I DONT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMENCEMENT. DO I STILL HAVE TO APPY FOR GRADUATION?
Yes. Your degree will not be posted and you will not receive a diploma if you do not apply for graduation. The graduate school has no way of knowing that your degree requirements are complete unless you submit a graduation application.
WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR GRADUATION?
You can apply for graduation online as early as 5 months in advance, or at any time (up until the posted deadlines) in person.
WHERE IS THE GRADUATION OFFICE?
The Graduation Office is located in the Enrollment Services Center, Room 222. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
I APPLIED ONLINE FOR GRADUATION, DID IT GO THROUGH?
After you have completed the on-line application for graduation review, please print a copy of the confirmation page as verification that you have completed the process. In the event that your application was not fully processed, your confirmation will be sufficient proof of application.
I APPLIED FOR GRADUATION REVIEW, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO DO?
You may want to schedule an appointment with your advisor or program director to be sure that you have completed all of your requirements. There are some things that may delay the process of clearing you for graduation; you should check your transcript for any of the following:
Program- are you listed in the correct program?
Incomplete or missing grades- contact your professor and/or program director if there is an I or an IP grade listed for any of your courses
Transfer credits- contact your program director if any transfer credits that you have earned do not appear on your transcript
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "GRADUATION REVIEW"?
Applying for graduation review does not guarantee that you will “graduate.” When you apply for graduation, you are actually submitting a request to have your records reviewed for completion of your program by both your program director and the graduate school. Your program director will submit a Clearance Form to us, stating whether or not your requirements are complete. The graduate school will then do a second review, and if all of your program and graduate school requirements are complete, your degree will be posted.
WHAT IF I'M NOT ELIGIBLE?
We suggest that you meet with your program advisor during your last semester to make sure that all your program requirements will be complete. If you are ineligible for graduation following our review, we will send you a letter indicating this. This letter will include a paper application for graduation. You must reapply for graduation in the semester you will finish your requirements. If you do not submit another application, the graduate school has no way of knowing that your requirements are complete.
I MISSED THE DEADLINE TO APPLY. CAN I STILL GRADUATE THIS SEMESTER?
Late graduation applications will be accepted for two weeks following the deadline on a case-by-case basis. After this time, you will need to apply for graduation for the following term. If needed, a verification letter can be prepared stating that you have completed all requirements for graduation and your degree will be awarded at the next scheduled graduation. Please contact the Graduation Office at 410-704-2095 with any inquiries.
HOW LONG DOES A VERIFICATION LETTER TAKE?
Obtaining a verification letter follows the same procedure as graduation clearance: your transcripts and a clearance form will be submitted to your program director for review. Once the form is returned to us, and indicates that all requirements are complete, we can issue a verification letter.
WHEN WILL MY DEGREE BE POSTED?
Degrees will be posted to your official transcript approximately 4-6 weeks after the end of the semester. Because of the winter break, degrees for fall graduates may take up to 8 weeks.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY DIPLOMA?
Diplomas will be ready for mailing (or pick-up) 8-10 weeks after graduation.
IS PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY REQUIRED?
No. Participation in the graduation ceremony is optional, and will not affect either your degree posting or the receipt of your diploma.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT COMMENCEMENT?
You will receive an email a few weeks after the graduation application deadline with information about the commencement ceremony. Be sure to check your Towson email account regularly for updates about the commencement schedule and procedures.
HOW DO I LET THE GRADUATE SCHOOL KNOW THAT I WANT TO WALK AT GRADUATION?
Because participation in the ceremony is optional, the University Store keeps track of those who want to participate in Commencement based on who orders caps and gowns. If you already have a cap and gown, you must contact the school store to have it approved, and also to let them know that you are participating. They will distribute tickets and a Commencement Information packet at cap-and-gown pickup several weeks before the ceremony.
WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO WALK?
You don’t need to do anything if you don’t want to walk; you can disregard the emails about Commencement. However, you should still check your Towson email account for information about degree posting and diploma distribution.
CAN I GET EXTRA TICKETS FOR THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY?
For more information about the availability of tickets for the ceremony please visit the Commencement website.
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
