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The following policy defines the requirements that must be met in order for students to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Clearance for participation in the Commencement Ceremony is through the Registrar’s Office.

There is one annual Commencement Ceremony held each May.  Eligibility to participate in the Commencement Ceremony is determined by the Registrar’s Office. Students who are registered for courses that will allow for the successful completion of academic programs in the spring semester, as certified by the Registrar’s Office, will be invited to the May Commencement Ceremony. Students who expect to complete their program requirements in August, and are determined to be eligible by the Registrar’s Office, will be invited to the May Commencement Ceremony. December graduates will be invited to the next May Commencement Ceremony.

May Program Completion:

Degree applications for students who anticipate program completion in May are due by October 15. Degree audits will be conducted during winter break by the Registrar’s Office and students will be notified of their status prior to the beginning of the spring semester via their Saint Rose email accounts. Students must be registered for, and participating in, the coursework that will allow them to complete their program requirements in the spring semester in order to participate in the May Commencement Ceremony.

Participation in the May Commencement Ceremony does not mean that a student has completed all requirements for his/her degree and/or certificate.   A final degree audit for each student is conducted after the ceremony, once all spring grades are received.  Degrees/certificates are then posted to student records.

August Program Completion:

Degree applications for students who anticipate program completion in August are due by February 15. The Registrar’s Office will determine applicants’ eligibility to participate in the May Commencement Ceremony based on remaining credits, outstanding requirements and potential summer course offerings. Both undergraduate and graduate students must be within 12 credits of program completion.  Graduate students in the School of Business who are a part of the trimester academic calendar, may have a maximum of 15 credits to complete in the summer.

The February 15 deadline is necessary to allow for time to review and notify students of their status, and to submit names for publication in the Commencement program.  The Commencement program is made in mid-March.

Approval to participate in the Commencement Ceremony does not guarantee the offering of the courses needed for program completion. Degree audits will be conducted during the summer by the Registrar’s Office and students will be notified of their degree status via their Saint Rose email accounts.

December Program Completion:

Degree applications for students who anticipate degree completion in December are due April 15. Degree audits will be conducted over the summer by the Registrar’s Office and students will be notified of their status prior to the beginning of the fall semester via their Saint Rose email accounts. Students who graduate in December will be invited to the next May Commencement Ceremony. In March, students who graduated in December will receive information for participation in the annual Commencement Ceremony via their Saint Rose email accounts.