Graduation Ceremony Calendar and Deadlines

Graduation Ceremony Calendar and Deadlines

The table below includes the start and end date of each term and states which ceremony each graduating term is eligible to walk and which ceremony program booklet each graduating term will be listed. Deadlines for the Graduation Ceremony Participation Form are also listed below. Please note: the participation form is required only for graduates attending a ceremony. Graduates who are not attending a ceremony are not required to complete any forms in order to receive their diplomas. Diplomas are automatically mailed by the Registrar’s Office approximately 8 weeks after your final class is completed and all program and financial requirements are fulfilled.

Graduates wishing to attend a graduation ceremony must submit the Graduation Ceremony Participation Form by the above deadlines. Please click here to complete the participation form for the ceremony you would like to attend. The form must be completed a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the ceremony to attend.

*Eligibility to Walk in the Ceremony

Candidates may walk in the graduation ceremony as long as they have completed their degree or are in their last term at the time the ceremony takes place. All candidates eligible to walk in the graduation ceremony will have their name called as they cross the stage. Please note emphasis areas are not announced at the ceremony and are not listed in the graduation program. Participation in the ceremony is not a confirmation of graduation. To officially graduate, students must complete all program requirements as defined in the University Catalog. All requirements must be met and verified by the Registrar’s Office. Graduates are eligible to walk in any ceremony within one year after their graduation date.

†Graduation Ceremony Program Booklet Listing

Candidates graduating from the terms specified above will be listed in the stated program booklet, provided all academic obligations have been satisfied at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the ceremony. The final ceremony program booklet will be posted on the Graduation Archives.

Additionally, all candidates attending the graduation ceremony will be listed in the program booklet. Note: those who have not satisfied all academic obligations at least 6 weeks prior to the ceremony will not be recognized for academic honors in the program booklet.

Academic Honors

Academic honors are awarded to qualifying graduates receiving an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Academic honors will be listed on the diploma of eligible graduates. Please note master’s-level graduates and graduates receiving a certificate are not eligible for academic honors. Eligibility for academic honors is verified by the Registrar’s Office. For questions regarding your academic honors eligibility, please contact the Registrar’s Office at or call 312.777.6333 or 866.522.7747, extension 9-204-6333 (Toll Free). For more information about academic honors requirements, please see the Academic Honors and Honor Societies page.

Academic honor cords will be mailed to all eligible graduates who are attending the graduation ceremony with the graduation ticket packet approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to the ceremony. To be eligible to receive an academic honor cord for the ceremony, graduates must complete their final term and fulfill all program requirements at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the ceremony.

Note: Eligibility to receive an academic honor cord and be recognized for academic honors at the graduation ceremony corresponds with the ceremony program booklet in which the student’s graduating term will be listed. Final audits and cumulative GPA must be finalized prior to the ceremony date to be eligible for academic honors recognition at the ceremony. The Registrar’s Office has specific schedules for completing audits, and this process takes a minimum of 6 weeks following the end of the term. Please refer to the Graduation Ceremony Calendar above for specific term listings.

Honor Societies

Please note that academic honor cords and honor society cords are different. Honor society cords are ordered through the honor societies. For more information about academic honor cords and honor society cords, please see the Academic Honors and Honor Societies page on KU Campus.

Cancellation Policy

Ceremony cancellations or ceremony transfers must be received at at least 4 weeks prior to the ceremony date. An email will be sent by the Graduation Department within 5 business days of submission to confirm the cancellation has been processed. Cancellations or ceremony transfers received less than 4 weeks prior to the ceremony date will result in a nonrefundable fee of $125 charged to the graduating student’s account. Please note: the cancellation fee also applies to graduates who RSVP for the event but do not attend. All student accounts must have a zero balance before transcripts and/or diplomas can be released.

Updated 2010.10.22