✤Graduation vs. Commencement✤

 
Graduation (Office of the Registrar)      

• • Fulfillment of academic requirements and the award of a degree on the official record.      
  • Students must submit an Application to Graduate for the term they will complete all degree requirements for their program.
  • All applications must be submitted during the application period. Specific dates are noted below and in the Academic Calendar. Students who miss the deadline should contact their academic department to determine eligibility and to request a late submission. Students submitting a late application risk not being included in the published commencement program.  
  • Apply to Graduate through the Student Academic Records Menu in MyUWF. 
  • Applying for graduation is completely separate from registering to attend the commencement ceremony. 

Commencement (Commencement Office) 

• • Students must RSVP to participate in the ceremony. 
  • Commencement is the celebration/ceremony where graduates walk dressed in academic regalia (cap and gown) to be congratulated by the university’s leadership and faculty. It does not mean you've officially graduated.  Only the Office of the Registrar can confirm your graduation status and issue your Transcript/Diploma.
  • Please note that students should RSVP to the ceremony in which they have an active graduation application on file.  If a student attends a ceremony in which they do not have an active graduation application on file their name will not be reflected within the Commencement Program nor will they receive important graduation communications.
  • Summer term graduation applicants have the option to choose to participate in either the Spring or Fall Commencement ceremonies. Students must RSVP to participate.
  • Students receiving an A.A. or certificate only do NOT participate in the commencement ceremony. The Commencement Ceremony is reserved for those obtaining a bachelor's or higher degree.

✤Graduation Checklist✤

•  Students Must Submit a Graduation Application:  Graduation eligibility is based on a fully complete Degree Works audit showing all requirements completed. Prior to completing a Graduation Application, students should consult with their academic advisors, check their Degree Audits, and reference the appropriate Academic Catalog to make sure all graduation requirements will be met prior to the graduation date. Applications for Graduation must be submitted for the term in which the student is completing their degree requirements for their program.   All applications must be submitted during the application period. Specific dates are noted in the Academic Calendar. Students who miss the deadline to apply must contact their academic department to determine eligibility and to request a late submission. Students submitting a late application risk not being included in the commencement program. View Graduation Application: For Instructions visit: Viewing a Graduation Application
  
  
•  RSVP to attend the Commencement Ceremony
  
  
•  Review Your Graduation Application For Accuracy  (Diploma Name, Major and minor if applicable). If middle name is on file we can add it. 
  
  
•  Review Your Record For Potential Holds Please review your record for possible Privacy or Financial Holds that may be on file. You may access this information by logging into your MYUWF.  
  
  
•  Awarding of Degree:  Awarding of your degree is contingent upon your degree audit indicating 100% complete, in addition to your record going through a final review to confirm completion of all requirements. Once your degree is awarded you will receive an email confirming the award within 24 hours. Your awarded degree will immediately be reflected on any transcript you order. 

•  Transcript: Please note that if you need to show immediate proof of education to employers or institutions, your official transcript is recommended. This is typically the preferred method when needing to verify degree completion.  Expedited shipping options are available for transcript orders at an additional cost. Please visit Ordering a Transcript for instructions. Note: If this is your first semester at UWF, please be sure to choose the "hold for grades" option when placing your transcript order or place your order after grades have been posted at the end of the term. Otherwise, your transcript will be mailed as requested when your order is placed without any grades posted.
  
  
•  UWF Email:  After graduating your ArgoNet account will be deleted or automatically downgraded to a limited-access MyUWF account after three (3) consecutive semesters of non-enrollment. For more information please visit Leaving UWF FAQs
  
  
•  Diploma: 
  
  
  • Recent graduates, please visit: UWF Diplomas (Recent Graduates)
    
    
  • Students earning their bachelor's degree or higher are issued a courtesy electronic diploma within 2-4 weeks following their degree award pending there are no holds preventing the diploma release.