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Graduation Checklist

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Ready for Graduation?

If you plan to graduate within the next 12 months, it's time to apply! Check DegreeWorks and speak to your advisor to ensure you are ready to complete your graduation application.

Application Preferred Windows

Fall - The week of priority registration for the next fall term
Spring - The first week of classes for the fall term
Summer - The week of priority registration for the next summer term

*Applicants who submit graduation applications by the end of the preferred windows are guaranteed an audit of their application in time to make schedule changes, if necessary. Applicants who submit applications after the end of the preferred windows cannot be guaranteed to have an audit of their applications in time to make schedule changes, if necessary.

Graduation Checklist

In order to meet all graduation requirements, please complete the following:

  • Apply for Graduation - You and your advisor must fill out the Graduation Application Form. Your advisor will submit it to the Registrar's Office, and you will pay the graduation application fee to Student Accounts.
  • Pay Your Graduation Fee - Go to your student account summary within the Touchnet Payment Portal. The graduation fee code is GRAF. If your balance for GRAF is 0, you are good to go! If you don’t see GRAF, it has not been paid, and you need to get to Student Accounts and pay. Please do not send money to the Registrar, only Student Accounts can accept your payment.
  • Verify Your Mailing Address - Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date! Your diploma will be mailed directly to the mailing address in your RAIN account approximately six weeks after final grades are officially posted for your final semester. regardless if you walk or not. An email will be sent to your student email address when your diploma has been mailed out. You can update your address by completing and submitting the Address Change Form.
  • Complete All Graduation Requirements - Only students who have successfully met all graduation requirements are allowed to walk in commencement exercises. If you applied by the deadline, you will have notes on DegreeWorks indicating what requirements remain. Make sure you are registered for all remaining requirements and don't forget to study. You still have to pass those classes in order to graduate. If you do not see notes indicating what requirements remain for you to graduate, check your graduation application status.
  • Order Regalia - Sometimes we cut you some slack on deadlines but this one is not in our control. Unless you want to pay a late charge, make sure to order before Friday, November 1, 2024.

    The color of your hood (for master’s degrees) and tassel (for bachelor's degrees) represents your degree, so be sure to fill in the information correctly. Your cap, tassel, and hood (for master's degrees) are all included in your order. Regalia is only available by ordering online. To be certain you have the right regalia, please place your order at: https://colleges.herffjones.com/college/gsw/

    In addition to your regalia, personalized graduation announcements and other memorabilia can be ordered online from Herff Jones. Orders for announcements or accessories may be charged to a credit card or debit card and will be delivered directly to the address you provide.

    Students eligible for the Latin Honors who are walking in a graduation ceremony will receive medallion upon checking-in with the Registrar at the graduation ceremony. Students in groups with stoles and cords approved by Student Engagement and Success will need to order their stoles and cords through their group.
  • Resolve Any Outstanding Holds - Do not let that parking ticket or library fine keep you from getting your diploma on graduation day! Students with outstanding balances will not have a diploma mailed to them. All fees must be paid by the deadline or you will have to come back to campus at a later time to pay your balance and pick up your diploma.

Verify Your Application Has Been Received

Log into myGSW and navigate to DegreeWorks. In the student information section, you will see a box that says "Applied for Graduation". If the Registrar's Office has not received your application, it will be blank. Applying for graduation starts with your advisor, so that will be your next step. If your graduation application has been received in the Registrar's Office, but not yet reviewed you will see one of these codes, which just means we have the application and will review it soon:

 

Application Received Application Reviewed
AF = Applied for Fall graduation

CP = Complete Pending

This means you just need to successfully complete your remaining requirements and you will be walking across the stage. Congratulations!
AS = Applied for Spring graduation

RA = Reapply for Graduation

This means you are missing requirements needed to complete your degree and are not on track to graduate in the term for which you applied. If you think this is an error, you will need to speak with Jamie Lineberry in the Registrar's Office, jamie.lineberry@gsw.edu
AU = Applied for Summer graduation

Can I Still Walk?

If you are in your final semester and have failed 6 or fewer credit hours during that term, you will be allowed to walk in the graduation ceremony, given the following requirements are met:

  • You are an undergraduate student.
  • You must complete and submit the "Request to March in Graduation" form to the Registrar's Office by 9:00 am 30 days prior to the day of graduation.
  • Courses need to be completed within one year of the graduation ceremony you attended.
  • Please note, even though you are walking in the ceremony:
    1. You will not be recognized for academic honors or achievements during the ceremony.
    2. Your degree will not be posted to your record until the end of the semester your final course(s) are completed.