Graduation 101
Information
Session
What is Graduation?
When a student has successfully
completed all coursework and
requirements towards a degree
from a university or college.
When can students graduate
at Winthrop University?
• Students may officially graduate at Winthrop in May,
August or December.
• During May and December graduation the University
holds a Commencement Ceremony.
• All students that graduate in August are invited to
attend the December ceremony.
STEPS TOWARDS GRADUATION
STEP 1: APPLY FOR GRADUATION
When should I apply
for graduation?
• 35 to 37 hours remaining to
complete your degree.
Graduation Date to Apply for?
• Apply to graduate during the semester before
you anticipate completing your coursework.
• Application DEADLINES: Completed forms
must be received in the Office of Records and
Registration, 126 Tillman, by:
• Apply by February 1st= August and December Graduation
• Apply by September 15th = May Graduation
Where do I apply for graduation?
• Office of Records & Registration 126 Tillman Hall
• Go online and print out application.
Undergraduate Application for Graduation
Application is Processed…Graduation Status:
TERM 20XX Application Filed
A receipt of your graduation application will be noted
at the GRADUATION STATUS of your Degree Works.
STEP 2: PRECLEAR REVIEW
• Our office completes a PRECLEAR REVIEW:
• Check all your completed coursework has been applied
towards your degree correctly.
• Apply any substitutions and/or approved petitions.
• At this time we check to make sure your requirement
for Cultural Events has been updated.
CULTURAL EVENTS
REQUIREMENT
• Winthrop University’s Cultural Events requirement is
required for graduation.
• It is designed to help students develop to their full potential
as well-educated and well-rounded individuals.
CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT
Must Completed By Graduation
• FRESHMAN: By graduation, each undergraduate
student who began at Winthrop as a freshman is
required to attend 3 cultural events for every 20 hours
completed at Winthrop University, not to exceed 18
cultural events.
• TRANSFER STUDENTS: required to attend 3 cultural
events for every 20 hours needed to reach 120 or 124
hours.
• For example, a student brings in 30 hours of accepted transfer
credit = the students still has 94 hours to complete his/her degree.
Student is required to complete 14 cultural events.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT
• 31 hours of credit is the minimum number of
hours that must be earned for a degree at
Winthrop = the minimum cultural event
requirement is 4.
Transfer Student’s
Cultural Events Adjusted
Completing Your
Cultural Event Requirement
ON CAMPUS EVENTS:
• Students must be scanned coming in and out
to receive credit.
• Must be on time. 1 minute late is too late to
receive credit.
• Must stay until the end of the event. Any students
leaving early will not receive credit.
Completing Your
Cultural Event Requirement
OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS:
• Use the suggested Off-Campus list on our website.
– Students must still petition these events to the Cultural
Events Committee to receive credit.
– You can assume you will receive credit when attending the
suggested off-campus events, providing the proper proof
and petition is done.
• Students can also attend events not on the suggested
off-campus list.
– Students must petition these events attended to receive
credit.
– These events are not guaranteed approval.
Cultural Event Petition Process
• How do I petition to receive credit for
my Cultural Events?
– Print out and complete the Cultural Event petition
form from Winthrop Cultural Events website.
– The petition must be accompanied:
• with a 1-page paper describing the event attended
• ticket stubs, brochures, pictures, etc.
• turn in petition to Catina Vinson in 126 Tillman Hall
Once all Cultural Events
are completed...
Once PRECLEAR REVIEW step is
completed…
• EMAIL: You and your advisor receive an email
from our office that a PRECLEAR REVIEW has
been completed.
• DEGREE WORKS: A receipt of that PRECLEAR
REVIEW is completed will be noted at the
GRADUATION STATUS of your Degree Works.
PRECLEAR REVIEW Completed for TERM 20XX
STEP 3: GRADUATION TERM CHECK
• A Graduation Term Check will be completed
during your final semester.
Once GRAD TERM CHECK step is
completed…
• EMAIL:
– You and your advisor will be emailed once the term
check is completed.
– Applicants with problems will also be notified by
email. Please be sure to resolve your issue(s) as
quickly as possible or let our office know you are
working on the problem.
• DEGREE WORKS: A receipt that GRADUATION
TERM CHECK is completed will be noted at the
GRADUATION STATUS of your Degree Works.
Graduation Term Check Completed for Term 20XX
At the bottom of Degree Works
once PRECLEAR REVIEW and GRAD TERM CHECKS
are completed a NOTE is posted.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
• If you find our records do not
agree with yours,
please visit or call the
Office of Records & Registration
for additional assistance.
STEP 4: CLEARING AND
GRADUATION
• Students will be cleared for graduation in the
Fall and Spring semesters beginning the
Thursday prior to the commencement
ceremony.
• All August graduates will be cleared the day of
graduation.
• You will be able to see that you have been
cleared for graduation on Degree Works.
Cleared for graduation…..
LATIN HONORS
Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude
• Graduating with honors?
Any undergraduate student who completes
degree requirements with a final grade-point
average:
– of 3.50 to 3.74 shall be granted a diploma cum
laude;
– 3.75 to 3.89 shall be granted a diploma magna
cum laude;
– of 3.90 or higher shall be granted a diploma
summa cum laude.
A student who has credits transferred from another
institution to receive honors MUST:
(cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude),
• have both of the following:
1. required grade-point average for all work taken
at Winthrop
2. required grade-point average on the
combination of:
Winthrop work PLUS all work taken at other
institutions.
– Note: Coursework taken at other institutions
cannot raise a graduate to a higher level of
Academic Honors.
CHECK LIFEGPA in Wingspan
Honors Recognition
• Any undergraduate transfer students that
complete their degree requirements with a
final grade point average of 3.75 and earned a
minimum of 48 quality hours (earned hours
on a regular letter grade basis) at Winthrop
University will receive Honors Recognition.
IMPORTANT ITEMS TO REMEMBER TO
DO DURING YOUR LAST SEMESTER
• REVIEW COMMENCMENT WEBPAGE
• ATTEND GRAD FINALEMay 2016Degree Applicants
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
10:00am-6:00 pm in DIGS
• COMPLETE SENIOR SURVEY
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
• What is
commencement?
– a beginning or start
– a ceremony in which
degrees or diplomas are
conferred on graduating
students
Winthrop’s
Commencement
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
• May 2016
– Graduate Ceremony May
5 at 7:00pm
– Two Undergraduate
Ceremonies on May 7
• 10:00am College of Visual
and Performing Arts and
College of Arts and
Sciences
• 3:00pm College of
Business Administration
and Richard W. Riley
College of Education
• December 2016
– One ceremony for both
Graduate and
Undergraduate –
December 17 at 11am
– Invite both August and
December graduates
CHECK IN AND LINE UP
• Degree candidates should report to the check in area an hour
and a half prior to the start of the ceremony.
• Check in with the table for your College
– Receive your reader card. Note your line up number. Do
not lose or alter your card.
– If you are eligible for honors, this will be noted on your
card and you will receive a cord to wear.
• If your name is difficult to pronounce, you will be able to meet
with the readers between 8:30am and 9:30am for the
morning ceremony and 1:30pm to 2:30pm for the afternoon
ceremony (or 9:30am to 10:30am for December).
• Line up in the hall according to the number (ex. 101-L, 26-R)
on and color of your card.
PROCESSION
• The Procession will begin promptly 10 minutes prior to the start of
the ceremony. Please do not be late.
• The Procession will form two abreast in the following order:
– Platform party
– Faculty
– Degree Candidates
• Master’s degree (December only)
• Bachelor’s degree
• The procession will enter the arena down the center aisle. The
degree candidates will split to the left and right outside aisles,
respectively, upon reaching the stage and be directed to their seats
by a marshal. Please do not leave empty seats. Members of the
procession and all guests will remain standing until after the
National Anthem has been sung.
CONFERRING OF
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
• In December, master’s degrees will be conferred first.
• Academic deans will present the degree candidates
from their respective college to the Provost.
• Once all degrees are conferred, the President will
then instruct graduates to move their tassels from
the right front side to the left front side of the cap.
• Student Marshals will then direct the movement of
bachelor’s degree recipients to the stage.
CONFERRING OF
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
CONFERRING OF
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
• As graduates approach the stage, they should
hold their reader cards in their left hands.
Graduates will give their reader cards to the
reader when they reach the top of the ramp
leading onto the stage.
• When their name is announced, they will cross
the stage, receive their diploma cover from their
academic dean and shake hands with the Chair of
the Board of Trustees and the President.
FINAL PROCESSION
• After the singing of
the Alma Mater, the
platform party will leave
first, followed by the
faculty.
• After those groups, the
Student Marshals will
lead the graduates to
pick up their diplomas.
DIPLOMAS
• Pick up your diploma based on the first letter of
your last name.
• You will not be able to pick up your diploma if
you owe a balance to Winthrop or if we have not
received your final transcripts from other schools.
• Double-check that your name is spelled correctly!
• If you do not attend commencement, you can
pick up your diploma in Records and Registration
the Monday following the ceremony. Any
diplomas not picked up after 2 weeks will be
mailed to the graduate’s permanent address.
GUESTS
• Each degree candidate is asked to invite no
more than eight guests to the ceremony.
• There are no tickets. Seating is on a firstcome, first-serve basis.
• We ask that you have your guests arrive early
and be seated at least 20 minutes prior to the
start of the ceremony.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
• If a degree candidate needs special assistance
to participate in the commencement
ceremony, they should contact Tina Vires,
Program Director in the Office of Disability
Services.
• Seating will be designated for guests,
including the elderly, who may need special
assistance.
QUESTIONS?
Maria D’Agostino, Assistant Registrar for Records
Catina Vinson, Cultural Events Coordinator
Kara Traverse, Veterans Benefits/Graduation
Coordinator
Records and Registration
126 Tillman Hall
recandreg@winthrop.edu
(803) 323-2194