ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø

Graduation Frequently Asked Questions

Review frequently asked questions about the Graduation Application.

Readiness for Graduation

To receive your degree from ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø, you must satisfactorily complete all the credit requirements of your academic program. Undergraduate students with at least 90 earned credits and Graduate students with at least 15 earned credits are considered candidates for graduation. As a candidate for graduation, the Office of the Registrar will check course records and details in your permanent student academic record to ensure all the degree requirements, minimum grade point averages, and enough total credits have been earned to award a degree. Each candidate will receive a Degree Works Verification Report to confirm that all program requirements have been completed. Address any discrepancies with your academic advisor to prevent a delay in conferring your degree.

Reasons That Will Delay Degree Verification

• Missing waiver/substitution forms
• Missing declaration of major or minor
• Unresolved incomplete or in-progress courses (missing grades)
• Missing final official transcripts (with grades) for courses taken off-campus (ex. study abroad, permission to register at another institution)

Please note: To determine what classes are needed to graduate, view your Degree Works report and make an appointment to meet with your advisor. Advisors have access to academic program worksheets and Degree Works, as well as individual academic histories, and can guide you towards the completion of program requirements.

Application for Graduation and Diploma

All candidates for graduation - Undergraduate students with at least 90 earned credits and Graduate students with at least 15 earned credits - are required to , which prompts the Office of the Registrar to conduct a final review and verification of academic records (described above). You will also be able to confirm how your name will be presented on the diploma, graduation date, program information, and diploma mailing address, among other items.

Please note:

• Students completing graduate programs with more than 30 required credits should only apply as they near completion (approximately two semesters prior) of their program.
• Those completing a combined degree program should apply for graduation after meeting the criteria for the undergraduate portion of the program and securing admission to the graduate program.
• Students who do not meet the criteria will not be permitted to apply for graduation. Students will not be able to submit multiple applications.
• The deadline schedule below ensures the updates are processed in a timely manner that coincides with your graduation term.
• The only changes to how your name will appear on your diploma that can be made without documentation is a legal middle name and special characters. For all other name requests, you must contact the Office of the Registrar and complete the General Change form.
• Submitting your Application for Graduation and Diploma does not guarantee that you are eligible to cross the stage at Commencement. To cross the stage at Commencement in May, 2024 students must have 12 or fewer credits left by the end of the Spring 2024 semester and complete those credits by the end of Summer 2024. Students are not eligible to cross the stage at Commencement 2024 if credits remain to be completed in Fall 2024.
• Students looking to attend Commencement will also need to Register to Attend and Request Tickets and . More information about the Commencement ceremonies can be found on the Commencement website.

Graduation Class Filing Dates for Application for Graduation and Diploma

• December 2024: October 11, 2024; Please file immediately
• May 2025: March 18, 2025
• August 2025: July 18, 2025

Note: All dates subject to change

Conferral Versus Commencement

The precise dates for conferral and Commencement are announced each year. Conferral is the process by which the University Registrar posts a notation of the degree awarded in the University's academic recordkeeping system. For most purposes the terms graduation and conferral of a degree are synonymous. The term Commencement refers to a ceremony, please see below.

Conferral of Degrees

Degrees are conferred upon members of the graduating class individually after the final grades are posted for the final degree requirements of each student’s academic program with one exception: priority is given to those with pending urgent transcript requests for licensing board examinations, employment-related matters, and professional certifications.

Please note: Grades cannot be changed after the conferral of a degree.

ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø is committed to conferring degrees within two weeks of the conferral date, provided that ALL outstanding grades and requirements have been submitted. The University confers degrees three times per year. The date of conferral that appears on the transcript coincides with the term in which the final grade was posted.

• May degree date: Last date of the Spring semester
• August degree date: Last date of the Summer 2 semester
• December degree date: Last date of the Fall semester

Commencement

The University has Commencement ceremonies in May of every year. Please visit the Commencement website to view details, including information on ticket distribution, award ceremonies and receptions, regalia, and instructions on how to plan and attend Commencement. August graduates can participate in the prior May ceremony and December graduates can participate in the following May ceremony.

To participate in Commencement, students must complete the following checklist:

• File an
• Register to Attend and Request Tickets for Commencement
• Order

Please note: Participation in Commencement ceremonies does not mean all degree requirements have been met.