Chapter 3
Matriculation to Graduation

3.20 Graduation

See also PRR regulation(s): REG 235.00.3.20, REG 02.45.3

 

  1. Official Graduation Periods
  2. Completion of Graduate Course of Study
  3. Holds on Graduation for Outstanding Degree Requirements

 

A. Official Graduation Periods

 

There are three official graduations per year for graduate students: at the end of the fall and spring semesters and at the end of the second summer session. Formal commencement exercises are held at the end of the fall and spring semesters, but any student who graduated the preceding second summer session is eligible to participate in the fall commencement exercises. All students scheduled to graduate in the fall or spring semesters are strongly encouraged to attend the respective commencement. Any doctoral candidate wishing to have the degree conferred in absentia must notify the Graduate School in writing; Master's candidates should contact their departments or programs.

Each semester the Graduate Dean receives requests from students or their families that students be allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies without having completed degree requirements or having met the appropriate deadlines for completion of requirements. The Administrative Board of the Graduate School reaffirms the Graduate School's regulation that the thesis defense deadline must be observed and all degree requirements met for a student to participate in the University commencement ceremony. [Recommended by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School on 4/13/89.]

 

B. Completion of Graduate Course of Study
[Approved by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School on 12/11/03]

 

For students in Ph.D./Ed.D. programs and in Master's programs requiring a thesis, the date of "completion of the course of study" depends upon (1) the date the student submits the thesis or dissertation with all required signatures to the Graduate School, and (2) the date the student receives final thesis or dissertation (T/D) approval by the Graduate School.

1. The date of completion of the course of study is Commencement Day for a given semester if

  1. the student submits the thesis or dissertation, signed by all advisory committee members, to the Graduate School for initial review on or after the first day of classes for a given semester but on or before the semester deadline for submission of theses or dissertations, and

  2. the student submits all required formatting revisions to the Graduate School and receives Graduate School approval on or before the last day of classes for the same semester.

    The student must register for the semester, and the degree will be awarded on Commencement Day of the semester.

2. The date of completion of the course of study is the last day of classes in the first summer session if

  1. the student submits the thesis or dissertation, signed by all advisory committee members, to the Graduate School for initial review on or after the first day of classes for the first summer session, and

  2. the student submits all required formatting revisions to the Graduate School and receives Graduate School approval on or before the last day of classes for the first summer session.

    The student must register for the first summer session and the degree will be awarded on the last day of final examinations of the second summer session.

3. The date of completion of the course of study is the last day of classes in the second summer session if

  1. the student submits the thesis or dissertation, signed by all advisory committee members, to the Graduate School for initial review on or after the first day of classes for the first summer session, but on or before the deadline for submission of theses or dissertations in the second summer session of the same year, and

  2. the student submits all required formatting revisions to the Graduate School and receives Graduate School approval on or before the last day of classes for the second summer session.

    The student must register for one of the two summer sessions and the degree will be awarded on the last day of final examinations for the second summer session.

The date of completion of the course of study is the date that the thesis or dissertation is approved by the Graduate School if the student submits the thesis or dissertation, signed by all advisory committee members, to the Graduate School after the deadline for submission of theses or dissertations in a given semester (or summer session), but before the first day of classes of the next semester or first summer session (whichever follows).

The student is not required to register during the next semester (or summer session) in order to graduate at the end of that semester (or second summer session). However, the student must be registered when the thesis or dissertation is first submitted to the Graduate School. In cases where the thesis or dissertation is submitted between semesters or between a semester and a summer session, the student must be registered in the immediately preceding semester or summer session.

Status of Graduate Students and their Degree Programs as a Function of when their Theses or Dissertations (T/D) are Submitted to the Graduate School and when they are Approved by the Graduate School

Fall 2008

ALL DEADLINES ARE AT 5:00 PM

Date T/D (signed by Advisory Committee) is Submitted to the Graduate School for Thesis Review

Date by which student must complete ALL final revisions to thesis/dissertation and receive approval by the Graduate School

Date Course of Study is Completed

Date Degree is Conferred

Is the Student Required to Register in Fall 2008?

Student's Status in Fall 2008

On or before 8/19/08(1)

On or before 12/5/08(5)

Date of Final Approval of T/D by the Graduate School

12/17/08(4)

No(7)

Non-student

On or before 8/19/08(1)

After 12/5/08(5)

See Spring 2009

See Spring 2009

No(7)

Non-student

8/20/08(2) to 11/7/08(3)

On or before 12/5/08(5)

12/17/08(4)

12/17/08(4)

Yes

Student

8/20/08(2) to 11/7/08(3)

After 12/5/08(5)

See Spring 2009

See Spring 2009

Yes

Student

After 11/7/08(3) but before 1/7/09(6)

See Spring 2009

See Spring 2009

See Spring 2009

Yes

Student

FOOTNOTES:
(1) Deadline for submission of theses or dissertations (signed by the Advisory Committee) to the Graduate School by candidates for Master’s and doctoral degrees in December 2008 in order to avoid registering for fall semester or paying tuition for Fall 2008
(2) First day of Classes for Fall 2008
(3) Deadline for submission of theses and dissertations (signed by the Advisory Committee) to the Graduate School by candidates for Master’s and doctoral degrees in December 2008
(4) Fall 2008 Commencement
(5) Last day of classes for Fall 2008 - Last day theses and dissertations may be approved by the Graduate School for the degree to be conferred in Fall 2008.
(6) First day of classes for Spring 2009
(7) While registration is not required in Fall 2008, the student must register if continuing from a Master’s degree to a doctoral degree. 

NOTE TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:  While international students who submit their T/D to the Graduate School on or before 8/19/08 are not required to register in Fall 2008 to graduate in December 2008, they must get final Graduate School approval of their T/D no later than September 3 (census day for the semester), otherwise their immigration status could be in serious jeopardy. International students must check with the Office of International Scholars for their completion deadlines. They must meet the earlier of the two deadlines.

NOTE: Dates are subject to change.

 

Status of Graduate Students and their Degree Programs as a Function of when their Theses or Dissertations (T/D) are Submitted to the Graduate School and when they are Approved by the Graduate School

Spring 2009

ALL DEADLINES ARE AT 5:00 PM

Date T/D (signed by Advisory Committee) is Submitted to the Graduate School for Thesis Review

Date by which student must complete ALL final revisions to thesis/dissertation and receive approval by the Graduate School

Date Course of Study is Completed

Date Degree is Conferred

Is the Student Required to Register in Spring 2009?

Student's Status in Spring 2009

On or before 1/6/09(1)

On or before 4/24/09(5)

Date of Final Approval of T/D by the Graduate School

5/9/09(4)

No(7)

Non-student

On or before 1/6/09(1)

After 4/24/09(5)

See Summer 2009

See Summer 2009

No(7)

Non-student

1/7/09(2) to 3/31/06(3)

On or before 4/24/096(5)

5/9/09(4)

5/9/09(4)

Yes

Student

1/7/09(2) to 3/27/09(3)

After 4/24/09(5)

See Summer 2009

See Summer 2009

Yes

Student

After 3/27/09(3) but before 5/15/09(6)

See Summer 2009

See Summer 2009

See Summer 2009

Yes

Student

FOOTNOTES:
(1) Deadline for submission of theses or dissertations (signed by the Advisory Committee) to the Graduate School by candidates for master's and doctoral degrees in May 2009 in order to avoid registering for spring semester or paying tuition for Spring 2009
(2) First day of Classes for Spring 2009
(3) Deadline for submission of theses and dissertations (signed by the Advisory Committee) to the Graduate School by candidates for master's and doctoral degrees in May 2009
(4) Spring 2009 Commencement
(5) Last day of classes for Spring 2009 - Last day theses and dissertations may be approved by the Graduate School for the degree to be conferred in Spring 2009
(6) First day of classes for Summer School 2009
(7) While registration is not required in Spring 2009, the student must register if continuing from a master's degree to a doctoral degree.

NOTE TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: While international students who submit their T/D to the Graduate School on or before 1/6/09 are not required to register in Spring 2009 to graduate in May 2009, they must get final Graduate School approval of their T/D no later than January 21 (census day for the semester), otherwise their immigration status could be in serious jeopardy. International students must check with the Office of International Scholars for their completion deadlines. They must meet the earlier of the two deadlines.

NOTE: Dates are subject to change.

 

Status of Graduate Students and their Degree Programs as a Function of when their Theses or Dissertations (T/D) are Submitted to the Graduate School and when they are Approved by the Graduate School

Summer Sessions (I and II) 2009

ALL DEADLINES ARE AT 5:00 PM

Date T/D (signed by Advisory Committee) is Submitted to the Graduate School for Thesis Review

Date by which student must complete ALL final revisions to thesis/dissertation and receive approval by the Graduate School

Date Course of Study is Completed

Date Degree is Conferred

Is the Student Required to Register in SS 2009?

Student's Status in SSI 2009

On or before 5/15/09(1)

On or before 8/7/09(5)

Date of Final Approval of T/D by the Graduate School

8/12/09(4)

No

Non-student

On or before 5/15/09(1)

After 8/7/09(5)

See Fall 2009

See Fall 2009

No

Non-student

5/18/09(2) to 7/10/09(3)

On or before 8/7/09(5)

8/12/09(4)

8/12/09(4)

Yes

Student

5/18/09(2) to 7/10/09(3)

After 8/7/09(5)

See Fall 2009

See Fall 2009

Yes

Student

After 7/10/09(3) but before 8/18/09(6)

See Fall 2009

See Fall 2009

See Fall 2009

Yes

Student

FOOTNOTES:
(1) Deadline for submission of theses or dissertations (signed by the Advisory Committee) to the Graduate School by candidates for master's and doctoral degrees in August 2009 in order to avoid registering for either summer session or paying tuition for Summer 2009
(2) First day of Classes for Summer Session I 2009
(3) Deadline for submission of theses and dissertations (signed by the Advisory Committee) to the Graduate School by candidates for master's and doctoral degrees in August 2009
(4) Degrees conferred for Summer 2009
(5) Last day of classes for the Second Summer Session of 2009 - Last day theses and dissertations may be approved by the Graduate School for the degree to be conferred in Summer 2009
(6) First day of classes for Fall 2009

NOTE: Dates are subject to change.

See also Academic Calendar for Graduate Students and ETD Deadlines.

 

C. Holds on Graduation for Outstanding Degree Requirements

 

Students who are on the graduation list but have outstanding requirements (incomplete grades, corrections in theses or dissertations, etc.) are put on "hold" for a period of 30 days following graduation. The DGP will be notified of this action by letter. If the student does not satisfy the outstanding requirements within 30 days following graduation, his or her name will be dropped from the graduation list. The student will be put back on the graduation list for the next graduation following completion of the requirements. If the student does not complete the outstanding requirements during the initial 30-day "hold" period, the semester or session in question will be applied toward the time-to-degree limit. If the time limit for the degree is exceeded before the requirements are met, the student must apply and receive a time extension before being cleared for graduation. [Recommended by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School on 10/22/92.]