Graduation & Commencement

Students must apply for graduation BEFORE the start date of their final semester of classes. This applies to all students in all modalities. Traditional application deadlines and conferral dates have been eliminated and every student is now conferred on a monthly basis. If a student applies late, payment of an additional $50 late fee is required and the processing time will be extended.

Students who wish to participate in Commencement in May must have their applications submitted to the Graduation Office on or before January 9, 2011. If a student misses this deadline, the application will still be processed for graduation but the student will not be permitted to participate in any Commencement ceremony.

Students who will complete degree requirements in the summer and wish to participate in Commencement, MUST apply for graduation on or before January 20, 2012. If a student misses this deadline, the student will be processed only for graduation and will not be permitted to participate in any Commencement ceremony.

Students who will complete degree requirements in the summer and do not wish to participate in Commencement are required to apply for graduation prior to the start date of their final semester.

Degrees are generally conferred on the last day of the month in which the official end date falls of the last course required for graduation. Before a degree can be conferred, all program requirements must be completed; all grades must be submitted; and any transfer, training and testing credit must be complete and posted on the student's transcript.

If a student fails to complete the last course required for their degree on or before the official end date of the last degree requirement, the degree will be conferred on the last day of the month in which the student actually completes the course and the student will be required to submit a Change of Date form and pay the $100 Change of Date fee.

A grade of incomplete extends the official end date of the class by four months. An extension in an independent study class extends the official end date of the class by thirty days. Degrees cannot be conferred before the official end date of the last course or before the arrival of all transfer, training, and testing credit.

Students will be required to submit a Change of Date form and pay the $100 fee if the student does not complete all degree requirements on or before the last day of the month in which the student selected as the conferral term on the graduation application or the student will be voided.

Preparing for Commencement

Commencement is the Ceremony in which students walk across the stage and receive a diploma cover. It is a separate event from the actual Graduation process.

CLICK HERE for information about your steps to graduation and commencement.