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Graduation Procedures

• Master's Students
• PhD Students

Master's Students

Here are steps to follow during the semester you expect to graduate:

1. Enroll for a minimum of 1 graduate credit (audit not allowed). If you have met all academic and credit requirements, or if you have reached your thesis credit limit, you may enroll in course 888, "Candidate for Degree," if your program offers it. This course does not add to your credit total, apply to your degree, or affect your GPA. You are assessed the equivalent of one credit in fees and receive a grade of S.
2. Apply for graduation on PAWS by the second week of the semester (or the first week of June in the summer session). Click on "Apply for Graduation." Complete the Masters Graduation Application and submit electronically by the posted deadline.
3. Pay the non-refundable $40 graduation fee, billed by the Bursar's Office during the semester.
4. Follow the defense and thesis submission deadlines. Use the Thesis and Dissertation Formatting as a tool. Attend the Formatting Workshops (optional and no reservations or RSVP required) held each semester. Schedule a 15-minute appointment with Pat Magestro (pxm@uwm.edu, 229-2866) for a format check of your thesis draft.
5. Schedule an appointment to submit your final, signed, unbound copy of your thesis by the deadline date. You will receive a receipt from the Graduate School at time of submission.

6. Obtain commencement information at http://www.uwm.edu/commencement or through the Office of the Secretary of the University (secu@uwm.edu, 229-4163). Ceremonies are optional and are held in May and December; August graduates are invited to the December ceremony. You can order graduation regalia on the Web site as well.

   If you want your name to appear in the commencement booklet, be sure that your directory information with the University is not restricted. If you previously restricted the release of your address, phone number, and other limited information, visit the Department of Enrollment Services Information Center in Mellencamp 274 or fax a signed statement to (414) 229-6940 indicating that you wish to remove the restriction. Removal of the restriction will allow your directory information to be released for all publicity purposes, as well as the commencement booklet.

Review and Approval

The Graduate School reviews your record to ensure that you will have fulfilled degree requirements at the end of the current semester. Graduate School minimum graduation GPA requirement is a 3.0 (4.0 basis).

Your graduation application is then forwarded to your graduate program unit for its recommendation and approval. When your graduate program unit has reviewed and approved your application, it is returned to the Graduate School.

You cannot graduate with Incomplete, Not Reported, or Progress notations remaining on your record. Transcripts and diplomas cannot be released until Hold notations are cleared. The Graduate School has the final authorization to grant the degree.

If you do not graduate when anticipated, you must re-apply to graduate in the next semester. But a second graduation fee is not required.

Diploma

Diplomas and a copy of an official transcript will be mailed to your address listed on PAWS approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the official degree conferral date. Your name on your diploma will be printed exactly as it exists on your university records. Changes to your name must be made in Mellencamp 274 at least one month before graduation; a fee will be assessed for name changes requested after diplomas have been ordered.

If you have a hold on your record, you must clear it before these documents will be mailed.

PhD Students

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To graduate in the semester you applied for, you must meet these deadlines:

1. During the first two weeks of the semester: Submit the Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation to the Graduate School.
2. At least two weeks before the graduation ceremony date: Hold the dissertation defense.
3. By the published Graduate School dissertation submission deadline (one week before the ceremony date): The dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School. Contact Pat Hayes (hayes@uwm.edu or (414) 229-6263) to make an appointment. At this appointment, you pay the microfilm fee of $65.00 (required), and the copyright fee (optional), prior to submission of your dissertation. Procedure for payment of these fees:
   • Present the three copies of the "Refund of Disbursement" form to the Cashier, Mitchell Rm. 285, along with your payment.
   • Be sure all three copies are stamped PAID, or a receipt is attached.
   • The Cashier will keep one copy; one copy will be submitted with your dissertation; you will keep one copy.

If any of these deadlines are not met, you must apply and graduate in the next semester. You will not be required to register for the next semester if the dissertation has been defended, passed, and accepted by the Graduate School before the first day of classes for the next semester. The date of graduation, however, will be the next semester.

If you want your name to appear in the commencement bulletin, be sure that your directory information with the University is not restricted. If you restricted the release of your address, phone number, and other limited information, contact the Department of Enrollment Services Information Center, Mellencamp 274.

Graduation ceremonies are held in May and December. August graduates attend the December graduation ceremony.

About one month before graduation, all eligible degree candidates will receive a letter from the Secretary of the University's office containing the date, location, and time of the ceremony, as well as information on ordering caps and gowns. Caps and gowns are ordered online.