Students graduating in May are allowed to walk in the May commencement ceremony.
Degrees will be awarded approximately 10 business days after final grades are due.

Forms Needed to Apply to Graduate

Prior to November 18, 2022: Master’s thesis and PhDs must submit an Advisor/Committee form
By no later than November 18, 2022: All graduate students must submit Degree Audit form
January 7, 2023: PhDs must submit Admission to Candidacy form 

EARLY CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES

Fall 2022 Registration Required; Spring 2023 Registration NOT Required

Application to Graduate: 

• A graduation application will be entered by the department processing the form based on the expected graduation date entered on the Degree Audit form.
• After the graduation date has been entered, students will be enrolled in a CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course.

Non-Thesis Master’s Students
January 16, 2023: Complete the CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course

Thesis & PhD Students
January 16, 2023: Complete Graduation Check-Out Course in CANVAS
January 16, 2023: Submit signed Thesis Defense Form to the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS)
-Thesis Defense Form is available only at the end of the 1st quiz in the Graduation Check-Out Course.
-Thesis Defense Form should only be signed after the student has defended, passed the defense and all revisions have been approved.
January 16, 2023: Upload content approved thesis in ProQuest (thesis students only)
–Only after you have completed all the steps above, will the format review begin.
January 20, 2023: Thesis Formatting Approval (Students must complete the CANVAS course. Use the Latex template on our website {do not create your own template})

STANDARD CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES

Spring 2023 Registration Required

Application to Graduate: 

• A graduation application will be entered based on the expected graduation date entered on the Degree Audit form.
• After the graduation date has been entered, students will be enrolled in a CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course.

Non-Thesis Master’s Students
April 17, 2023: Complete CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course

Thesis & PhD Students
April 17, 2023: Complete Graduation Check-Out Course in CANVAS
April 17, 2023: Submit signed Thesis Defense Form to OGS in person or via the Submit Form Button
-Thesis Defense Form is available only at the end of the 1st quiz in the Graduation Check-Out Course
-Thesis Defense Form should only be signed by advisor/committee after the student has defended, passed the defense and completed all revisions.
April 17, 2023: Upload content approved thesis in ProQuest
– Format of thesis should follow OGS guidelines.
– Formatting Checklist and templates available here.
– Only after you have completed all the steps above, will the format review begin.
– Respond to any format revisions requested by OGS.
April 26, 2023: Thesis Formatting Approval

There is no commencement ceremony in August – Students may walk in the December commencement ceremony (degree award date of August 18, 2023 will be on transcript).

Degree awarding process will occur approximately 10 business days after the August 18 award date.

All August Graduates (Early and Standard check-Out) must meet these deadlines:

Before March 1, 2023: Submit an Advisor/Committee form (Thesis based students)

March 1, 2023: Submit a Degree Audit form (All graduate students)

March 1, 2023: Submit an Admission to Candidacy form (PhDs only)

OGS will enroll the students in a CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course for the term they plan to graduate.

EARLY CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES

Spring registration required; Summer registration not required

Non-Thesis Master’s Students
May 5, 2023: Complete CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course

Thesis & PhD Students
May 5, 2023: Complete Graduation Check-Out Course in CANVAS
May 5, 2023: Submit signed Thesis Defense Form to OGS in person or via the Submit Form Button
-Thesis Defense Form is available only at the end of the 1st quiz in the Graduation Check-Out Course
-Thesis Defense Form should only be signed by advisor/committee after the student has defended, passed the defense and completed all revisions.
May 5, 2023: Upload content approved thesis in ProQuest
– Format of thesis should follow OGS guidelines.
– Formatting Checklist and templates available here.
– Only after you have completed all the steps above, will the format review begin.
– Respond to any format revisions requested by OGS.
May 16, 2023: Thesis Formatting Approval

STANDARD CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES

Summer registration required; Fall registration not required

Non-Thesis Master’s Students
August 18, 2023: Complete CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course

Thesis & PhD Students
August 18, 2023: Complete Graduation Check-Out Course in CANVAS
August 18, 2023: Submit signed Thesis Defense Form to OGS in person or via the Submit Form Button
-Thesis Defense Form is available only at the end of the 1st quiz in the Graduation Check-Out Course
-Thesis Defense Form should only be signed by advisor/committee after the student has defended, passed the defense and completed all revisions.
August 18, 2023: Upload content approved thesis in ProQuest
– Format of thesis should follow OGS guidelines.
– Formatting Checklist and templates available here.
– Only after you have completed all the steps above, will the format review begin.
– Respond to any format revisions requested by OGS.
August 31, 2023: Thesis Formatting Approval

Note: Early Check-Out for fall 2023 is not available given the extension of Standard Check-Out timeline for August 2023 (until August 31). Previously, Early Check-Out for fall ended on September 2nd.

Forms to Submit Prior to Applying to Graduate:

Prior to May 1, 2023: Master’s thesis and PhDs must submit Committee form  
May 1, 2023: All graduate students must submit Degree Audit form
PhD Only: August 22, 2023: All PhD students must submit Admission to Candidacy form 

• OGS will send an invite for the student to enroll in the CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course
• Degrees will be awarded approximately 10 business days after final grades are due.
• Students may walk in December commencement ceremony.

NOTE: FALL EARLY CHECK-OUT HAS BEEN MERGED WITH THE STANDARD CHECKOUT FOR AUGUST GRADUATION

DECEMBER CHECK-OUT CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES

Fall registration required

Non-Thesis Master’s Students
November 17, 2023: Complete CANVAS Graduation Check-Out Course

Thesis & PhD Students
November 17, 2023: Complete Graduation Check-Out Course in CANVAS
November 17, 2023: Submit signed Thesis Defense Form to OGS in person or via the Submit Form Button
-Thesis Defense Form is available only at the end of the 1st quiz in the Graduation Check-Out Course
-Thesis Defense Form should only be signed by advisor/committee after the student has defended, passed the defense and completed all revisions.
November 17, 2023: Upload content approved thesis in ProQuest
– Format of thesis should follow OGS guidelines.
– Formatting Checklist and templates available here.
– Only after you have completed all the steps above, will the format review begin.
– Respond to any format revisions requested by OGS.
November 28, 2023: Thesis Formatting Approval