✤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 a Graduation Application.
    • Students should apply for graduation for the term they will complete all degree requirements for their program. Applications for Graduation are submitted for the term in which the student is completing their degree requirements.  All applications must be submitted during the application period. Specific dates are noted 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 commencement program  Applying for graduation is completely separate from registering to attend the ceremony. Students must RSVP to participate in the ceremony.

Commencement (Commencement Office) 

    •  Applying for graduation is completely separate from registering to attend the ceremony.
    • 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 the diploma name will not be reflected within the Commencement Program nor will they receive important graduation communications.

Application Dates and Deadlines:

SUMMER 2023
  • Application Opens: February 6, 2023
  • Application Closes: June 4, 2023
FALL 2023
  • Application Opens: June 5, 2023 
  • Application Closes: September  17, 2023
SPRING 2024
  • Application Opens: September  18, 2023
  • Application Closes: February 4, 2024
    To determine the graduation application dates for a current or future term, please review the University Academic Dates & Deadlines. Graduation applications are submitted via the Student Academic Records Menu app in MyUWF. For additional information on dates and deadlines, please refer to the Academic Calendar. 


✤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.
  • 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. 
  • Diploma:  Students earning a bachelor's degree or higher will receive a courtesy electronic diploma at no cost approximately 2 weeks following the degree award. All financial holds must be cleared before the diploma will be released. A printed diploma is available for order by completing a Diploma Request in MyUWF. Please note that the fees are as follows: $10.00 diploma and $3.00 shipping fee.  Should you need assistance with accessing your MYUWF account you may contact the ITS HelpDesk at (850) 474-2075/ or helpdesk@uwf.edu Please allow 6-8 weeks for any printed diploma requests.
  • 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 ACCOUNT: Your UWF email will expire within three (3) semesters of degree completion. For more information please visit: Your ArgoNet Username and Password 


Instructions

Undergraduate, Master's, and Specialist Degrees


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

Double Major or Dual Degree

Students pursing more than one degree seeking program must submit the online graduation application for EACH program.

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

  • Students must declare any/all programs before they can apply to graduate in any/all of them; see Declaring or changing a major or certificate program for more information.
  • To graduate with more than one degree seeking program, the requirements for both programs must be completed by the graduation date (this does not apply to Certificates and/or AA degrees).
  • If requirements for all undergraduate programs will not be met by the graduation date, graduation should either be delayed until all requirements are met, or the program that will not be completed should be dropped. 
    • See Declaring or changing a major or certificate program for more information on removing a program. 
    • After graduation, if a student decides to continue pursuing a program that was previously dropped, they must reapply through the Office of Admissions as a second degree seeking student. 
      • Please see the Academic Catalog for more information regarding second degree seeking requirements.

Certificates

  • 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.

Specialist Degree

  • Ed.S: Candidates for a Specialist in Education, will have the graduation application request submitted via the department.
  • Please besure to confirm with your department that a request to create the EdS graduation application on your behalf has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
  • Applying for graduation is completely separate from registering to attend the ceremony. Students must RSVP to participate in the ceremony. 

Doctoral Degree

  • EdD: Candidates for a Doctoral Degree, EdD, should complete and submit the Doctoral Application for Graduation (paper or electronic form ONLY) to the Doctor Support Center in the College of Education and Professional Studies by the appropriate deadline.
  • PhD: Candidates for Ph.D. degrees may apply oline via MYUWF. 
  • Applying for graduation is completely separate from registering to attend the ceremony. Students must RSVP to participate in the ceremony.

Minors

  • There is no application for graduation for a minor(s).  
  • Minors are only awarded concurrently with a Bachelor's degree.
  • Students who have declared a minor and who have met all requirements for the minor by the graduation date, will automatically have the minor awarded at the point of degree conferral. 
  • If you have declared a minor(s), but will not meet the requirements by the graduation date, you must either postpone your graduation or remove your minor.
    • To remove your minor (you no longer wish to receive the minor), use the Change of Major form (linked above in the AA section, or see Declaring or changing a major or certificate program ) to remove/delete the minor(s).
    • To postpone/cancel your graduation application (to continue requirements for your minor/program), please notify graduation@uwf.edu or contact the Office of the Registrar for assistance.
  • Minors will not be awarded separately from the bachelor's degree. If the requirements for a declared minor have been met at the time the undergraduate degree is awarded, the minor will be awarded as well. Minors do not appear on the diploma, but are recorded on the academic transcript.

Honors

  • When discussing the GPA's used to determine Baccalaureate Honors, the Cumulative Institutional GPA refers to all courses taken at UWF. The Overall Cumulative GPA refers to all transfer coursework and institutional coursework combined.  You may also refer to the Academic Catalog regarding Baccalaureate Honors.  Honors designation is calculated based on the lower of the two GPA's: either the Cumulative Institutional GPA or the Overall Cumulative GPA.  Your GPA's are listed on your unofficial transcript viewable through your MyUWF account.
    The Graduate School does not recognize honors designations for Masters, Educational Specialist, and Doctoral students.

    • The University will confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students who have earned:

      -at least 25% of total degree hours of graded work at UWF (e.g. 30 hrs for a 120-hour degree plan)

      -at least a 3.5 institutional (UWF) GPA

      -at least a 3.5 overall (transfer and UWF) GPA

      -Baccalaureate Honors will be based on the lower of the two GPAs; either the cumulative institutional or overall cumulative GPA. The GPA calculation can be found on the unofficial transcript.

  • Second-degree candidates are eligible for baccalaureate honors recognition with the same requirements as first degree candidates.

    Minimum GPAs required for graduation honors
  • Honors indicated in the Commencement program will reflect a student's status at the beginning of their final semester as grades for the final semester will not have been earned yet. Should a student's honor status change after final grades post, the diploma will reflect the final honors status. 
  • Previous recognition on the President’s or Dean’s Honor Rolls does not ensure baccalaureate honors at graduation.

  • Honor cords may be purchased from the University Bookstore.

  • The Graduate School does not recognize honors designations for Masters, Educational Specialist, and Doctoral students. 

Associate of Arts (AA Degrees) 



FAQ's: Got Questions? We've Got Answers! 


Graduation eligibility is based on a fully complete Degree Works audit showing all requirements completed. We recommend Viewing Your Degree Works Audit and/or touching base with your academic advisor if you have any questions.  
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for graduation, and view important graduation dates, please see Applying for Graduation.
If you missed the deadline to apply online contact your academic advisor to verify your eligibility to graduate. Your advisor must submit a request to our office via JIRA requesting an application to be created on your behalf. When you contact your department, you must provide them with the following information to forward to our office so that your graduation application can be created manually:
    • Student ID number: (970......)
    • Name (as you wish it to appear on your diploma):
    • Term in which you wish to graduate:
    • Major(s)/Minor(s) you are applying to graduate in:
    • Application address:

  Advisors Only: Effective February 5, 2020 all requests to create, cancel or update a graduation application must be submitted via the Graduation JIRA Service Desk system.


Please note that diplomas reflect name, degree earned, major, honors (if applicable) and degree date. Minors and certificates are not listed on the diploma but are reflected on the Transcript. 

Digital Diploma: Students earning a bachelor's degree or higher will receive an electronic diploma at no cost. Electronic diplomas are issued 2-4 weeks following the degree award. All financial holds must be cleared before the diploma will be released. At this time we ask that you take a moment to review your graduation application in MyUWF to ensure that your Diploma Name is accurate and up to date.
  1. You may review your graduation application through the Student Academic Records Menu in MyUWF.
  2. If your diploma is issued with your name incorrectly displayed due to an error by UWF we will issue a free corrected replacement.  If your diploma name is incorrect at no fault of UWF please be aware that it will be necessary for you to submit a Diploma request through MyUWF to order and pay for a new diploma.
  3. View graduation application diploma name to ensure accuracy. See Viewing a Graduation Application.


Printed Diploma: A printed diploma is available for order by completing a Diploma Request in MyUWF. Please allow 4-6 weeks for any printed diploma requests. Visit Diploma Request for instructions.

Transcripts: Please visit Ordering a Transcript for instructions.
    • Please submit the request to cancel a graduation application to graduation@uwf.edu. 
    • If you apply for graduation but do not graduate, you must reapply for a future term. 
Students can view their awarded UWF degrees on their Unofficial Transcript.

Once your degree is posted in an awarded status to your official record; any transcripts you order will also reflect this information. You may confirm this by viewing your unofficial transcript in MyUWF. 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 instruction.
Viewing My Degree
Questions? Please email Graduation at graduation@uwf.edu

Applying for graduation is completely separate from registering to attend the ceremony. Students must RSVP to participate. The RSVP includes information for the reader card and photographers. For more information regarding the ceremony please visit the Commencement website.  To receive information regarding commencement regalia please contact the UWF Bookstore at www.bkstr.com. This is where you will find information pertaining to the details regarding cap and gowns and additional regalia.

For Commencement information, please refer to the Commencement Office website.   
Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements in order to be awarded your degree. Commencement is the symbolic ceremony at which your graduation is publically acknowledged and celebrated. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not equate to graduating.

Your UWF email will expire within three (3) semesters. Update your preferred email via MYUWF.

Be Ready! Access the Graduate Checklist for Commencement HERE.

For Commencement information, please refer to the Commencement Office website.
Be sure to review your Contact and Privacy Information in your MYUWF and make any necessary changes. *Your name CANNOT be printed in the Commencement program if you have a Privacy Restriction enabled on your account. Additionally, the university will NOT be permitted to verify your degree information to employers through the National Student Clearinghouse. 
To review your Contact and Privacy Information in MyUWF and to turn off the Withhold Directory Information option:
    1. Go to MyUWF.
    2. Search for and select Contact and Privacy Information.
    3. Under Directory Information, uncheck Withhold Directory Information.
    4. Select Save.
    5. Return to Contact and Privacy Information to confirm the Withhold Directory
           Information enabled box is NOT checked.
    6. Done! If you meet the deadline mentioned below your name will be published in the commencement program.
Questions? Please email Graduation at graduation@uwf.edu



Additional Dept./Student Support/Resources:

  • Graduation Guide
    • Be Ready!  The GRADUATION GUIDE is a resource for upcoming UWF graduates or alumni. It contains information on applying to graduate, commencement, awarding degrees, degree verify, etc.