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Graduation Checklist

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Ready for Graduation?

If you plan to graduate within the next 12 months, it's time to apply! Check DegreeWorks and speak to your advisor to ensure you are ready to complete your graduation application.

Application Preferred Windows

Fall - The week of priority registration for the next fall term
Spring - The first week of classes for the fall term
Summer - The week of priority registration for the next summer term

*Applicants who submit graduation applications by the end of the preferred windows are guaranteed an audit of their application in time to make schedule changes, if necessary. Applicants who submit applications after the end of the preferred windows cannot be guaranteed to have an audit of their applications in time to make schedule changes, if necessary.

Graduation Checklist

In order to meet all graduation requirements, please complete the following:

  • Apply for Graduation - Submit the Graduation Application Form. Once your advisor has attached the necessary documentation, the form will be returned to you for a final signature. Make note of any outstanding requirements listed and plan accordingly.
  • Pay Your Graduation Fee - The graduation fee (GRAF) will be added to your student account prior to your final term of enrollment. Please visit your student account summary within the Touchnet Payment Portal to view and pay the fee. Students applying after the start of their final term will need to submit payment as soon as the registrar’s office has received the application.
  • Verify Your Mailing Address - Make sure your mailing address is up to date! All diplomas will be mailed directly to the mailing address in your RAIN account approximately six weeks after final grades are officially posted for your last semester. No diplomas are given out during the graduation ceremony.  Graduates will receive notification of diploma mailing by email through Parchment. You can update your address by submitting the Address Change Form.
  • Verify Your Diploma Name – Diplomas will be printed with the student’s name as listed in RAIN. If your name has been legally changed since admission to the university, or if you need to update a middle name or initial please submit the Change of Student Name Request before the last class day of your final semester.
  • Complete All Graduation Requirements - Only students who have successfully met all graduation requirements are allowed to walk in commencement exercises. If you applied by the deadline, you should find notes in DegreeWorks indicating what requirements remain. Make sure you are registered for all remaining requirements. Students who do not successfully complete all remaining requirements will be removed from the graduation list and required to reapply for a future term. If no graduation notes are listed in DegreeWorks, please check your application status and contact your academic advisor and the Office of the Registrar if needed.

  • Order Regalia - Sometimes we cut you some slack on deadlines, but this one is not in our control. Unless you want to pay a late charge, make sure to order regalia before the deadline. Fall 2025 Regalia Deadline Coming Soon!

    The color of your hood (for master’s degrees) and tassel (for bachelor's degrees) represent your degree, so be sure to fill in the information correctly. Your cap, tassel, and hood (for master's degrees) are all included in your order. Regalia is only available by ordering online. To be certain you have the right regalia, please place your order at: https://colleges.herffjones.com/college/gsw/.

    In addition to your regalia, personalized graduation announcements and other memorabilia can be ordered online from Herff Jones. Orders for announcements or accessories may be charged to a credit card or debit card and will be delivered directly to the address you provide.

    Students eligible for the Latin Honors who are walking in a graduation ceremony will receive medallion upon checking-in with the Registrar at the graduation ceremony. Students in groups with stoles and cords approved by Student Engagement and Success will need to order their stoles and cords through their group.
  • Resolve Any Outstanding Holds - Be sure to clear up any outstanding fines or holds prior during your final term at GSW.

Verify Your Application Has Been Received

Log into myGSW and navigate to DegreeWorks. In the student information section, you should see a bold "Applied for Graduation" heading with a status code. Please see the chart below for details regarding your status code. If the Registrar's Office has not received your application, the “Applied or Graduation” heading will not be visible.  Please submit an application for graduation or contact your academic advisor if your application has already been submitted through Dynamic Forms. Additional details regarding your status code are available in the Notes section of DegreeWorks.

 

Application Received

Application Reviewed

AF= Fall Application Received

CF= Anticipated Fall Completion

AS= Spring Application Received

CS= Anticipated Spring Completion

AU= Summer Application Received

CU= Anticipated Summer Completion

 

RA= Reapply for Graduation

Can I Still Walk?

Students with six or fewer credit hours remaining who are scheduled to complete the remaining requirements in summer may petition to participate in spring graduation exercises given the following requirements are met:

  • You must complete and submit the "Request to March in Graduation" form to the Registrar's Office no later than 30 days prior to the day of graduation.

  • Remaining courses must be scheduled for completion in the following summer term.
  • Students who are approved to participate in graduation exercises early agree to the following conditions:
    1. You will not be recognized for academic honors or achievements during the ceremony.
    2. Your degree will not be awarded until the end of the semester your final course(s) are completed.
    3. Your name will be included in the commencement program with an asterisk indicating participation in commencement prior to degree completion. Your name will also be listed in the following fall commencement program with all summer and fall graduates.

Students completing degree requirements in the fall or spring term should participate in the corresponding ceremony. Requests to participate in fall graduation exercises will not be approved for students completing degree requirements in the spring term.