Graduation

 

If you will finish your degree by the end of the Summer or Fall 2013 terms, you are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony for graduate students on Thursday, December 19, 2013, in the Skydome. 

All graduating students, family members, guests, and faculty of graduate students also are invited to attend the Graduate College Commencement Reception immediately following the ceremony in the du Bois Center Ballroom. See the university commencement website for more details. 

The application deadline for Summer 2013 graduation is June 7, 2013.  Missing the application deadline means your name will not appear in the December commencement program and possibly a delayed graduation date, so make it happen!

Applying for Graduation

You must file an application for graduation with the Graduate College in order to confirm that you have met all degree requirements. We encourage you to submit your application for graduation during the term before the one in which you expect to complete your degree requirements.

If you expect to complete degree requirements during the winter term, but wish to participate in the preceding fall commencement, you must submit your application for graduation by the fall term deadline. (Please be aware that participating in commencement does NOT guarantee that you will complete degree requirements or receive a diploma.) 

Application Forms and Deadlines

The graduation application form for a master’s or doctoral degree or for a graduate certificate must be:

• completed by you
• signed by you, your adviser, and your department chair
• received by the Graduate College by the date listed below:

Term Ending	Application Due in Graduate College
May 10, 2013	February 8, 2013
August 6, 2013	June 7, 2013
December 18, 2013	September 6, 2013

Please include the following documents when you submit your application:

• a current program of study
• an unofficial transcript

The graduation application must include all signatures and attachments and be submitted to the Graduate College by the date listed above to be considered complete.

Please allow six to eight weeks for the application process.

Changing an Approved Graduation Application

If you need to add, delete, or change items after your graduation application has been approved, you must complete and sign an Addendum form. Get the signature of your adviser, department chair, and the Graduate College, and then submit the form to the Graduate College.

Academic Recognition

At the time of graduation, if you have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher for all courses taken at Northern Arizona University on your plan of study, NAU will recognize you with the notation "with distinction" on your transcript.

More on Graduation Requirements and Policy

Cap and Gown for Master's and Doctoral Graduates

Cap, gown, hood, and announcement information can be obtained through the Bookstore.

Posting of Degrees

Degree Posted to Transcript

Your degree will not be posted to your transcript until all grades for the semester have been confirmed by the Office of the Registrar (usually two weeks after the date of graduation). It can take four to six weeks for the Office of the Registrar to post all degrees conferred that semester.

Rush Requests for Degree Posting

A rush means that, if all degree requirements have been met, your degree will be posted on the first day possible. You may request a rush by completing a Transcript Request form with the Office of the Registrar.

Verification Letters before your Degree is Conferred

If you have an approved graduation application on file, you may request a letter of verification indicating that:

• “Fulfillment of degree requirements is in progress”
• “All degree requirements are completed” (if you will have completed all coursework after Summer Session I, or are a statewide student finishing coursework mid-fall or mid-spring term)

We do not provide a letter stating that your degree has been conferred.

Include in your request:

• your name
• your degree program
• your NAU ID number
• the address and/or fax number you want the letter sent to
• your telephone number and mailing address

Submitting Your Request  

By mail:
The Graduate College
Box 4125
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4125

By e-mail 

Receiving Your Diploma

Every effort is made to mail diplomas four weeks from the date your degree was posted to the transcript. Any financial hold placed by the Student and Departmental Account Services office will prevent the mailing of your diploma. If you have not received your diploma within 60 days of your graduation date, please contact the Graduation Coordinator at 928-523-9636.