Catalog of Entry
The Graduate Catalog in effect at the time a student enrolls in a program will serve as the official guide to graduation requirements, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment and does not change programs.
If a student changes programs, the catalog in effect at the time of the program change will become the governing document for graduation requirements.
Students who are readmitted to the university will follow the catalog in effect at the time of their most recent readmission.
Any exceptions to program requirements must be approved by the student’s program director. The university reserves the right to modify course offerings and academic requirements at any time.
Degree Conferral and Commencement Ceremony
Degrees are conferred three times each year: Fall (December), Spring (May), and Summer (August).
Students must submit a graduation application by the published deadline for the semester in which they intend to have their degree conferred. Submission of the graduation application is required regardless of whether the student plans to participate in a commencement ceremony and is the responsibility of the student.
The university holds two commencement ceremonies annually:
- Fall commencement, held at the end of the semester in December
- Spring commencement, held at the end of the semester in May
Students graduating in the summer may choose to participate in either the fall or spring commencement ceremony.
Information regarding the graduation fee can be found in the “Special Purpose Fees and Service Charges” section and under “Other Fees.” The graduation application is available through the Penguin Portal.
Posthumous Degrees
A deceased student who was enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree program at the University at the time of his/her death may be recommended for a posthumous degree by a faculty member, department chair, or dean of the appropriate college or academic unit. A recommendation must be in writing and proceed, respectively, for approval as follows:
- faculty member to chair,
- chair to Dean,
- Dean to Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
The Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the Registrar if the recommendation is approved.
In order for a posthumous degree to be awarded, a student must be in good academic standing and have substantially completed the applicable degree requirements. Substantial completion means:
- For undergraduate degrees and master degrees without a thesis requirement, the student must be within one semester of completing all coursework and degree requirements.
- For doctoral programs and master degree programs with a thesis/dissertation requirement, the student must be within one semester of completing all coursework and degree requirements; and the student must have completed a full draft of his/her thesis/dissertation to the satisfaction of his/her thesis/dissertation chair.
If approved, the appropriate Dean will notify the immediate family of the student who may choose to have the diploma presented at commencement or in a private ceremony. If the diploma will be presented at commencement, it will occur at the next feasible commencement.
Diplomas for posthumous degrees will be identified as “Awarded Posthumously.”