Graduation
Preparing to Graduate
Did you know that you must APPLY to graduate? This website outlines the procedures you should follow.
You will be a graduate only after you have completed all degree requirements (see your advisor or Student Records) and have no financial obligations to the University. The degree designation (BS, MS, MPH, MHSA, or DrPH) may be used after your name only when you have completed all of your degree requirements. While degrees are awarded at the end of each semester, formal Commencement ceremonies occur only in May.
Application for Graduation Form: Information and Deadlines
Download the Application for Graduation Form. Submit this form to the Office of Student Records in Ross Hall Rm 222 by the deadline below to indicate that you plan to complete degree requirements in the applicable semester. When submitted in February, this form also indicates whether you plan to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Deadlines:
- February 1 If you will be completing degree requirements in the spring semester. Note that you should also submit this form by February 1 if you plan to graduate in the summer, but wish to participate in Commencement as a "walk through candidate" (see walk-through policy below, under "Eligibility to Participate in Commencement Ceremony").
- July 1 If you will be completing degree requirements in the summer sessions.
- October 1 If you will be completing degree requirements in the fall semester.
Please note that applications submitted after the deadline will incur a $35 late fee. This fee is non-negotiable.
The Application for Graduation Form:
- Notifies the Office of Student Records to begin your degree certification process. Student Records staff will review your academic record and verify that it is possible for you to complete the degree requirements by the end of the semester.
- Informs us of your plans to attend the annual spring Commencement Ceremony held in May. If you are not sure whether you will attend, we recommend you check the "yes" box, because your plans may change. Only those who check the "yes" box will receive details about participating in the ceremony.
- Ensures that your name will be correct in the Commencement Program and on your diploma.
- Notifies the University to assess the $100 graduation fee. This fee is charged to all graduating students and will be billed to your student account.
Please note that if you are unable to complete all degree requirements by the end of the semester, your application will be withdrawn and you must submit another Application for Graduation Form for the appropriate semester.You will not be charged another graduation fee.
The annual Commencement Ceremonies take place in May to commemorate the graduation of students from the University and the School of Public Health and Health Services. Please note that participation in Commencement does not confirm that you have been cleared for graduation!
Graduates are invited to attend two ceremonies:
- The SPHHS Commencement Ceremony ("SPHHS Celebration") will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 12pm. The School of Public Health and Health Services Celebration is an indoor ceremony. This ceremony consists of speeches from the SPHHS Dean, an invited guest, and students, as well as presentation of faculty awards. Each graduate is called to the stage to receive a scroll (the actual diploma is mailed later). A professional photographer takes your picture and a group photograph is taken as well.
Please Note: Students should arrive at 10am for class pictures and special instructions regarding the ceremony and the line-up for procession. Guests should arrive no later than 11:45pm. Faculty should arrive by 11:30am. Lisner Auditorium's doors will be closed at 11:55am for the procession to enter the auditorium. Doors will reopen once the procession has entered the auditorium.
- The University Commencement Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 16, 2010 on the National Mall (between 4th and 7th Streets, NW) rain or shine. (Emergency backup location is the MCI Center). This large ceremony consists of a processional, awards and prizes to faculty, conferral of honorary degrees, speakers (student speaker and major public figures), and the official conferral of degrees by the University President. Students' names are not called at this ceremony, nor do they walk across the stage.
Please Note: Students and guests should arrive promptly at 9am. The students should directly proceed to join the SPHHS group and line up behind the school's banner. The SPHHS banner will be located near the corner of Madison and 4th Streets. (The banner has a salmon colored stripe) The University Procession begins at 9:30 am. The Ceremony begins at 10 am.
Eligibility to Participate in Commencement Ceremonies
If you have applied to graduate in the current spring semester (2010), or if you graduated in fall 2009 or summer 2009, you are eligible to participate in the May 2010 Commencement Ceremonies.
In addition, according to the University's "Walk-Through Policy," you may participate in the spring Commencement Ceremonies if you are an undergraduate or master's-level student with:
- a reasonable expectation of completing your degree requirements during summer 2010; and
- you need no more than nine credit hours during summer 2010 to graduate,
The maximum of nine credits is a firm policy and not subject to petition or appeal. Doctoral candidates who have not successfully defended their dissertation by April 12, 2010, may not participate in either the May Commencement or Hooding Ceremony.
Tickets and Invitation Packets
After you submit your Application for Graduation Form, we will mail you an invitation to the SPHHS Commencement Ceremony and a reply card to indicate the number of tickets you would like to request. Please return this reply card to Ross Hall 202 by Monday, March 15, 2010. Because of the limited seating in Lisner Auditorium and the number of graduates participating, we can only guarantee a limited number of tickets. This year, each graduate is guaranteed 4 (four) tickets. If you would like (2) two extra tickets, you should indicate this on your response card and return the card in the response envelope as soon as possible. The wait list for (2) two additional tickets will be put in a lottery; our office will draw names and inform those who won two extra tickets. Please note that any remaining or returned tickets will be released by our office the week of May 10, 2010, and there are always a number of no-shows at an event of this magnitude. At Commencement, after the procession of graduates has finished, the staff of Lisner Auditorium will permit entry to guests without tickets as seats are available.
Ticket Packets
Ticket Packets will be available for pick up in Ross Hall Suite 202 from Monday, March 29th through Friday, April 23rd, 2010. In order for you to pick up your ticket packet, you will need to show evidence that you have completed the GW Graduate Student Survey. You will receive an email detailing how to take the Graduate Student Survey soon after applying for graduation. Once you completed the survey, make sure to print a copy of the confirmation page and bring it with you, when picking up your tickets. Please note that the survey will take a few minutes to complete.
Your ticket packet will contain tickets for BOTH the SPHHS and the University ceremonies. It will also contain a Guide to Commencement on the Mall that provides details about the ceremony, information about obtaining your cap and gown, and a parking pass for the SPHHS ceremony. Additionally, your packet will also contain six invitations to the University ceremony on the Mall (to send to your guests). Personalized invitations for the University Ceremony can be purchased from the GW Bookstore.
Please plan on picking up your ticket packet in Ross Hall 202. If you are on residency or no longer in the DC area, we will send them to you; to request mailing, please email Linda Diep at sphlxd@gwumc.edu with your name and address.
Regalia (Cap and Gown)
Caps and gowns worn by students at Commencement are available at the GW Bookstore in the lower level of the Marvin Center. Orders for caps & gowns and graduation announcements will be taken at the Colonial Connection in March. Details will be listed on the GWU bookstore website. Announcements and rings can be also be ordered at the GW Bookstore. Online orders can also be placed now by clicking on this link to the Bookstore homepage.
We recommend that you place your order now. REGALIA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT LISNER, NOR ON THE MALL. Graduates attending SPHHS Celebration on Saturday, May 15, are strongly encouraged to pick up their regalia no later than Thursday, May 13.
Printed Commencement Program – University and School Ceremonies
Your name will appear in the SPHHS Commencement Program if you have submitted your Application for Graduation by the deadline and have met the above-stated eligibility criteria. Your name will be listed alphabetically according to the semester your degree requirements were completed.
Honors Designations
Undergraduate Degree Candidates: The Latin Honors designation for undergraduate degree candidates is calculated on seven semesters of academic work completed at GW. Honors may be adjusted after your final grades have been calculated into your grade point average. Cum Laude is 3.4-3.59; Magna Cum Laude is 3.6 to 3.79; Summa Cum Laude is 3.8 to 4.0.
The Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health is the honorary society for graduate studies in public health. It celebrates excellent academic achievement, devotion to public health principles, and outstanding service in public health. To learn more, visit Delta Omega's website. Associate Dean Kathy Hunting will distribute information regarding the Delta Omega selection process via the SPHHS Listserv in late February.
Your diploma will be mailed to you about three months after your official date of graduation. If you are moving, please make sure that the Registrar's Office has your new address.
Your official transcript reflects the awarding of your degree and the date of your graduation and, therefore, can be issued to you only after your official graduation date. There are currently two ways to obtain a transcript.
- You may request a copy of your Official Transcript by submitting a Transcript Request Form along with appropriate payment to the Office of the Registrar, Rice Hall, 1st floor. Copies of the form are also available in the Registrar's Office.
- Transcripts may be ordered by mail by sending requests and appropriate payment (checks and money orders only) to the Office of the Registrar.
Office of the Registrar
The George Washington University
101 Rice Hall
2121 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: (202) 994-4900
Website: http://www.gwu.edu/~regweb/web-content/index.html
PLEASE NOTE: Official transcripts will NOT be issued if you have not met your financial obligations to the University. It is the policy of the University not to issue partial transcripts.
Please click here for additional information on requesting an official transcript, including the fee schedule.
To request an unofficial transcript, present a valid student ID card at the Registrar's Office. There is no charge for a single unofficial transcript obtained in person. If you request more than one transcript at a time, you will be charged $1.00 per additional copy. If you attended GW prior to 1982, you may experience a delay.
If you are a currently enrolled student, you may also review your unofficial transcript online via GWeb.
If you need verification of your graduation before your final transcript and diploma are available, request certification of completion from the Registrar's Office. Click here for the Request for Certification Services Form.
Who To Contact For Assistance
If you have questions regarding graduation or Commencement, please contact:
Mallory Boyd, Director
SPHHS Student Academic and Career Development Services
(202) 994-2632
Mallory@gwu.edu
Or
Rita Bartley, Director
SPHHS Office of Student Records
(202) 994-0251
sphrdb@gwumc.edu
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