Graduation

It's time to celebrate!

Before you go too wild, you have to do a few things to be on the graduation list, have your name in the graduation program, and receive your diploma on time.

Notification of Intent to Graduate

If you want to graduate, you have to notify the College of Business. You'll do it at the same time that you register for your final semester of classes through the student registration system.

If you don't do it by the 10th day of class, contact Phyllis Little, Associate Director of Records for the College of Business. Otherwise, your name won't be added to the pending degree list—and the date of your degree award and diploma will be delayed.

Completion of Degree Requirements

The university establishes a degree certification date following the completion of each term. If you're on the graduation list, you must complete all degree requirements— including requirements to formally announce your candidacy for a degree—by the degree certification date for that term.

How Your Degree Is Certified

The university establishes a degree certification date following the completion of each term. Students on the graduation list and others who wish to graduate at the end of a given term (for example, students who are completing make–up work or who are completing remaining requirements through non–residential enrollment) must have all degree requirements officially completed by the degree certification date for that term.

If You Miss Certification Deadlines

The College of Business and campus policy don't allow individual degrees to be retroactively awarded. Nor does the policy allow retroactive posting of additional majors, minors, or other academic curricular certifications to a degree that has been awarded. Students who confirm completion of outstanding degree requirements—including the requirement to formally announce their candidacy for the degree—after the official degree certification date for a particular term will have their names added to the next available graduation list. However, such students may request and receive a letter confirming their completion of all requirements for the degree and confirming the date upon which the degree will be awarded. (You can request the letter from the Business Undergraduate Affairs Office in 1055 BIF.)

Diploma

Your diploma will be mailed to your diploma address about 2 months after the official graduation date. Make sure your diploma address is updated in UI Integrate before you graduate!

If you're an off–campus student, notify the Office of Admissions and Records, 901 W. Illinois St., of any address updates.

Ceremonies

Ceremonies held by the college and university celebrate the achievements of graduation candidates. If you're within 13 hours of completing your degree, it's still possible to participate.

University Commencement

Commencement celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of students who've completed degrees in the past August and January, along with the candidates for May degrees.

Hosted by the President and Chancellor of the university, Commencement is held in the Assembly Hall and features a nationally or internationally renowned speaker. Here the students aren't recognized individually, but by college.

Tickets are required, so visit the Commencement at Illinois page in mid–February for more info.

College of Business Convocation

Convocation celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of students who've completed degrees in the past August and December, along with the current May candidates.

Hosted by the Dean of the College of Business, Convocation is held in the Assembly Hall and features one speaker, a member of the graduating class chosen by competition. Each student who attends is individually recognized by name, and he or she walks across the stage to receive a diploma cover from the Dean.

No tickets are required—all eligible participants and their parents receive an invitation and convocation information one month before the ceremony. Click to find out more about the College of Business Convocation Ceremony.

Attire

You must wear a cap and gown for all ceremonies. You can rent them online from Herff–Jones. Fitting times are scheduled in April for the May ceremonies.