Your Graduation Journey
May 2027 Commencement – May 8
Congratulations on reaching this exciting milestone! The Office of the Registrar is here to help you prepare for graduation.
Use this timeline to stay on track, meet important deadlines, and prepare for the Commencement Ceremony on May 8, 2027.
October 2026 | Start Planning
| October 1 |
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| October 16 |
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| October 19-23 |
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*Review your Degree Audit carefully and contact your academic advisor if you have questions about your remaining requirements.
November-December 2026 | Confirm Your Graduation Plan
- Review your Degree Audit regularly to monitor your progress.
- Meet with your academic advisor to confirm that your Spring 2027 schedule includes the courses needed to complete your degree.*
- Address outstanding requirements, transfer credit, substitutions, or other degree audit concerns as early as possible.
- Complete your graduation application if you have not already submitted it.
*Make sure you are registered for the courses needed to complete your degree requirements.
January 2027 | Finalize Your Plans
| January 11 |
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February 2027 | Graduation Application Deadline
| February 1 |
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Your action items:
- Submit your graduation application.
- Review your Degree Audit with your academic advisor.
- Confirm that all remaining requirements are accounted for in your academic plan.
- Monitor your Shepherd email for graduation-related communications.
March 2027 | Check Your Progress
- Continue attending and completing your Spring 2027 courses.
- Review your Degree Audit for outstanding requirements.
- Respond promptly to any questions or requests from the Office of the Registrar.
- Watch your Shepherd email for commencement, ticketing, and regalia information.
Do not assume that submitting a graduation application guarantees degree completion. You must satisfy all applicable graduation requirements.
April 2027 | Prepare for Commencement
Commencement ticket information is expected to be distributed online in late April. Eligible participants will receive instructions through their Shepherd email.
For undergraduate participants, the University’s published ticket policy provides an initial allotment of four guest tickets. Graduate participant ticket arrangements differ.
| April 23 |
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| April 26-30 |
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| April 30 |
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Your action items:
- Confirm your commencement participation plans.
- Follow the instructions for requesting guest tickets.
- Review cap-and-gown and regalia information.
- Confirm that your contact information is current.
- Check your Shepherd email for final instructions.
January–April 2027 | Graduation Preparation
The University will coordinate graduation-related arrangements with students and campus offices, including:
- Name pronunciation and ceremony preparation.
- Commencement ticketing information.
- Graduation announcements and publications.
- Academic regalia and cap-and-gown information.
- Diploma preparation and printing.
- Commencement website updates.
- Financial aid coordination, where applicable.
Additional instructions and deadlines will be communicated as they become available.
MAY 2027 | Graduation and Commencement
| May 3 |
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| May 5 |
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| May 8 |
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AFTER COMMENCEMENT | Final Degree Confirmation
- Participating in Commencement and officially earning your degree are related but separate processes.
- The Office of the Registrar must verify that all degree requirements have been satisfied before your degree can be officially awarded.
- If you have outstanding requirements, continue working with your academic advisor to determine the steps needed to complete your degree.
- Watch your Shepherd email for information about final degree processing, diplomas, and any remaining requirements.
Participation in Commencement (including ticket information)