Overview

Students graduating from a degree or certificate program in the summer are typically eligible to participate in the spring graduation ceremony that precedes their program completion date. This allows students to participate in the ceremony held closest to when they finish their program requirements.

In rare cases, a student who is eligible for the spring ceremony may be unable to attend. The Deferred Ceremony Participation procedure allows those students to participate instead in the fall (December) graduation ceremony, which takes place several months after their summer program completion.

Eligibility

Students requesting deferred graduation ceremony participation must meet one of the following criteria:

  • They are enrolled in a program in which all required courses take place during the summer term. This may include several short-term certificate programs, such as Phlebotomy.
  • They are enrolled in a longer-term program but were unsure they would complete their graduation requirements by the end of the summer term.
    Note: Students in this situation must still apply for completion during the preceding spring semester. Email reminders will be sent to complete this process.
  • They received special permission from the Office of the Registrar to participate in the December ceremony.

Procedure

Students who meet one of the eligibility criteria must complete the following steps:

Step 1: Apply for Completion in Workday during the spring semester.

This step is not required for students enrolled in short-term certificate programs that take place only during the summer term (for example, a Phlebotomy certificate where courses run from June through July/August).

For step-by-step guidance regarding how to Apply for Completion, please visit the Apply for Graduation webpage.

Step 2: Complete the Deferred Ceremony Participation interest form.

Access the Deferred Ceremony Participation interest form.

Be sure to provide contact information that will still be valid several months after the summer term ends.

Step 3: Submit the attendance confirmation and regalia order form.

Student Life will contact you in October with information on how to access the form and the submission deadline. You will receive one phone call, one text message (if requested), and one email reminder.

Students who do not complete this procedure will not be eligible to participate in a future graduation ceremony.