This Form Must
be Submitted
to Your Dean’s
Office for
Processing
LATE (PAPER) GRADUATION APPLICATION
(DEGREE CANDIDATES ONLY)
The paper application should only be used if you have missed the stated deadline.
The following form must be submitted directly to your Dean’s office. It should not be used for Certificate programs.
MARCH 15: for students completing degree requirements in the spring semester.
MARCH 15: for summer applicants who are eligible to “walk through.”
JULY 15:
for students completing degree requirements in the summer sessions.
NOVEMBER 15:
for students completing the degree requirements in the fall semester.
The graduation application is available for the current term through GWeb after registration opens, through the
s
tated deadline. Participation in the annual Commencement Ceremony held in May is open to students who have
applied to graduate in the current spring semester or who graduated in the preceding fall semester or summer session.
Doctoral candidates who have not been cleared by their school for graduation and successfully defended their
dissertations by the posted ETD deadlines may not participate in either the May Commencement or Hooding
ceremonies. For any details about the Commencement Ceremony held on the National Mall in May, please visit http://
commencement.gwu.edu or call the Office of University Events. Each individual school handles the details of their
specific ceremonies. Please direct any questions accordingly.
Walk Through Policy (Summer Applicants Only)
With the exception of doctoral candidates and only if there is a reasonable expectation that they will be able to obtain
the needed academic credit hours during the following summer, all students, graduate or undergraduate, who need
no more than 9 credit hours to complete their degree requirements may participate in the May Commencement
Ceremony. The maximum of 9 credit hours is not subject to petition. Summer applicants who have 9 or fewer credit
hours to complete and who wish to attend the preceding May ceremony must apply no later than March 15 and
indicate their preference to “walk through” in the appropriate section on their graduation application.
Degree Requirements
To be recommended by the faculty for graduation, a student must meet all degree requirements, as outlined in the
University Bulletin, and file an
Application for Graduation
by the published deadlines. Enrollment is required for the
semester or summer session in which your degree is to be conferred. All degree requirements must be completed by
the last day of final examinations for that semester or summer session. Doctoral candidates who have not been cleared
by their school for graduation and successfully defended their dissertations by the posted ETD deadlines may not
participate in either the May Commencement or Hooding Ceremonies.
Diploma Name
A student’s name of record includes the first name, middle initial or full middle name, and the family name. Nicknames
may not be used. The university will change the name of a currently enrolled student on its official record, but will
require satisfactory evidence of a legal basis for the change. The diploma is awarded under the official name of record
at the time of graduation and cannot be changed after degree awarding.
Diploma Mailing Information
Diplomas are mailed 8
–
12 weeks following the date of degree conferral, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Your school is responsible for clearing you for graduation. Once the Office of the Registrar receives your clearance
form, your degree will be awarded and your diploma will be ordered.
Diplomas will be mailed to the Diploma Address in our records. You are responsible for entering this address via the
GWeb Information System and for making any updates should they be necessary. Instructions are included on the
Application for Graduation
. You must enter this address BEFORE you submit your
Application for Graduation
to the
Dean’s office of your school.
If you have not received your diploma 8
–
12 weeks after your graduation date, check your GWeb transcript to see if
your degree was conferred. If it was conferred, you must report not receiving your diploma to the Graduation Services
Office within six months. After that time, you will be charged for a replacement diploma. You should also check to see
if you have any financial holds on your account. A diploma will only be sent if the amount of your balance is less than
$500. If your degree was not conferred, please check with your Dean’s Office.
Academic Regalia
The bookstore distributes regalia information via the Commencement website. Please visit
http://commencement.gwu.edu for more information.
Reg_1314_4