Commencement Participation Policy

In order to participate in May Commencement exercises, students must complete all degree requirements of their programs and fulfill all financial obligations to the University. To participate in Commencement Exercises, students must file a declaration of intent to graduate online (through LOIS) and meet all appropriate time lines of the Commencement year.

Students who will complete their degree requirements by taking courses in the summer term may be eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony as a “March Only” candidate. Graduate students with no more than three (3) credits left to complete are automatically eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony provided that they submit a Declaration of Intent to Graduate form online for the upcoming October graduation by the May deadline. The Office of the University Registrar will audit the records of those students who have submitted the declaration of intent to graduate for the October conferral by the May deadline and will confirm eligibility for participation in the May commencement ceremony. Students who have more than the maximum number of credits left to complete (including incomplete grades not yet changed) will not be eligible to participate in the May commencement. In limited and special circumstances, a student may petition the Dean of their School for approval to participate in Commencement with a "March Only" status.

Please see the Registrar's web page for further information for graduating students.