the Honors Convocation are mailed to each eligible student’s home address, along with a formal letter of commendation signed by President Pamela Whitten.
Email invitations are also sent to all eligible students. Invited students are asked to respond to the invitation on the online RSVP form.
Founders Scholars recieve individualized certificates recognizing their achievements, and programs that list their names.
To ensure that mailings reach the correct address and that names appear in the preferred way in Honors Convocation printed materials, Founders Scholars should do the following:
Review name and address information at Student Central.
Click on the Personal Information tab to confirm that your name is spelled and formatted correctly, and to confirm or update your home address. That’s where Honors Convocation materials are mailed.
To prevent Honors Convocation materials from being mailed, and to keep your name from being printed in the program booklet, you must place a Student Directory Restriction in the Student Information System (SIS). The Office of University Events cannot process these requests; students must submit them personally.
The most convenient parking option is for families and friends of honorees to leave their vehicles in the Poplars Garage or Atwater Garage at no cost and use the free shuttle service to and from the IU Auditorium. Other options are the pay parking lots at the Indiana Memorial Union and free parking in the East Garage, which is within walking distance of the Auditorium.
Guests with accessibility parking permits may use the limited number of parking spaces available at the Auditorium (around Showalter Fountain).
The Office of International Services (OIS) is available to help students whose family members need to apply for visas in order to attend Commencement exercises.
Step 1: Log in to Atlas on the OIS website
Log in to the secure server, and follow the links to Letter of Invitation. A notarized letter of invitation will be prepared for your family members.
Step 2: Pick up your notarized letter
You will receive an email when your notarized letter is ready. Any questions you have will be answered when you pick it up in the Office of International Services.
Step 3: Wait
Please allow sufficient time for your international guests to receive the letter and apply for a visa.
Honors Convocation is a formal ceremony, and the university officials and a small number of students who are seated onstage wear caps and gowns. Founders Scholars and their guests, who will be seated in the audience, are advised to wear business casual attire.
