Graduation

Applications and Final Clearances  
Marching in Commencement Ceremonies 
Graduation Ticket Information
Regalia Information
Change of Graduation Plans
Marching Without Completion
(Traditional) Commencement Schedule
Graduation Distinctions
Graduation Information Sheet
Degree Works

Graduation Deadlines

About Graduation

The culmination of your academic experience results in the Graduation process.  This includes the privilege and option of participating in commencement ceremonies.  The responsibility for meeting the requirements for graduation rests primarily upon the student.  These requirements are listed in detail within the Andrews University Bulletin.

Andrews University confers degrees three times a year, in May, August and December.  The university also holds degree awards programs, or commencements, twice a year on the main campus of Andrews University:  Spring (usually held in May), and Summer (usually held in July or August).  Students who complete their degree requirements by December of the previous semester are eligible to receive December conferral of their degrees and to participate in Spring Commencement services.

Commencement and graduation ceremonies are intended to recognize degree candidates and to celebrate their achievements. Students who are nearly completed with their degree requirements are also permitted to march/participate in the celebration within guidelines designed to maintain the integrity of the degree-awarding process (See Participation in Graduation Ceremonies below).  A list of graduates who have completed all requirements and received degrees for each commencement will be made public through a posting on the Andrews University website.

Marching / Participation in Commencement Ceremonies

Please note the following:  Participation refers to marching, not taking part in on-stage activities.  Graduate AND Undergraduate students have the privilege of marching (which is considered participation) in only one commencement ceremony after their time at Andrews. If you choose not to march when you leave Andrews, you do not have the option of marching at a later date.  Students MUST make sure they indicate correctly that they ARE participating in ceremonies.

If you are graduating in December, the only graduation/Commencement ceremony in which you have the privilege of participating in is the following May.  PLEASE NOTE:  There is no marching ceremony for the December Conferral of Degrees.

Candidates must meet the ALL Applications and Final Clearances to graduate and to march/participate in Commencement Ceremonies.

Candidates who are graduating with two degrees from separate schools must choose which school/degree they would like to represent.  Both degrees will be printed in the graduation program, but only that respective degree will be announced.  Candidates may not march a second time in a graduation ceremony for any dual degrees.
 

Regalia Information

Marching Without Completion

Marching without Completion applies only to students on the Andrews University main campus.  Candidates from affiliation and extension sites must complete all degree requirements and obtain clearance through the Affiliation and Extension Programs Office to participate in graduation ceremonies on the main campus.  Undergraduate students who wish to participate in commencement ceremonies who have not completed must fill out an Application to March in Graduation without Completion, which is available at Undergraduate Academic Records.  Graduate Applications to March in Graduation without Completion are available in Graduate Records.  Those who participate in a graduation ceremony before completing all degree requirements under the terms specified below will not have the option to participate for a second time when they complete their requirements.

The graduation program does not distinguish between those students who have actually completed all requirements and those who have not. All students authorized to participate will receive diploma covers, and all doctoral candidates will be hooded. However, for those who march without completion, diplomas will be issued and dated on the next official graduation or degree conferral date following completion of all degree requirements.  If the student is marching without completion in May, then their degree is conferred in August.  If the student is marching without completion in August, the degree will be conferred in December.

Requirements to March Without Completion:

UNDERGRADUATE

Upon submission of their Application for Graduation/Marching by the published deadline, students are authorized academically to participate in graduation ceremonies when they meet one of the following criteria:

Following registration for the term before a Spring or Summer graduation ceremony, they fall within one of the following categories:

• Undergraduate students who lack no more than 6 semester credits for degree completion and meet both overall and major GPA requirements. Credits lacking include I's, DG's and unregistered work.
• Undergraduate students who lack only completion of an unregistered practicum or internship or student teaching requirement which could be expected to be completed before the next graduation event.

Requirements to March Without Completion:

GRADUATE

Upon submission of their Application for Graduation/Marching by the published deadline, students are authorized academically to participate in graduation ceremonies when they meet one of the following criteria:

Following registration for the term before a Spring or Summer graduation ceremony, they fall within one of the following categories:

• Graduate students who lack only completion of an unregistered practicum or internship or student teaching requirement which could be expected to be completed before the next graduation event.
• Master of Divinity students who lack no more than 6 semester credits for degree completion, including practical field work courses. Credits lacking include I's, DG's and unregistered work.
• Master or Specialist students without a thesis or project option who have been advanced to degree candidacy, lack no more than 4 semester credits for completion and by the official deadlines have met all other graduate degree requirements, including passing comprehensive exams (if required in the program). Credits lacking include I's, DG's and unregistered work.
• Master or Specialist students with a thesis or project option who have completed all coursework, passed comprehensive exams (if required), and obtained approval of their thesis/project by the appropriate graduate committee, but have yet to file the thesis/project, as required. Notification of thesis/project approval must reach the Academic Records Office no later than ten days before graduation.
• Doctoral students who have completed all coursework, have met all graduate degree requirements, including passing comprehensive exams, and no later than four weeks before the graduation ceremony obtain approval of the appropriate graduate committee following successful defense of their dissertation/project (if required in the program), with one of the following results: "Accept the dissertation/project as defended" or "Accept the dissertation/project with minor revisions."
  • For candidates whose result is "Accept the dissertation/project with major revisions," written notification from their committee that they have made satisfactory revisions as required must reach the Academic Records Office no later than ten days before graduation.

Graduating in Absentia

Students are expected to participate in all of the services unless graduating in absentia.  At the time of application for graduation/marching, students who choose not to march must indicate that they are graduating in absentia. Those who complete all degree requirements and choose to graduate in absentia forfeit their right to participate in a later graduation ceremony.

Commencement Schedule*

For more information on the commencement schedul visit the graduation website.

Procedures for Participation in Graduation Ceremonies

Applications and Final Clearances

UNDERGRADUATE

• To apply for graduation, eligible undergraduate seniors must fill out an Undergraduate Graduation Application Form (this is a fillable PDF) and submit it to the Office of Academic Records, either via e-mail at ugrecords@andrews.edu or in hard copy to Room 202 (Administration Building).
• All students filing for December conferral and undergraduate students applying for graduation/marching in May must complete the graduation/marching application no later than the September date specified in the academic calendar. All graduate students applying for graduation/marching in May must complete the graduation/marching application no later than the January date specified in the academic calendar.
• Transcripts for transfer credit must reach the Academic Records Office a minimum of 15 days before graduation/degree conferral.
• All Incompletes and Deferred Grades in classes needed to complete degree requirements must be changed to a satisfactory grade in the Academic Records Office a minimum of 15 days before graduation/degree conferral.
• Students must receive financial clearance from the Student Financial Services Office to participate in graduation ceremonies or to receive a diploma.

GRADUATE

• Eligible graduate students must submit a Graduate Application for Graduation Form. This form should be submitted to and is available at the front desk of Academic Records.  This form will be accepted only when the Advancement to Candidacy form has been submitted (available online at the School of Graduate Studies).
• All students filing for December conferral must complete the Graduation/Marching application no later than the date specified in the academic calendar.  All graduate students applying for graduation/marching in May must complete the Graduation/Marching application no later than the date specified in the published Academic Calendar.
• Transcripts for transfer credit must reach the Academic Records Office a minimum of 15 days before graduation/degree conferral.
• All Incompletes and Deferred Grades in classes needed to complete degree requirements must be changed to a satisfactory grade in the Academic Records Office a minimum of 15 days before graduation/degree conferral.
• Students must receive financial clearance from the Student Financial Services Office to participate in graduation ceremonies and to receive a diploma.

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