Students must remain enrolled until the end of the semester in which all degree requirements are completed. All degree requirements must be complete by posted deadlines in order to graduate in a given semester.
Obtaining Degree Certification
Provisional Certification
The Graduate School will issue a letter of provisional certification when requested by the student. The student must have completed all the requirements for an advanced degree, including submitting the thesis, dissertation, or report to the Graduate School. A provisional certification may be needed if an employer requires proof of degree completion well in advance of official certification of the degree. A provisional certification is generally not available for a coursework student, since all grades need to be submitted prior to awarding a degree. Contact the Graduate School for additional assistance.
Official Certification
The Board of Trustees receives and approves the list of degree recipients at its next regular meeting after the end of the semester. That meeting date is the conferral date for the degrees, but the effective date is the end of the semester in which the student finishes. After the end of the semester in which the student finishes, the degree awarded will appear on the student's transcript. Students may request an official transcript to obtain proof of their degree before receiving a diploma.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed approximately six weeks after the end of the semester a student completes their degree. Diplomas are sent to the address provided in the Graduation Application. Students should notify the Graduate School with any address changes prior to the end of their final semester. Contact the Registrar for information on requesting duplicate or replacement diplomas.
Final grades
Final grades are maintained by the University as a permanent record. Students who wish to receive an official record of their final grades may request a transcript from the Registrar's Office.
Participating in Commencement
Michigan Tech's commencement ceremonies are held at the end of fall and spring semesters. Commencement information is emailed to all eligible students about two months before the ceremony. Attendees receive a series of instructional emails throughout the semester. Students are expected to select the commencement ceremony they plan to attend and complete all requirements by posted deadlines.
All graduate students should submit the Graduation Application in one of their last two semesters, regardless of their commencement plans.
The Graduation Application is due to the Graduate School by the Friday of the 5th week of classes, by 4 p.m. in order to participate in commencement.
Pronunciation
As part of the Graduation Application, students will provide their name and pronunciation to be read as they cross the stage. Their name and pronunciation are printed on name cards and distributed to the students prior to the ceremony.
The Graduate School offers suggestions for formatting of name pronunciations and is willing to assist with names that may be more complicated to write phonetically in English. However, it is the student's responsibility to provide accurate, specific, pronunciation prior to their scheduled commencement. For questions or follow-up information about the name or pronunciation given, please contact the Graduate School.
PhD Hooding
For graduates completing their PhD, a faculty member they select will accompany them for the event, walking in with the graduate as part of the procession and presenting them with their hood on stage as part of the commencement ceremony. Students generally select their advisor(s) for this honor, though that is not a requirement.
The Dean of the College will assist in the hooding for each student, unless they elect a secondary faculty member in their initial application.
Faculty members participating in the ceremony will receive emails from the graduate school informing them of their obligations for the event.