Graduation

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Application Deadlines
Certificate Completion
Commencement Packets (and Ceremony ticket information)
Degree Clearance
Diplomas
Participation in the Commencement Ceremony







Application Deadlines

Students planning to graduate at the end of the semester for which they are now registering must complete an Application for Graduation to declare their degree candidacy. Students must be registered for the semester or summer session immediately prior to the degree conferral date, and must complete all degree requirements by the last day of final examinations for that semester or summer session. Candidates for doctoral degrees may have earlier deadlines for completion of their degree requirements and should verify the submission date with their department. A complete application must be submitted to your Dean's Office no later than the date listed below, or on the first working day after that date.

Deadlines

  
  
  
  
If you are graduating in >>>>>>
Spring 2008
Summer 2008**
Fall 2008
Graduation applications are due in your Dean's Office by:
Feb 1, 2008*
July 1, 2008*
Oct 1, 2008*
Date of graduation printed on your diploma will be:
May 18, 2008
Aug 31, 2008
Jan 31, 2009
Diploma address changes must be processed by:
June 9, 2008
Sep 15, 2008
Feb 14, 2009
  
  
  
 

* There will be a $35.00 late fee assessed for any application received after these deadlines.

**
Summer graduates who elect to attend the preceding May ceremony must apply for graduation no later than February 1.

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Certificate Completion

Students planning to complete a certificate at the end of the semester for which they are now enrolled must complete a Certificate Completion Form to declare their candidacy. Students must be registered for the semester or summer session immediately prior to the certificate completion date, and must complete all requirements by the last day of final examinations for that semester or summer session. A completed certificate completion form must be submitted to your Program Director's Office no later than the date listed below, or on the first working day after that date. Students completing a certificate are not recognized at the university commencement and are not issued tickets to the ceremony.

Deadlines
  
  
  
  
If you are completing a certificate in:
Spring
Summer
Fall
Certificate completion forms are due to your Program Director's Office by:
April 1
July 1
December 1
  
  
  
 

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Commencement Packets (and Ceremony ticket information)


Information on Commencement Packet pick up can be found on the Commencement web site. Only students who have applied for graduation and indicated they will be attending the commencement ceremony, or students who have been awarded a degree and indicated they will attend the commencement ceremony will be issued Commencement Packets.  Please contact the Registrar’s Graduation Services Office or visit the Commencement web site for more information. You must present a valid identification card (e.g., GWorld card, driver’s license, passport) when picking up your Commencement Packet.

Students who graduated Summer 2007 or Fall 2007 will be mailed packets provided they have indicated they will attend the May 18, 2008 ceremony.

The availability of all Commencement materials cannot be guaranteed after April 25, 2008.

Note: The diploma is awarded only under the official name of record at the time of graduation.  If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar’s Graduation Services Office at (202) 242-6843, or email at diploma@gwu.edu.

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Degree Clearance

Each College/School is responsible for clearing its students for graduation. This may take anywhere from 6-10 weeks after the semester ends. If all your grades are not posted, please check with your instructor(s). If you require verification of graduation before your degree conferral date, please contact your Dean's Office.

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Diplomas

Once you have been cleared for graduation, the Office of the Registrar will order your diploma, which may take an additional 6-8 weeks after degree clearance. If the diploma address will change after you have graduated, you must contact the Office of the Registrar regarding an address change or go to GWeb to submit your change of address. If your diploma is sent to the address of record and the diploma is either returned or lost, there will be an additional fee(s) of $25.00 to re-send and $50.00 to replace your diploma.

If you have not received your diploma 8-12 weeks after your graduation date, check your online transcript on GWeb to see if your degree was conferred. If conferred, you must report to the Registrar’s Graduation Services Office within 6 months that you have not received your diploma. After that time period you will be charged the $50.00 diploma replacement fee. You should also check GWeb to see if you have any holds on your account. A diploma will not be mailed if there is a financial hold of $500.00 or more. If your degree was not conferred, please check with your Dean’s Office.
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Participation in the Commencement Ceremony

Participation in the annual commencement ceremony held in May is open to students who have applied to graduate in the current Spring semester, the preceding Fall semester, or the preceding Summer session. Students (graduate or undergraduate) who need no more than nine (9) credit hours to complete their degree requirements may participate in the preceding May commencement ceremony if there is a reasonable expectation that they will be able to obtain the needed credits during the following summer. The maximum of nine semester hours is firm and not subject to petition. Doctoral candidates who have not successfully defended their dissertation may not participate in either the May commencement or hooding ceremony. Summer graduates who elect to attend the preceding May ceremony must apply for graduation no later than February 1.

Note: Students who apply after the published deadlines are not guaranteed commencement materials and may not be listed in the commencement program.

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The George Washington University
Office of the Registrar
Updated April 4, 2008
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