Graduation 101 Information Session

What is Graduation? When a student has successfully completed all coursework and requirements towards a degree from a university or college.

When can students graduate at Winthrop University? Students may officially graduate at Winthrop in May, August or December. During May and December graduation the University holds a Commencement Ceremony. All students that graduate in August are invited to attend the December ceremony.

STEPS TOWARDS GRADUATION

STEP 1: APPLY FOR GRADUATION

When should I apply for graduation? 35 to 37 hours remaining to complete your degree.

Graduation Date to Apply for? Apply to graduate during the semester before you anticipate completing your coursework. Application DEADLINES: Completed forms must be received in the Office of Records and Registration, 126 Tillman, by: • Apply by February 1st= August and December Graduation Apply by September 15th = May Graduation Application for Graduation filing fees: • Undergraduate $50 • Undergraduate $50 PLUS $25 Late fee after first established deadline • Undergraduate $50 PLUS $50 Late fee after established deadline during semester of anticipated graduation

Where do I apply for graduation? Office of Records & Registration 126 Tillman Hall

Go online and print out application.

Undergraduate Application for Graduation Diploma orders are based on the information provided on your application. Please make sure you list the "Name to appear on diploma" where listed.

Application is Processed…Graduation Status: TERM 20XX Application Filed A receipt of your graduation application will be noted at the GRADUATION STATUS of your Degree Works.

STEP 2: PRECLEAR REVIEW Our office completes a PRECLEAR REVIEW: Check all your completed coursework has been applied towards your degree correctly. Apply any substitutions and/or approved petitions. At this time we check to make sure your requirement for Cultural Events has been updated.

CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT Winthrop University’s Cultural Events requirement is required for graduation. It designed to help students develop to their full potential as well-educated and well-rounded individual. exposure to culture was an important part of a well-educated and well-rounded individual

CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT Must Completed By Graduation FRESHMAN: By graduation, each undergraduate student who began at Winthrop as a freshman is required to attend 3 cultural events for every 20 hours completed at Winthrop University, not to exceed 18 cultural events. TRANSFER STUDENTS: required to attend 3 cultural events for every 20 hours needed to reach 120 or 124 hours. For example, a student brings in 30 hours of accepted transfer credit = the students still has 94 hours to complete his/her degree. Student is required to complete 14 cultural events.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT 31 hours of credit is the minimum number of hours that must be earned for a degree at Winthrop = the minimum cultural event requirement is 4.

Transfer Student’s Cultural Events Adjusted

Completing Your Cultural Event Requirement On Campus Events: Students must be scanned coming in and out to receive credit. Must be on time. 1 minute late is too late to receive credit. Must stay until the end of the event. Any students leaving early will not receive credit.

Completing Your Cultural Event Requirement Off-Campus Events: Use the suggested Off-Campus list on our website. Students must still petition these events to the Cultural Events Committee to receive credit. You can assume you will receive credit when attending the suggested off-campus events, providing the proper proof and petition is done. Students can also attend events not on the suggested off-campus list. Students must petition these events attended to receive credit. These events are not guaranteed approval.

Cultural Event Petition Process How do I petition to receive credit for my Cultural Events? Print out and complete the Cultural Event petition form from Winthrop Cultural Events website. The petition must be accompanied: with a 1-page paper describing the event attended ticket stubs, brochures, pictures, etc. turn in petition to Catina Vinson, Cultural Events/Degree Progress Coordinator in 126 Tillman Hall

Once all Cultural Events are completed...

Once PRECLEAR REVIEW step is completed… EMAIL: You and your advisor receive an email from our office that a PRECLEAR REVIEW has been completed. DEGREE WORKS: A receipt of that PRECLEAR REVIEW is completed will be noted at the GRADUATION STATUS of your Degree Works.

PRECLEAR REVIEW Completed for TERM 20XX

STEP 3: GRADUATION TERM CHECK A Graduation Term Check will be completed during your final semester. **(i.e. if a student has not enrolled in courses still needed) or with any outstanding/pending issues (i.e. substitutions, transfer work, incomplete grades, etc.) will be notified by email. If you receive an email from our office regarding pending issues, please be sure to resolve your issue as quickly as possible.

Once GRAD TERM CHECK step is completed… EMAIL: You and your advisor will be emailed once the term check is completed.   Applicants with problems will also be notified by email. Please be sure to resolve your issue(s) as quickly as possible or let our office know you are working on the problem. DEGREE WORKS: A receipt that GRADUATION TERM CHECK is completed will be noted at the GRADUATION STATUS of your Degree Works.

Graduation Term Check Completed for Term 20XX

At the bottom of Degree Works once PRECLEAR REVIEW and GRAD TERM CHECKS are completed a NOTE is posted.

If you find our records do not agree with yours, IMPORTANT REMINDER If you find our records do not agree with yours, please visit or call the Office of Records & Registration for additional assistance.

STEP 4: CLEARING AND GRADUATION

Students will be cleared for graduation in the Fall and Spring semesters beginning the Thursday prior to the commencement ceremony. All August graduates will be cleared the day of graduation. You will be able to see that you have been cleared for graduation on Degree Works.

Cleared for graduation…..

LATIN HONORS Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude Graduating with honors? Any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average: of 3.50 to 3.74 shall be granted a diploma cum laude; 3.75 to 3.89 shall be granted a diploma magna cum laude; of 3.90 or higher shall be granted a diploma summa cum laude.

have both of the following: A student who has credits transferred from another institution to receive honors MUST: (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude), have both of the following: required grade-point average for all work taken at Winthrop required grade-point average on the combination of: Winthrop work PLUS all work taken at other institutions. Note: Coursework taken at other institutions cannot raise a graduate to a higher level of Academic Honors. Students who transfer to Winthrop must have the required GPA on all course work taken, including courses taken at other institutions, to qualify for graduation with honors.

CHECK LIFEGPA in Wingspan

Honors Recognition  Any undergraduate transfer students that complete their degree requirements with a final grade point average of 3.75 and earned a minimum of 48 quality hours (earned hours on a regular letter grade basis) at Winthrop University will receive Honors Recognition.

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO REMEMBER TO DO DURING YOUR LAST SEMESTER REVIEW COMMENCMENT WEBPAGE ATTEND GRAD FINALE- May 2017Degree Applicants Tuesday, February 28, 2017 10:00am-6:00 pm in DIGS- Bookstore COMPLETE SENIOR SURVEY

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY What is commencement? a beginning or start a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred on graduating students Winthrop’s Commencement

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES May 2017 Graduate Ceremony Is on May 4 at 7:00pm Two Undergraduate Ceremonies on May 6 10:00am College of Visual and Performing Arts and College of Arts and Sciences 3:00pm College of Business Administration and Richard W. Riley College of Education December 2017 One ceremony for both Graduate and Undergraduate – December 16 at 11am Invite both August and December graduates

CHECK IN AND LINE UP 9:30am to 10:30am for December Degree candidates should report to the check in area an hour and a half prior to the start of the ceremony. Check in with the table for your College Receive your reader card. Note your line up number. Do not lose or alter your card. If you graduate with Latin Honors or an Honors Program Degree, this will be noted on your card and you will receive a cord to wear. If your name is difficult to pronounce, you will be able to meet with the readers prior to the ceremony. 8:30am and 9:30am for the morning ceremony 1:30pm to 2:30pm for the afternoon ceremony 9:30am to 10:30am for December Line up in the hall according to the number on (ex. 101-L, 26-R) and color of your card.

PROCESSION The Procession will begin promptly 10 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please do not be late. The Procession will form two abreast in the following order: Platform party Faculty Degree Candidates Master’s degree (December only) Bachelor’s degree The procession will enter the arena down the center aisle. The degree candidates will split to the left and right outside aisles, respectively, upon reaching the stage and be directed to their seats by a marshal. Please do not leave empty seats. Members of the procession and all guests will remain standing until after the National Anthem has been sung.

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES In December, master’s degrees will be conferred first. Academic deans will present the degree candidates from their respective college to the Provost. Once all degrees are conferred, the President will then instruct graduates to move their tassels from the right front side to the left front side of the cap. Student Marshals will then direct the movement of bachelor’s degree recipients to the stage.

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES As graduates approach the stage, they should hold their reader cards in their left hands. Graduates will give their reader cards to the reader when they reach the top of the ramp leading onto the stage. When their name is announced, they will cross the stage, receive their diploma cover from their academic dean and shake hands with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the President.

FINAL PROCESSION After the singing of the Alma Mater, the platform party will leave first, followed by the faculty. After those groups, the Student Marshals will lead the graduates to pick up their diplomas.  

DIPLOMAS Pick up your diploma based on the first letter of your last name. You will not be able to pick up your diploma if you owe a balance to Winthrop or if we have not received your final transcripts from other schools. Double-check that your name is spelled correctly! If you do not attend commencement, you can pick up your diploma in Records and Registration beginning the Monday following the ceremony. Any diplomas not picked up after 2 weeks will be mailed to the graduate’s permanent address.

GUESTS Each degree candidate is asked to invite no more than eight guests to the ceremony. There are no tickets. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  We ask that you have your guests arrive early and be seated at least 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE If a degree candidate needs special assistance to participate in the commencement ceremony, they should contact Tina Vires, Program Director in the Office of Accessibility (Crawford First Floor). Seating will be designated for guests, including the elderly, who may need special assistance.

QUESTIONS? Maria D’Agostino, Associate Registrar Kara Traverse, Assistant Registrar Records and Registration 126 Tillman Hall recandreg@winthrop.edu (803) 323-2194