| University Undergraduate Advising Handbook | |
At the start of the semester or session in which a student expects to satisfy University degree requirements, he/she should follow these graduation procedures.
Graceful Exit provides help for students as they transition from undergraduate status through graduation and on to the next phase of their lives. This site offers modules on Leaving Penn State, Consumer Debt, and Budgets.
Notifying the University
Diploma Distribution
Graduation at Alternate Campus
Registrar's Graduation Information
Students are responsible for notifying the University of their intent to graduate. At the beginning of the semester in which they will meet degree requirements and plan to graduate, they should notify the University by using the Graduating This Semester application on eLion.
The graduation activation period for a semester typically begins a week before the beginning of classes and continues for two weeks into the semester. During this period, students may determine if their college has added or removed them from the graduation candidate list for that semester, and they may enter their intent to graduate or remove their name from the list. After this period, students may check their status through eLion, but they must contact the appropriate dean's office to change their status.
The Graduating This Semester application on eLion also prompts students to review the complete names that will appear on their diplomas and provides instructions on changing or making corrections. In addition, it permits students to review their diploma mailing address and make revisions if necessary.
Spring semester graduates receive their diplomas at their colleges' commencement ceremonies. Students who do not attend the ceremonies automatically receive their diplomas by mail. The diplomas are sent to the diploma address, if any, or the permanent residence, at no charge, approximately three weeks after their commencement ceremonies.
Fall and summer graduates receive their diplomas by mail, at their diploma address, if any, or their permanent residence, at no cost, approximately three weeks following their commencement ceremonies.
GRADUATION AT ALTERNATE CAMPUS
Students may ask to attend commencement exercises at Penn State campuses not assigned to them. To make this request, the student should submit the appropriate alternate commencement site form, associate degree or baccalaureate degree, to the graduation coordinator in the college offering his/her major. Requests must be submitted before the eleventh week of the semester the student is graduating.
REGISTRAR'S GRADUATION INFORMATION
Detailed information on graduation procedures can be found on the Registrar's Web site.
The University may make changes in policies,
procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please
consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information.
This page is part of the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook, which is maintained by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, DUS@psu.edu.
Last Update: July 2009