Graduation Questions & Answers
Can I participate in the commencement ceremony if I won't be finishing all my requirements until next semester?
Maybe. The College Dean's office can tell you under what conditions you may be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony, even though you will complete the final course work and graduate the following semester. These conditions vary by college and most require you to be within a set number of credits from graduation.
If you meet the conditions of your college, follow these steps:
- Print Request to Walk Through Commencement form. You must attach this to your Application for Degree.
- Login to VandalWeb. Select Apply for Degree option under the Student Information/Registration Menu.
- Read the instructions carefully. When prompted to select the Semester of Graduation, select the semester that you will actually graduate (in other words, choose the semester that you will complete your final course work or other requirements). Click the Submit button.
- Print the Application for Degree form. Attach the Request to Walk Through Commencement form to the front of the application form.
- Complete the Graduating Senior Survey if you are an undergraduate student.
- Meet with your advisor or major professor to obtain the signature and approval of your Request to Walk Through Commencement form and your Application for Degree form.
- Turn in your application form(s) to your College Dean or College of Graduate Studies office. Important: To have your name appear in the commencement program you must have your Request to Walk Through Commencement form and your Application for Degree form turned in to your College Dean or College of Graduate Studies office by March 20 for Spring commencement and October 20 for Fall commencement. Your application process is not complete until the printed form(s) are received in the College Dean or College of Graduate Studies office.
- When commencement is over, your application for degree will be automatically forwarded to the next semester. Remember, your official date of graduation, recorded on your transcript and diploma, will be the semester in which you complete your final degree requirements.
If I am receiving two degrees do I need to file two applications and pay twice? What if I am getting two majors?
If you are receiving more than one degree, you will need to file a separate graduation application for each degree. Also, because you will be receiving a diploma for each degree, a separate fee applies to each application.
If you are receiving more than one major (with the same degree and college), you will need to file only one application. However, you will need to have the advisor for each major complete and sign your final checklist. Because you will be receiving one diploma with your majors listed on it, you will only need to pay the fee for one application.
If you are receiving more than one major (with the same degree but within different colleges), you will need to file a separate graduation application from each college for each major. Because you will be receiving a diploma from each college, a separate fee applies to each application.
Example of Double Degrees: B.S.Arch. and M.S.Arch. or B.S. and B.A.
Example of Double Majors: B.S.Bus. Majors-Finance & Accounting or B.S. Majors-Psychology & Sociology
Can I still graduate if I get an incomplete in a course?
You cannot graduate with an incomplete on your transcript. All work must be completed by the last day of the semester.
However, when an instructor submits an incomplete grade, they must also submit a reversion grade, which is the grade you earn if you do not complete any more work. If you receive a grade of incomplete and your reversion grade is high enough to satisfy your degree requirements, the Graduation Evaluators in the Registrar's Office will revert the incomplete grade and allow you to graduate. If your reversion grade is not high enough to satisfy your degree requirements, the Graduation Evaluators will send you a letter explaining why you did not graduate.
When do I need to have my Independent Study course finished?
All work must be received by the Independent Study office by the last day of the semester. However, it is best to submit all work before the last day to give your instructor adequate time to grade your work and submit a final grade. If the course you are taking is taught by an instructor from another school, you will need to order an official transcript from that school to be sent to the UI Registrar's Office as soon as the grade is posted to your transcript.
When will my transcript show that my degree has been granted?
If you need your transcript to show your degree right away, please order a transcript and request that it be mailed as soon as your degree is posted.
Once the semester has finished, grades are processed, and all requirements are verified as met, the Graduation Evaluators will first post degrees for students who have requested transcripts with their degree on it. After that, degrees are posted alphabetically. It usually takes the Graduation Evaluators 4-6 weeks to post degrees for all degree candidates.
Once your degree is posted to your transcript, you will be able to view your graduation information on your web transcript and your official transcript.
More information about Applying for Graduation. More information about Degree Auditing.