Is your Student Graduating in December? Here's all the information you need!
Congratulations on your student's graduation! This is such an important and exciting milestone for the whole family, so we are here to ease your concerns, answer your questions, and help you support your student through the process!
Together with our amazing campus partners at the Office of the University Registrar, Student Accounts, Advising, and the Bookstore, we've put together a list of questions you might have and the answers to them:
1. How does my student apply for graduation and when is the deadline?
Students should submit an online graduation application via Patriot Web by the posted deadline for the semester in which they intend to graduate. For Fall 2023, students should apply by September 30. Process and deadlines are posted at https://registrar.gmu.edu/students/graduation/
2. After a graduation application is submitted, how does the application review process work?
Degree conferral is a manual process. Our Degree Compliance team reviews each graduation application at least twice, once during an initial review and again closer to the posted conferral date. During initial review, we flag any outstanding requirements noted in a student’s Degree Works evaluation (https://registrar.gmu.edu/students/degree-evaluation/degree-works/) Students then work with their academic advisor to resolve any outstanding issues. Students are given a 6-week grace period after the conferral date to resolve any issues preventing them from graduating. If there are still outstanding requirements after the 6-week deadline, the student must reapply to graduate in another semester.
3. Can my student still graduate if they have an outstanding tuition balance?
Yes. They can walk at graduation, but they will not be able to get their diploma or final transcripts until the balance is paid in full.
3. What is the difference between University Commencement and College Degree Celebrations? And when are they scheduled?
Commencement is a graduation ceremony for every Mason student graduating in December and Degree Celebrations are smaller ceremonies held by each college within Mason (For example: the College of Public Health, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, etc...) Degree Celebration ceremonies are small enough to allow students to actually walk the stage rather than just standing to move their tassels like they do at Commencement. Winter Commencement will take place on Thursday, December 14th and Degree Celebrations have not yet been scheduled. Further details about both ceremonies, including tickets (required/not required, how many are given to students), and what time specific groups of graduates will walk across the stage, will be determined at the end of September. We will continue updating you all through the Mason Family Connection as we receive new information, but please also keep an eye on the graduation website https://www.gmu.edu/graduation !
4. My student has met the requirements of their major but not their minor. Can they graduate from their minor in a future term?
You cannot graduate from your minor in a different semester than your major. However, if you do not meet the requirements of your minor but you have fulfilled the requirements of your major, you may drop your minor and still be eligible for degree conferral. To drop a minor, you will need to work with your advisor to submit the appropriate paperwork.
5. What is the Grad Fair and when is it happening?
Grad Fair will be held on two days: October 1st and November 2nd, both from 10am to 6pm in Dewberry Hall (bottom floor of the Johnson Center on Fairfax Campus).
6. Is there a deadline for my student ordering regalia (cap & gown, stoles, cords, hoods, etc...)?
November 2nd (the second Grad Fair date) is the last day that the bookstore will take orders for purchasing custom PhD regalia orders. Students can still rent their doctoral robes after this point. There is no deadline for Bachelors or Masters students; these will be available in the bookstore up to the day of the ceremony.
7. If my student lives on campus do they have to move out before or after Graduation?
On-Campus students who are graduating in December should check their e-mail continuously and talk to their RA (Resident Assistant) for deadlines and things regarding move-out. Typically, graduating residents will need to move out by 6:00 pm on the day of their Commencement or Degree Celebration. If they need to stay on campus after that point, they can fill out an extended stay application. They will have to pay for any extended stay, but it is certainly an option that their RA can speak to them about!
8. When will my student receive their diploma?
Diplomas are mailed to students approximately 6-8 weeks after each conferral date. Once the order has been placed, students will receive an email from Parchment (our vendor), containing a link to their digital diploma. Students will receive an additional email from Parchment when their physical diploma is ready to ship. https://registrar.gmu.edu/students/graduation/diploma/
We will continue to post things in the Mason Family Connection as we get more updated information, but keep an eye on the Graduation website (https://www.gmu.edu/graduation) and reach out to us at families@gmu.edu if you have any questions!
