✤Graduation vs. Commencement✤

 
Graduation (Office of the Registrar)      

• • Fulfillment Graduation is the fulfillment of academic requirements and the award of a degree/certificate placed on the official record (Transcript).      
  • 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
  • Image AddedDegree Programs: Students must submit a Graduation Application for the term they will complete all degree requirements. 
  •  

    Image AddedDouble Major or Dual Degree: Students pursuing more than one degree-seeking program must submit the online graduation application for EACH program.

  •  Image AddedCertificate Programs: Students must submit a Graduation Application for the term they will complete all certificate requirements.
    
    
•  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. 

2: Search and select "Student Academic Records".

3. Click the "Apply to Graduate" link.

4: Curriculum Selection:

•  The term shown may/or may not be your graduation term.
•  Select your "Current Program"
•  Click "Continue" 

5: Graduation Date Selection

•  Term of program  Image AddedDegree Programs: Students must submit a Graduation Application for the term they will complete all degree requirements. 
•  

  Image AddedDouble Major or Dual Degree: Students pursuing more than one degree-seeking program must submit the online graduation application for EACH program.

•  Image AddedCertificate Programs: Students must submit a Graduation Application for the term they will complete all certificate requirements.

Follow the instructions below for each program/certificate for which you are applying to graduate.

1: Log into MYUWF

2: Search and select "Student Academic Records".

3. Click the "Apply to Graduate" link.

4: Curriculum Selection:

•  The term shown may/or may not be your graduation term.
•  Select your "Current Program"
•  Click "Continue" 

5: Graduation Date Selection

•  Term of program completion. 
•  Select the Graduation Date (applications are only open for one term at a time). 
•  Click "Continue" 

6: Diploma Name Selection

•  Confirm your diploma name matches your Legal Name: Legal name will be displayed on your diploma. If your name has changed, a Student Data Change form will need to be submitted. Click Continue
•   Click "Continue" 

7: Address Selection

•  Graduation Application Mailing Address.
•  Please select State (Province) and Zip (Postal Code) or select Nation to proceed. Click Continue
•  Click "Continue" 

8: Summary Page

•  Review application term, major, minor (if applicable) and diploma name for accuracy.
•  Click "SUBMIT REQUEST"

8: Acknowledgement Page

Students in a certificate program must submit a graduation application for the term in which the student is completing their certificate requirements.

Follow the instructions below for each certificate program for which you are applying to graduate. Please note:

• Please note that certificates, when conferred are only listed on the official transcript. If a printed certificate is offered, it will be provided to you at the discretion of the Department offering the certificate program. Please check with the academic department that offers the certificate program to see if they issue any type of hard copy credential. 

• Students must contact the Certificate Program Advisor to initiate a declaration of certificate (at any level). The Advisor will initiate the electronic form and then it is passed to the student for acknowledgment. You can confirm that you have declared the certificate and see it listed in your curriculum by going to the Student Records menu and clicking "View Student Information." 

• To apply for graduation (completion) in a certificate program, students should submit the online graduation application following the steps outlined above. You will choose your certificate program from the list of curricula outlined in Step #4.Please note that certificates, when conferred are only listed on the official transcript. If a printed certificate is offered, it will be provided to you at the discretion of the Department offering the certificate program. Please check with the academic department that offers the certificate program to see if they issue any type of hard copy credential. 
• If you are unable to apply for completion of your certificate via the online application, please first confirm that you have declared the certificate and it is listed as part of your curriculum. You can view this information through your Student Records menu by clicking "View Student Information." If you have confirmed that the certificate has been declared and you still cannot submit the online application, please contact graduation@uwf.edu for assistance.