Graduation Requirements

Policies  
Conferral of Degrees & Diplomas     Degree Candidacy & Completion     Degree Completion Time Limit     Diplomas     Graduation Fee     Petitioning to Graduate     Petitioning to Participate in Commencement before Completing Degree Requirements
 

Conferral of Degrees & Diplomas

The Office of the Registrar confers degrees three times each year, with graduation dates of August 31, December 31, and following completion of the spring term in May. Commencement Ceremonies take place once a year in May and are administered by Student Affairs.

Students who are conferred degrees in August or December are welcome to participate in commencement ceremonies the following May.

Students should review their degree audit before registration closes during their final semester to confirm they will complete their degree requirements by the conferral date for which they petitioned to graduate. The Office of the Registrar is available to answer questions concerning degree audits and degree completion.

The availability of diplomas for pick up or mailing varies by the time of year. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.

Degree Candidacy & Completion

Graduate Students

A graduate student’s progress within their discipline as well as their thesis proposal will be reviewed by a graduate committee upon reaching the midpoint of their program. The committee will formally determine a student’s eligibility as a degree candidate and if the student is ready to continue toward development and completion of the thesis or graduate project.

To be certified for a degree, a graduate student must:

• Submit a Petition to Graduate, with the Office of the Registrar
• Fulfill all degree requirements within degree completion time limit
• Satisfy the minimum residency requirements 
• Achieve a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA

Undergraduate Students

To be certified for a degree, an undergraduate student must:

• Submit a Petition to Graduate with the Office of the Registrar
• Fulfill all degree requirements within degree completion time limit
• Satisfy the minimum residency requirements 
• Achieve a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA

Two-year certificates are awarded only to students who are in residence and are matriculated in the certificate program.

Degree Completion Time Limit

Students who have not met the requirements for graduation within the time allotted may be subject to new degree requirements as determined by the School Director and the Office of the Registrar on a case-by-case basis.

Graduate

Undergraduate

Diplomas

The diploma is the official document, bearing the University seal, that attests to the conferral of a degree by the University.

Dimensions

Diplomas conferred by the University are 12 inches wide by 9 inches tall and are printed in landscape orientation.

Included on the Diploma

• Conferral date
• Degree
• Honors
• Signatures of University Officials including the Board of Trustee Chairperson, University President, and home college dean.
• Student name: Diplomas will be printed using the name provided when a student petitions to graduate.

Not included on the Diploma

Diplomas do not include a student’s major, minor, or concentration. This information is included on official University transcripts.

Graduation Fee

The graduation fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee applied to a student’s account after they petition to graduate.  The fee is assessed regardless of a student’s intent to participate in commencement.  See the tuition and fees  page for more details.

Petition to Graduate

The submission of a Petition to Graduate notifies to the Office of the Registrar that a student intends on having completed all requirements for their program upon completion of the term for which they petition. Petitions are submitted via the student’s MyUArts Record account during the final year of their study.

The petition notifies the Office of the Registrar of a student’s intention to graduate, how the student wishes their name to appear on their diploma, the address where the diploma should be posted if it is not collected from the Office of the Registrar, and the term for which a student expects to complete their degree requirements.

Meeting the requirements for graduation is the student’s responsibility. If a student fails to complete their degree requirements by the completion of the term for which they petition a new petition must be submitted. If a student needs to make a correction to a previously submitted petition they may complete a new petition via MyUArts Record, which will replace the previous instance.

Petitioning to Participate in Commencement before Completing Degree Requirements

The University recognizes there are extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control, which may affect a student’s ability to complete their degree requirements as anticipated. The Office of Student Affairs will consider petitions from students to participate in commencement exercises prior to the degree completion.

Students must meet the following requirements when petitioning:

• Have submitted a Petition to Graduate to the Office of the Registrar
• Have no outstanding major requirements
• Have no more than six outstanding credits
• Demonstrate proof of registration for all outstanding credits

To petition:

1. The student must submit a written request for an exception to commencement policy, including an explanation of the unusual circumstances supporting this request. Requests may be submitted via e-mail to the Office of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@uarts.edu.
2. The Assistant VP for Student Affairs, after considering the request, will make a determination and communicate the outcome to the student and the Office of the Registrar.
3. Appeals to the Assistant VP for Student Affairs’ decision may be submitted to the Office of the Provost at provost@uarts.edu.
4. The Provost or their designee will review the case and issue a final decision, which will be communicated to the student, the Assistant VP for Student Affairs, and the Registrar.