6.2 - Graduation Guidelines

Below are the Policy Guidelines for Implementing Graduation:

1. Each term, an Application for Graduation will be distributed to the respective term's eligible candidates for graduation. Candidates will be made eligible by their degree granting college, allowing OU Health Sciences Recruitment & Admissions to communicate with the candidates regarding important graduation information. The Application for Graduation will vary and be presented in a survey format. The dates for distribution and the deadline for completion will be set at the beginning of each term, communicated with the degree granting colleges, and the eligible candidates for graduation. Failure to complete the  Application for Graduation will result in the student's diploma being held by the University until completion.
2. An official diploma will be issued once a student has met all obligations to the University and all holds have been cleared.
3. Students declared as degree candidates following the closure of the Application for Graduation during a given term will not appear in the University Commencement Program. However, all students who complete their degree requirements during a given term will appear in the official publication of Degrees Awarded.
4. OU Health Sciences Recruitment & Admissions posts degrees and prints diplomas following submission of the Certified Graduation Report from each academic college.
5. The date of graduation for each term is outlined in the program's academic calendar. commencement ceremonies are set by University Experiences with approval by the Health Sciences Provost Office. 
6. To ensure the student graduates as of the established date, all academic work required for the degree must be satisfactorily completed prior to the first day of classes of the next term, with the following exceptions:
   1. Students completing degree requirements by enrollment in an internship or a Health Sciences professional program which are in session during the graduation term and extends beyond the University's cutoff date.
   2. Students completing degree requirements by enrollment in another institution during the graduation term when the other institution's semester or session runs concurrently with but extends beyond the University's cutoff date.
   3. Such students will be counted with the graduates of that term, but their diplomas will be held until the official records of the required work have been filed with the University and the student is officially cleared for graduation.
7. All degree requirements must be completed by the last day of finals in the term of graduation. Colleges are responsible for ensuring that student academic records, including transfer credit, substitutions, removal of incompletes, and other record updates, are maintained in an accurate and timely manner throughout enrollment to prevent graduation delays. This deadline does not take the place of the existing deadline for all work to be completed, which is “all work required for the degree must be completed satisfactorily by the last day of finals of the semester or term.” This is an additional requirement that the notification of the completion of this credit must be submitted in a timely fashion in order for the student to graduate within that term. The appropriate deadline for receipt of that notification is within ten (10) working days after the last day of finals.
8. All official records required for clearance of graduation requirements must be filed with OU Health Sciences Recruitment and Admissions prior to degree clearance.
9. Diplomas will be printed under the name appearing on the student's official academic record at the time of graduation. Variations are allowed by the student submitting a name change request form or by updating their "diploma name" on their Student Service Portal. Students who request a legitimate name change after diplomas have been printed will be required to pay an additional cost for the reprint.
10. Should a student complete all academic requirements for graduation and apply for the diploma before the end of the term, the student will be entitled to receive a certified statement of completed degree requirements bearing the date academic requirements were completed from the graduating college. Such a statement will be entered on a student's permanent academic record when OU Health Sciences Recruitment & Admissions receives notification from the college.
11. Should a degree candidate fail to successfully complete graduation requirements as of the graduation date for which the student applied, the student will need to contact the appropriate college to move the graduation date forward and then reapply for graduation during the appropriate term.
12. Students who qualify for graduation with both college distinction and University honors will graduate with honors. Degrees can be awarded with the following designations:  Distinction, Special Distinction, Outstanding Distinction, cum Laude, Magna cum Laude, and Summa cum Laude.
13. A lost, stolen, or damaged diploma may be replaced by submitting a notarized affidavit and a $50 replacement fee to OU Health Sciences Recruitment & Admissions.  If possible, the original diploma must be returned prior to the release of the new diploma.

For additional information, contact OU Health Sciences Recruitment and Admissions at (405) 271-2359 or visit the OU Commencement Website.